DAY 128 Another Mate

Fewer than twenty mating patterns recur so often that you must know them. Here’s another.

Artur Yusupov White

Ardash Jayakumar Black

Arlington 2015

Colle Opening D04

1 d4 d5 2 f3 f6 3 e3 c6 4 d3 bd7 5 b3 e6 6 0-0 d6 7 b2 0-0 8 bd2 b6 9 e5! b7 10 f4 c5 11 f3 g6

White was preparing g3 or h3 followed by a strong xd7 and dxc5.

For instance, 11...c8 12 g3 threatens 13 xd7 xd7 14 dxc5 (main threat: xg7 mate). Or 13...xd7 14 dxc5 and 15 xf6.

12 ad1 e8?

This prepares to trade off the e5-knight. The immediate 12...xe5?? 13 fxe5 clearly won’t do. And 12...xe5 13 fxe5 e8 seriously weakens the kingside dark squares.

13 h3 cxd4

The d1-rook is revealed to be excellently placed after 13...xe5 14 dxe5! e7 15 e4!. White is ready for 16 exd5 xd5 17 c4. Or 16...exd5 17 f5.

And if 15...d4, then 16 c3! dxc3 17 xc3 and 18 f5 or 18 c4.

14 xd4 c5

Black seems pleased with the prospect of 15...xd3.

Illustration

15 f3! e7?

The kingside is endangered by 15...xe5 16 fxe5! xd3 17 h6! and h3.

Question 147: Why not 15...xd3 ?

16 c6! resigns.

The key elements of the pattern are a bishop and rook controlling h8: 16...xc6 17 xh7+! xh7 18 h3+ g8 19 h8 mate.

Ngan Phan Koshnitsky White

Meroua Boudchiche Black

Turin 2006

1 d4 d5 2 f3 f6 3 e3 c6 4 d3 bd7 5 0-0 e6 6 bd2 e7 7 b3 0-0 8 b2 e8 9 e5 f8 10 f3 d6 11 h3 xe5 12 dxe5 6d7 13 f4 c5 14 f3 xd3 15 cxd3 g6 16 g4 c5 17 f1 b6 18 g5 f8? 19 g3 (idea: 20 h5 and 21 f6+!) g6 20 h1! b7 21 f2 g7? 22 h6+ g8 23 g4 f5 23 exf6 resigns.