Chapter 27

The double attack

The double attack is the simultaneous creation of two serious threats against the opponent. It is the most widely-seen method of winning material in chess. The philosophy on this tactical device is simple – even if the opponent can defend against one threat, he may well not be able to defend against both at the same time.

155 *

Borislav Ivkov

2485

Judit Polgar

2630

Monaco 1994 (12)

The knight and bishop are unstably placed, and understanding this allowed Black to find a long queen move:

10…♕g5!

White must lose a piece.

11.♘d5 exd5 12.exd5+

White gets some compensation for the piece in the form of control of the open files, an advantage in development, and the fact that Black has not castled. Even so, the compensation is insufficient and Black won.

156 **

Konstantin Landa

2628

Erwin l’Ami

2611

Vlissingen 2011 (9)

Black has definite compensation for the exchange, as his passed a-pawns are dangerous. If he manages to consolidate his position and ensure the coordination of his bishops, he will no longer be worse. White must act decisively.

27.c4!

A small deflection, to set up the double attack.

27…♗xc4 28.♘d2

With the help of this small combination, White gives up his passed c-pawn, but deprives Black of his pair of powerful bishops. Now, only one of them remains on the board.

28…♗c3 29.♖c1 ♗xd2 30.♖xc4 h5 31.g3 ♖a8

32.♖c2!

Drawing the bishop to b4, where it will hamper the advance its own a-pawn.

32…♗b4 33.♖cc6 g6 34.♖b7!?

White does not rush to take the pawn on a6 and exchange a pair of rooks, which would give Black good chances of a draw.

34…♗f8 35.♖f6 a4 36.♖fxf7 a5 37.♖a7!

Now, the rooks can be exchanged, as White already has a pawn advantage on the kingside.

37…♖xa7 38.♖xa7 ♗b4 39.♖c7 a3 40.♖c2 ♔f7 41.♔f1 ♔e6 42.♔e2 ♔d5 43.♔d3

The white king comes over to relieve the rook from stopping the black passed pawn.

43…♗c5

This attempt to transfer the bishop to a better square ends badly.

44.f3 ♗d4

After 44…♗b4 45.♖e2 ♗c5 46.♔c2 ♔c4 47.♖e4+! ♗d4 48.♔b1, White should win.

45.♖c4! ♗g1 46.h3 ♗c5 47.♖e4 ♗d6 48.g4 h4 49.f4 a2 50.♖a4 ♗xf4 51.♖xa5+ ♔e6 52.♖xa2

Such an ending is hopeless for Black.

52…♔f6 53.♔e4 ♗g5 54.♔d5 ♗e3 55.♖e2 ♗g5 56.♖f2+ ♔e7 57.♔e5 ♗e3 58.♖b2

Black resigned.

157 **

Ivan Sokolov

2642

Dariusz Swiercz

2631

France tt 2013 (4)

White carelessly played

17.♘a4?

The continuation 17.d5 ♘e5 18.dxe6 ♗xe6 19.♘f4 promised approximate equality.

There followed the very concrete

17…♘xd4! 18.♖xd4 ♗xa4 19.♖b4

It turns out that after 19.♖xa4, there follows the double attack 19…♕b5 20.♖b4 ♕xe2 21.♗xb7 ♖ad8 – White’s position is worse, because of the weakness of his pawns and the activity of the black pieces. The attack on the f2-pawn will be very unpleasant.

19…♕a5 20.♗xb7 ♖ab8 21.♕f4

This is also a double attack, but without consequences for Black – White has a bishop hanging.

21…♕e5 22.♖c1 ♖fd8 23.♕xe5 ♗xe5 24.f4 ♗f6 25.♖xa4 ♖xb7 26.b4 ♖d2 27.♔f1 ♖bd7 28.♔e1 ♗d8!

Transferring the bishop to its strongest square on b6.

29.b5 ♗b6 30.♖e4 ♖a2 31.a4 ♔g7 32.g4 ♖d3 33.♖ec4 ♖f3

White resigned.

158 **

Smbat Lputian

2565

Margeir Petursson

2560

Luzern Wch tt 1993 (4)

With his last move, White withdrew his knight from d4, counting on driving the enemy rook back into its own camp. But he missed a blow, which became possible as a result of the lack of coordination between the white pieces:

21…♖xf3! 22.♕xb6

There is also not much chance of holding after 22.gxf3 ♕g5+ 23.♘g3 ♕xd2–+.

22…♕g5 23.♕xb7

23…♖h3! 24.♕a7

The idea behind Black’s last move is revealed by the simple variation 24.♖c2 ♕e3+ 25.♔h1 ♖xh2+ 26.♔xh2 ♘g4+ 27.♔h1 ♕h6+ 28.♔g1 ♕h2#.

24…♘f3+ 25.♔f2 ♘xd2

White resigned.