Chapter 21

Open attack

An open attack is a tactical device, as a result of which a direct threat is created, either against a piece or against the king. Such direct play can be very difficult to play against. To defend against a threat to a piece or the king, the defender must expend precious time, allowing the opponent to create new threats.

119 **

Alexei Vyzmanavin

2605

Sergei Iskusnyh

2430

Russia tt 1995 (1)

Usually in such an open position, the player who is attacking with checks wins. After the natural queen promotion 46…e1♕+ 47.♔h2, Black has no more checks, and White will launch a decisive attack on his next move.

However, Black found a move White had overlooked (instead of his last move 46.a7-a8♕, White could have won by 46.♔h1-h2!).

46…♘f2+!

And White resigned, because after 47.♔h2, there follows 47…♘g4+ 48.hxg4 ♖h7+ 49.♔g3 e1♕+ 50.♔f3 fxg4+ 51.♔xg4 ♖h4+, mating.

120 ***

Training position

Konstantin Sakaev

White’s initiative looks very powerful, but Black has a whole extra piece. On 24.♖h8, there follows 24…h5, and there is nothing concrete. But White has available a brilliant tactical resource, involving luring the black queen to the seventh rank, where it can be attacked.

24.♗d5!! cxd5 25.cxd5 ♕e7

If 25…♕d7 26.♖xd7+ ♗xd7, White has many attacking resources, one of which is 27.♗c3 ♖e8 28.♕d2, with the threats of g2-g4 and ♕d2-g5, and a decisive attack on the dark squares.

26.♖h8 ♕h4 27.♗c3 ♘c7 28.♕e5 ♗d7 29.g3

Winning.