When two opposing bishops face off on the same long diagonal, the table is set for tactical tricks.
Arturo Pomar White
Joaquim Durao Black
Orense 1973
King’s Indian Defense A49
1 d4 ♘f6 2 ♘f3 g6 3 g3 ♗g7 4 ♗g2 0-0 5 0-0 d6 6 b3
White wants to delay ...e5. He would have a small plus after 6...♘bd7 7 ♗b2 c6 8 ♘bd2 ♕c7 9 e4, for example.
6...e5! 7 dxe5
Black would be more than comfortable after 7 ♗b2?! e4! 8 ♘fd2 ♖e8.
7...♘g4 8 ♗g5 ♕e8?
After 8...♕d7! the queen protects c7 and guarantees Black good chances (9 ♘c3 h6 10 ♗f4 dxe5!).
9 ♘c3!
White tries for ♘d5. But 9...dxe5! 10 ♘d5 ♘a6 offers Black ample play (11 h3 f6 12 ♗c1 ♘h6 13 ♗a3 ♖f7).
9...♘xe5 10 ♘d5 ♘xf3+?
On 10...♘a6 the diagonal remains hot (11 ♗e7? c6 12 ♗xf8 ♕xf8 13 ♘f4 ♘xf3+ and 14...♗xa1).
Better is 11 ♘f6+! ♗xf6 12 ♗xf6 with advantage.
11 exf3! f6
Now 11...♘a6 12 ♗f6! is strong, e.g. 12...♗e6 13 ♘e7+ ♔h8 14 ♕d4!.
12 ♘xc7 ♕d8 13 ♕d5+ ♖f7 14 ♖ae1 ♕xc7 15 ♖e8+ ♗f8 16 ♗h6 resigns.
Teimour Radjabov White
Zhao Zong-Yuan Black
Oropesa del Mar 1998
1 ♘f3 ♘f6 2 b3 g6 3 ♗b2 ♗g7 4 g3 0-0 5 ♗g2 d6 6 d4 e5 7 dxe5 ♘fd7 8 ♕d2 ♘c6 9 ♘c3 dxe5 10 0-0-0 a5 11 h4 h6 12 g4 a4!? 13 ♘xa4 ♕e7 14 ♔b1 ♖d8 15 ♕c1 b5 16 ♘c3 ♕b4? 17 ♘xe5! ♘cxe5 18 ♗xa8 c6 19 ♕e3 ♘xg4 20 ♕g3 ♘ge5 21 f4 ♕a5 22 fxe5 ♕xa8 23 e6 fxe6 24 ♕xg6 ♔h8 25 ♖hg1 ♖g8 26 ♘e4 e5 27 ♖xd7 ♗xd7 28 ♗xe5! resigns.
Question 102: What’s best after 22...♗xe5 and 23 b4 ♕xa8 ?