A lucky escape for Black.

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e5 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rac8 14. d5 Ne8 15. Ng3 g6 16. Ng5 16. Bh6 Ng7 16... Ng7 17. f4 exf4 18. Bxf4 Nc4 19. b3 Ne5 20. Nf3 f6 21. Qe2 Rce8 22. Nxe5 fxe5 23. Bh6 Qd8 24. Qe3 Bh4 25. Kh2 Rf7 26. Rf1 Ref8 27. Bd3 Qa5 28. Be2 b4 28... Rxf1 should not be overlooked. 29. Nxf1 Bf6= 29. cxb4 cxb4 30. Bc4 Bb5?! Why trade a good B for a bad one? 30... Bc8 31. Rxf7 Rxf7 32. Rf1 Rxf1 32... Bxg3+? 33. Qxg3 Rxf1 34. Bxf1 Bxf1 35. Qf2! threatens Qf6 and Qa7-e7. 35... Qd8 36. Qxf1 thanks to the dominant Bh6. 33. Nxf1 Be7?! White's advantage is snowballing; it was time to start pre-emptive damage control. 33... Bxc4 34. Qa7 Ne8 35. bxc4 Qd8 sacrifices a pawn to hold on. 34. Qa7 Bf8 35. Ne3 Qd8 36. Bxb5 axb5 37. Ng4 Nh5 3q1bk1/Q6p/3p2pB/1p1Pp2n/1p2P1N1/1P5P/P5PK/8 w - - 0 38 Even after 37... Ne8 38. Bd2 h5 39. Nf2 h4 40. Ng4 Nf6 41. Nxf6+ Qxf6 , 42. Kg1 still nabs the b4 pawn. 38. Qf2? The logical culmination of White's play is 38. Bd2 , simply winning the b4 pawn, followed by a4, creating an outside passed pawn. 38... Bxh6= 39. Nxh6+ Kg7 40. Ng4 Qe7 41. g3 Qc7 42. h4 Qc8 43. Kh3?! Self-pinning the N can't be right. 43... Qd7 44. Qf3 Qc8 45. Qe3 Kg8 45... Nf6! is a good winning try for Black. 46. Qf3 Ne8 47. Kh2 h5 48. Nf2 (48. Ne3 Nf6 is worse - White is in zugzwang and can't easily keep e4, e3 and a2 protected. For example, 49. Qg2 Qc5 50. Qf3 Qxe3 51. Qxe3 Ng4+) 48... Qc2 and the a2 pawn falls. 46. Qf3 Qd7 1/2-1/2 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

White cruises after Black's development stalls.

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e4 Qc7 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Be7 8. c5 Nbd7 8... dxc5?! 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Bc4 Ndxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Qh5 is what White wants. 9. cxd6 Bxd6 10. Bg5 O-O 11. dxe5 11. Rc1 Qb8 11... Bxe5 11... Nxe5 12. Bxf6 gxf6= is correct, freeing Black to continue development. 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. f4 Qc5+ 14. Kh1 h6 15. Bh4 Qb4 Ugly, but it's hard to suggest a better move. With wPf up, 15... Nb6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qe1 is risky. 16. a3 Qa5 16... Qxb2?? 17. Na4 wins the Q. 17. b4 Qc7 18. Rc1 Qb6? Still not solving the problem of development. 18... Nb6 had to be tried. 19. Bc4 a5 r1b2rk1/1p1n1pp1/1qp2n1p/p7/1PB1PP1B/P1N5/6PP/2RQ1R1K w - - 0 20 20. e5 axb4 21. exf6 bxc3 22. Rxc3 The zwischenzug 22. fxg7! rips a hole in the Kingside. Black is obliged to recapture, because 22... Re8? 23. Qh5 hits f7 and h6. 22... g6 23. Qc2 23. f5 23... Kh7 24. Bg5 c5 25. Bxh6 25. Rh3 and Rxh6+ is a tad stronger, but the text is still an easy win. 25... Re8 25... Kxh6?? 26. Rh3# 26. Bxf7 Qxf6 27. Bxe8 Kxh6 28. Bxg6! White is relentless. 28... Nf8 28... Qxg6 29. Rh3+ Kg7 30. Rg3 29. Be4 Be6 30. Rg3 Rd8 31. Qxc5 Rd4 32. Qg5+ Qxg5 33. fxg5+ Kg7 34. Bxb7 Ng6 35. h3 Bc4 36. Re1 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

White loses a pawn, then gets crushed because he does not fight for the open c-file.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 Na6 7. Bf4 c5 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 Be6 10. Qa4 Qb6 11. Rb1?! The defender is easily bumped, although White ends up at least making the extra pawn a doubled pawn. 11. Qb5= 11... Bf5 11... cxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc5 12. Rc1 Qxb2 13. O-O cxd4 14. Nxd4 Bd7 15. Qa5 Rac8 16. Bxa6 bxa6 17. Nce2 Qb6 18. Qa3 18. Qe5 18... Nd5 19. Bg5 e5 20. Nb3 Bb5 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 After the acquisition of the c-file, Black is practically winning. 2r3k1/p4pbp/pq4p1/1b1np1B1/8/QN2P3/P3NPPP/5RK1 w - - 0 22 22. Re1? With Black menacing ...Rc2 and ...Bf8, trapping the Queen, White needs to make some threats of his own. 22. Rd1 22... Rc2 22... h6! is more accurate, making luft before proceeding with the invasion. 23. Nec1 23. Rc1 is the best chance. 23... Bf8 (23... Rxe2?? is not possible due to 24. Rc8+) 24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. Rxc2 23... Bf8 24. Qa5 Qxa5 25. Nxa5 Bb4 Winning a piece - White's back rank is too weak for Rd1xd5 to be a threat. 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

White gets ground down in the endgame.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 c5 5. Nf3 c4 6. Be2 Bd6 7. O-O Nc6 8. b3 cxb3 9. axb3 Nge7 10. Bg5 A novelty. 10. c4 is book. 10... O-O 11. Bh4 Bg4 12. Nc3 f6 13. Bg3 Bb4 14. Na4 Nf5 15. c3 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Be7 17. Nh4 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Qd7 19. Rfe1 Rfe8 20. Qe6+ Qxe6 21. Rxe6 Kf7 22. Rae1 g6 22... Na5 23. Nf5 Bf8 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Rb1= r3r3/pp2bk1p/2n1Rpp1/3p4/N2P3N/1PP3P1/5PP1/4R1K1 w - - 0 23 23. f4?! There's no reason to weaken the e3 square, especially since White should avoid trading all the Rooks - they represent his best drawing chances. 23. Nf3 Na5 24. Nd2 covers the critical c4/b3 squares. 23... Bd6 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Rxe8 25. Ra1 b5 26. Nc5 Bxc5 27. dxc5 Re3 28. Ra6 Ne7 29. Rxa7 Rxc3 30. Nf3 is still a fight. 25... Kxe8 26. Kf2 White has difficulty holding the endgame; bK's closer to the action, and Nh4 is out of play. 26... b5 27. Nc5 27. Nb2 b4 28. Nd1 bxc3 29. Nxc3 Nxd4 30. Nxd5 Kf7 27... b4 28. cxb4 Nxd4 29. Nd3 Kd7 30. Nf3 Nc2 31. b5 Kc7 32. Ke2 Kb6 33. Kd2 Na3 34. Nd4 Nxb5 35. Nxb5 Kxb5 36. Kc3? 36. g4 either gets the pawns off dark squares, or restrains Black's Kside pawns after 36... f5 37. g5 . 36... h5! Nails down the weak pawns for later consumption. 37. Kd4 Kc6 38. Nc1 Bc5+ 39. Kc3 Bf2 40. Ne2 Kc5 41. Nc1 41. b4+ Kb5 42. Kb3 d4 is no better. 41... Be1+ 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

An entertaining miniature.

1. f4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. e3 d5 4. b3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bb2 a6 Masters chose 6... e6 here. 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. O-O b5 9. d3 e6 10. Nbd2 Qc7 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Ndf3 Nd7?? r3kb1r/1bqn1ppp/p3p3/1pppN3/5P2/1P1PPN2/PBP3PP/R2Q1RK1 w kq - 0 13 12... Be7= 13. Ng5! Black is already lost; he can't hold f7. 13... Be7 Neither 13... Nxe5 14. fxe5 opening the f-file for wR, nor 13... f6 14. Qh5+ g6 15. Nxg6 offers any salvation. 14. Nexf7 Bxg5 15. Nxg5 Qc6 15... Nf8 16. Qh5+ g6 17. Qh3 wins the e6 pawn and continues attacking. 16. Bxg7 O-O-O 17. Bxh8 Rxh8 18. Qg4 Nf8? 19. Nf7 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

Black obtains good N outposts uncontested.

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c6 3. d4 d5 4. e3 a6 5. Nf3 g6 6. b4!? Bg7 7. Qb3 O-O 8. Bd3 Re8 9. O-O Bf5 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Bb2 e6 12. a4 Nbd7 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Ne1 14. a5 Ne4= 14... Ne4 15. Rd1 White is meandering while Black is sinking his Ns into good squares. 15... Nb6 16. f3 16. Nf3 Nc4 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Nd2 challenges the N. 16... Nxc3 17. Bxc3 Rc8 2rqr1k1/1p3pbp/pn2p3/3p1p2/PP1P4/1QB1PP2/6PP/3RNRK1 w - - 0 18 18. Nd3 At this point, letting the N reach the dominant c4 post uncontested is as bad as losing the a-pawn. 18... Nxa4 19. Bd2 b5 20. Rc1 Rc4 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. bxc5 22. dxc5 at least does not give Black connected passers. 22... f4 23. Rxc4? Increases Black's connected passer count, and gives him the d5 square for his Queen. 23... dxc4 24. Qb2 Qd5 25. Re1 fxe3 26. Bxe3 Qxc5 Something had to give. 27. dxc5 Bxb2 28. c6 Rc8 29. Rd1 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

Black never recovers from his dubious opening.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 e5 A rare continuation. 7... dxc4 or 7... Bb4 are the main alternatives. 8. g5 Nh5?! 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nxd5 Qa5+ 10... O-O 11. Be2 Re8 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Bd2 12. Be2 looks stronger, eyeing Black's offside N. 12... Qc7? Withdrawing the pressure. 12... exd4 13. Nb5 Qb6 14. Nfxd4 Be5 is a better try. 13. Be2 g6 14. dxe5 There was no rush. It is Black who has difficulty coming up with a good plan, so maintaining tension favors White. 14. O-O-O 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bxh5 gxh5 16... Bf5 and if 17. e4? Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Bxc3 takes advantage of K/Q on the same file. 17. f4 Bxc3 18. Bxc3 Re8 19. O-O-O Rxe3?! 20. Qd2 r1b3k1/ppq2p1p/8/6Pp/5P2/2B1r3/PP1Q3P/2KR3R b - - 0 20 20... Rxc3+ Forced. Two major pitfalls are 20... Re8?? 21. Qd4 and 20... Qe7?? 21. Qd8+ Qf8 (21... Qe8 22. Rd3! and the threats of Qd4 and Qf6 are irresistable ) 22. Qxf8+ Kxf8 23. Rd8+ Ke7 24. Bf6+ Ke6 25. Re8+ . 21. Qxc3 Qxf4+ 22. Kb1 Bf5+ 22... Be6 should be played immediately. 23. Ka1 Be6 24. Qf6? 24. Rd4! and Rhd1 keeps White in control. 24... Qxf6? 24... Qa4 25. b3 Bxb3 26. Rd8+ Rxd8 27. Qxd8+ Kg7 28. Qd2 25. gxf6 Bf5 25... Kf8 is better, keeping the B centralized. 26. Rhg1+ Bg6 27. Rd7 b5 28. Rgd1 h6 29. Rd8+ Rxd8 30. Rxd8+ Kh7 31. Ra8 Bd3 32. Rxa7 Kg6 33. Ra6 Kg5 34. Rd6 Bg6 35. Rd5+ Kg4 36. Rxb5 Kh3 36... h4 37. a4 Kh3 38. a5 Kxh2 39. a6 37. Rb8 37. b4 and White's pawn wins the race. 37... Kxh2 38. Re5 Kg3 39. b5 h4 40. b6 h3 41. b7 h2 42. b8=Q h1=Q+ 43. Re1+ is a sadistic end. 37... Kxh2 38. Rh8 h4 38... Bf5 39. Rxh6 Bg4 40. Rh7 39. Rxh6 h3 40. Rxg6! fxg6 41. f7 g5 On 41... Kg2 42. f8=Q h2 , the staircase maneuver 43. Qa8+ Kg1 44. Qa7+ Kg2 45. Qb7+ Kg1 46. Qb6+ decides. 42. f8=Q Kg3 43. Qd6+ Kh4 44. Qh6+ 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 e6 6. Bf4 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. e3 O-O 9. Be2 a6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qb3 b5 12. Rfc1 Bb7 13. Rc2 Rfc8 14. Rac1 h6 15. Ne1 Ne4 16. Nd3 Nb6 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Rxc8+ Rxc8 19. Rxc8+ Bxc8 20. Nc5 Qd5 21. Qxd5 exd5 22. Kf1 Kf8 23. Ke1 Nd7?! This looks questionable - it invites a B vs. N ending. Knights are happy with locked pawns, like those on the d- and e-file, but the Qside pawns are still fluid, and Black's d5 and a6 pawn are subject to attack by the Bishop. Why not simply get the K to the center and await events? 23... Ke7 24. Bg4 Nxc5 25. Bxc8 Nd3+ 26. Kd2 2B2k2/5pp1/p6p/1p1p4/3Pp3/3nP3/PP1K1PPP/8 b - - 0 26 26... Nxb2? The decisive mistake - White gets both of Black's Qside pawns in return for the b-pawn. 27. Bxa6 Nc4+ 28. Kc3 Nd6 If Black wants to continue playing, he should just admit the b-pawn is lost and get the King to the center. 28... Ke7 29. Kb4 g5 30. Kc5 Ke7 31. Bxb5 f5 32. a4 f4 33. Kxd5 1-0 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

White attacks, although he does not have the "right to attack", as Steinitz would say.

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c6 4. Bd3 Bg4 5. c3 Nbd7 6. Be2?! A waste of time. 6. Nbd2 6... Bxf3 7. Bxf3 e5 8. O-O e4 9. Be2 Bd6 10. f3 exf3 11. Bxf3 I prefer 11. gxf3 , not conceding the e4 square. 11... Qc7 12. Rf2 defends the K well enough. 11... Qc7 12. g3 h5 13. Qe2 O-O-O 14. b3? White is behind in development, and does not have time for such luxuries. 14. c4 , with the idea of Nc3, is more to the point. 14... Nf8?! Now Black starts playing slowly and squanders his lead in development. He should be attacking like a looter in a riot. 14... g5 , ...Rdg8, ...g4, ...h4, etc. 15. c4 Qd7 16. cxd5= cxd5 17. Nc3 Kb8? 18. a4 18. Nxd5 grabs a free pawn. Tricks like 18... Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Bxg3? 20. e4! just backfire. 18... Bb4 19. Bd2 Bxc3 20. Bxc3 Ne6 21. Bb4 Ng5 22. Rac1 h4 23. g4 Nxf3+ With the wB stuck in a defensive role, there was no hurry to exchange it. 24. Qxf3 Qe6 25. h3 Rhe8 26. Qf4+ Ka8 27. Rfe1 27. Be1 Qxe3+ 28. Qxe3 Rxe3 29. Kg2 Rxb3 30. Bxh4 is fine for White. 27... Ne4 28. Rc7? k2rr3/ppR2pp1/4q3/3p4/PB1PnQPp/1P2P2P/8/4R1K1 b - - 0 28 28... Qb6! Right! White is overextended. His pawns on b3 and e3 will come under attack, and the Q is stuck defending the loose Rc7. 29. Bc5 White has nothing better; both 29. Be7? Rxe7 30. Rxe7 Qb4 and 29. Ba3? Ng5! (threatening two N forks) are disastrous. 29... Qxb3 30. Qxf7? Posting a 2 nd heavy piece on the 7th, but it's White's King who ends up exposed. 30... Nxc5 31. Rxc5 Rxe3 32. Rxe3 Qxe3+ 33. Qf2 Qxh3 34. Qe2 34. Qf5 is better, intending to force a Rook trade. 34... Qg3+ 35. Qg2 Qe3+ 36. Qf2 Qe4 37. Rc3 Qxg4+ 38. Kh2 a6 39. Rh3 g5 40. Rf3 Re8 41. Rf8 Qg3+ White might as well resign here - the R ending is a very easy win for Black. 42. Kh1 Qxf2 43. Rxf2 Re4 44. Rf5 Rxd4 45. Rxg5 Ka7 46. Kg2 b5 47. a5 Kb7 48. Rg7+ Kc6 49. Rg6+ Kc5 50. Rxa6 Ra4 51. Ra8 b4 52. a6 Kb6 53. Rh8 Kxa6 54. Rxh4 Ra2+ 55. Kf3 Kb5 56. Ke3 Rc2 57. Kd3 Rb2 58. Rd4 and Black won. 0-1 [Ryan/Fritz 9]

White alertly traps the enemy Bishop.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Ne2 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Qd6 11. h3 Ne7 12. b4 Bb6 13. Bg3 Qd8 14. Qc2 Bc7 15. Nd2 Bxg3 16. Nxg3 Be6 17. Nb3 Rc8 18. Rfe1 Nc6 19. a3 Qc7 20. Rac1 Qf4 21. Qd2 Qxd2 22. Nxd2 a6 23. Nb3 Nd7 24. f4 g6? 25. Bxg6! The f7 pawn is overloaded. 25... Bxh3? 26. Bh5! Black resigned rather than play 26. Bh5 Be6 27. f5 . 1-0

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Be7 7. Rc1 O-O 8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Bd3 a6 12. O-O c5 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Rfd1 Qb6 16. Ne4 Be7 17. b3 Nd5 18. Qe2 Bb7 19. Ne5 Rad8 20. Bb1 Ba3 21. Rc2 Nxe3 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rd2 Nd5 24. Qh5 Qc7 25. Nf6+? unsound 25... gxf6 26. Bh7+?? yikes! 26... Kxh7 27. Nxf7 Bf8? White's back rank is weak and his N is a liability, trapped on the 7th and unable to deliver any meaningful attacking blows. Given this, Black should refuse to make concessions. 27... Re8! not fearing 28. Qxh6+ Kg8 and White has nothing but a lost game. 28. Nxd8 Qxd8 29. Qf7+ Bg7 30. Qxb7 Qc7 31. Qxc7 Nxc7 32. Rd7 Nd5 33. Rd6 Nc3 34. Rxa6 e5 Black lost on time. 1-0

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. e4 Bc5 5. Ne2 d6 6. O-O Be6 7. d3 Qd7 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Bh3 10. Nbc3 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 O-O-O 12. Qa4 Kb8 13. b4 Ne7 14. b5 h5 15. h3 Rdf8 16. Rf3 Nh7 17. Ng1 Ng5 18. Rf2 f6 19. Qc2 Qe8 20. Nf3 Nxf3 21. Rxf3 g5 22. Raf1 Qg6 23. Qf2 Ng8 24. Nd5 g4 25. Rf5 gxh3+ 26. Kh2 Rh6 27. a4 Qg4 28. Qf3 Kc8 29. d4 Rg6 30. Rxh5 c6 31. Qxg4+ Rxg4 32. Nc3 exd4 33. exd4 Kd7 34. Kxh3 Rg6 35. Rh7+ Ne7 36. e5 dxe5 37. dxe5 f5 38. Ne4 cxb5 39. cxb5 b6 40. Nc3 Ke6 41. Ne2 Rg4 42. Nf4+ Kd7 43. Rd1+ Ke8 44. Ne6 1-0

Black's premature pawn break is convincingly punished.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4 Be7 7. Bc4 a6 8. Bb3 Nc6 9. Be3 Na5 10. O-O Nxb3 11. axb3 O-O 12. Qf3 last book move 12... Rb8 13. Rad1 e5? A premature break. 14. fxe5 Bg4? Black gets his skewer, but finds that he has too many of his own pieces hanging. 14... dxe5 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. Rxd8 Rfxd8 is the best Black can do. 15. Qg3 Bxd1 15... dxe5 16. Nf5 Qe8 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Bg5 and the Bg4 doesn't dare retreat because Bxf6 then threatens mate and the Q. 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Rxd1 Rc8 18. Nf5 Be5 19. Bf4 Qf6 20. Bxe5 20. Nd5 makes it even easier for White 20... Qe6 21. Nde7+ Kh8 22. Rxd6 Qxd6 23. Nxd6 Bxd6 24. Bxd6 20... dxe5 21. Rd6 21. Nd5 secures the win 21... Qg6 22. Nde7+ 21... Rxc3 22. bxc3 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Ba4 Bc5 6. d3 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. h3 c6 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 10. Ne2 Bb6 11. Ng3 h6 12. Qf3 Kh7 13. Nh5 Nxh5 14. Qxh5 f5 15. Bb3 f4 16. Bf7 White has been making pseudo-aggressive 'attacking' moves in lieu of development, on a side of the board where the opponent has more space. The two pieces he does have in play are easily repelled. 16... Qf6 17. Bc4 17. Bb3 17... g6 18. Qf3 Bd7 A slow move. 18... Qh4 19. d4 g5 starts a very dangerous attack. White has difficulty obtaining any real counterplay, e.g. 20. Qa3 Bxd4! 21. Qxd6? Bxh3! 22. Qe7+ Kg6 . 19. a4 a5 20. c3 Qh4 21. Kh2? 21. d4! keeps White alive. 21... g5 22. Be2 prepares Qh5, exchanging Q's. 21... h5 21... g5! 22. d4 g4 23. Qd3 f3 is brutal. 22. d4 g5 23. Kg1? White was already as well-placed as possible to meet the attack. He might as well try Ra3-b3, although Black's still winning after 23. Ra3 Bg4 (23... g4?! 24. Qd3 gxh3 25. g3! puts up resistance) 24. Qd3 f3 . 23... g4 24. hxg4 24. g3 Qxh3 25. Qg2 fxg3 26. Qxg3 Qxg3+ 27. fxg3 exd4 escapes the attack at the cost of a lost ending. 24... hxg4 There is no escape after 24... Bxg4! 25. Qd3 f3 26. Qe3 Rf4 , planning ...fxg2. 25. g3 gxf3 26. gxh4 exd4 26... d5! is a powerful move, allowing a bR to land on g8 safely. 27. Kh1 (27. exd5?? Rg8+ 28. Kh2 Rg4 and White is getting mated) 27... Rf6! and White must drop his Bishop and defend against ...Rh6xh4. 27. cxd4? 27. Rd1 gives the King some much-needed breathing space. 27... Bxd4 28. Ra3 Bg4 29. Rd3 Be5 30. Bd2? 30. Kh2 Kg6 31. Rh1 30... Rf6 31. Bc3 Kg7 31... Rg6 32. Bxe5 dxe5 33. Rb3? 33. Rfd1 33... Rb8 33... b5! 34. axb5 Rh8 and the wK is in a mating net yet again. 34. Rd1 b6 34... Rh6 keeps an even firmer grip 35. Rbd3 Rg6 36. Kf1 Rh8 37. Ke1 Rxh4 38. Kd2? 38. Rd8 38... Rh2 39. Kc3 39. Ke1 Bh3 40. Rxf3 Rg1+ 41. Kd2 Rxd1+ 42. Kxd1 Bg4 39... Rxf2 40. Rd8 Be6 41. Bxe6 Rxe6 42. R1d7+ Kf6 43. Rf8+ Kg5 44. Rff7 Re2 45. Rg7+ Kh5 46. Rd1 Rg6 47. Rh1+ Kg5 48. Rf7 f2 49. Rf5+ Kg4 50. Rf1 Rxe4 0-1

Black steps into a pin, loses piece.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. g3 O-O 9. e4 Bxf1 10. Kxf1 d6 11. Kg2 Na6 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. Rd1 Rfb8 14. h3 Rb4 15. g4 c4 16. Be3 Rab8 17. Rd2 Nc5 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Rad1 Nd7 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. Nd1 Qa6 22. b3 Nb6 23. bxc4 Nxc4? A self-pin from which Black cannot escape. 24. Rdc2 Bb2 24... Rc8 25. g5 setting up the next move, with no worry of ...Bh6 25... e6 26. Nd2 exd5 27. exd5 Qa8 28. Qf3 and Black's out of tricks. 25. Nxb2 Rxb2 26. Qxc4 Qxc4 27. Rxc4 and White won. 1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. d3 d5 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Bg5 d4 7. Nce2 Qb6 8. Rb1 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qxa2 10. Nf3 e5 11. O-O Bg4 12. Nh4 Bd6 13. Nf5 Bf8 14. h3 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Qe6 16. f4 g6 17. Nh4 exf4 18. gxf4 Bg7 19. Rbe1 O-O 20. Qf2 Qd7 21. Nf3 Qc7 22. Nh2 Rae8 23. Qh4 Nb8 24. Ng4 Nh5 25. f5 Nd7 26. f6 Nhxf6 27. Nxf6+ Nxf6 28. Rxf6 Bxf6 29. Qxf6 Re6 30. Qh4 b5 31. Rf1 Qd8 32. Bg5 f6 33. Bd2 c4 34. Bf3 Qd6 35. Bg4 Re7 36. Bf4 Qc6 37. Bh6 Rff7 38. Bf3 cxd3 39. cxd3 Re5 40. Bd1 Qe6 41. Bf4 g5 42. Bxg5 0-1

Black's 'lunging' Ng4 move convincingly refuted.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nc3 Bd6 11. Na4 Qc7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Bd3 Ng4? 16. Bxh7+! Kh8 16... Kxh7 17. Ng5+ takes advantage of the unprotected Ng4. 17. Ne5 Ngxe5?? 17... Ncxe5 18. dxe5 Qxe5 stubbornly refuses to let the wQ into h5. 18. Qh5! It's all over. 18... Nf7 19. Bg6+ Nh6 20. Bxh6 Rf5 21. Bg5+ Kg8 22. Qh7+ Kf8 23. Qh8# 1-0

1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 Nc6 4. f4 Nb4 5. Be2 Bf5 6. Na3 e6 7. c3 Be4 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. b4 a6 10. O-O Be7 11. Qb3 O-O 12. Bd2 b5 13. Nc2 h6 14. a4 Rb8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Ra6 Qd7 17. Rfa1 Bxc2?! Black's minor piece was the better of the two. 18. Qxc2 Ne4 19. Bd3 f5 20. Be1 Kh8 21. Qe2 Rg8?? The double-query is not for losing a pawn, but for allowing a devastating pin. 22. Bxb5 Rb6 23. Rxb6 cxb6 24. Ne5 1-0

White hands black 2 connected passers in K+P ending, leading to immediate defeat

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 last book move 5. Nxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. g3 Bg4 8. Bg2 O-O-O 9. O-O f6 9... e4!? 10. Qa4 f5 (10... exf3 11. Qxg4+ f5 12. Qxf3 Qxf3 13. Bxf3 (13. exf3?! Bc5=) ) 11. dxe4 Qxe4 (11... fxe4 12. Be3) 12. Qxe4 fxe4= 10. Be3 Qd7 11. Rc1 Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Bf4 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Qb3 Qb6 16. Qxb6 16. Qc2 Rhe8 17. Rfe1 Re5= 16... axb6 17. Bf3 Bxf3 18. exf3 Rhe8 19. Rfe1 g5 20. Kf1 Kd7 21. Re4 c5 22. Rce1 b5 23. f4 Rxe4 24. Rxe4 Re8 25. Rxe8 Kxe8 26. fxg5 fxg5 27. Ke2 Ke7 28. Kf3 c4 29. dxc4 29. Ke4 c3 30. bxc3 dxc3 31. Ke3 g4 32. a3 Kd6 29. Ke2 29... bxc4 30. b4?? 30. Ke4 d3 31. Ke3= 30... b5 30... g4+ 31. Ke2 b5 32. f3 h5 30... g4+ 31. Ke2 c3 32. a4 Kd6 31. Ke4 31. h3 d3 32. Ke3 Kf6 33. g4 Ke5 31. h3 h5 32. Ke2 31... c3 32. Kd3 g4 32... g4 33. a3 Ke6 34. Kxd4 c2 0-1