Combinations from Tata Steel 2015

Posted by in Tactics on Feb 1st, 2015 | 2 comments
Combinations from Tata Steel 2015

 

The Tata Steel Chess Tournament features some of the very best chess players in the world. 2700+ chess is often decided by subtle opening innovations, the accumulation of advantages, and protracted grinds that eventually break the opponent. However, even here the occasional forcing combination reminds us how basic tactics are an important element of chess at any level.

This week’s tactical exercises come from the Masters and Challengers sections of the 78th Tata Steel tourney that finished on January 25th.

For help on using these exercises click here.

Exercise 1 (Easy)

Ding – Saric round 8 Masters

To be fair, Black probably saw this coming, but felt forced to play actively a few moves previously because the position was already desperate.

Exercise 2 (Easy)

Ivanchuk – So round 8 Masters

Chucky resigned here. How could the American end the game after the natural looking 27.Be3?

Exercise 3 (Easy)

Saric – Vachier-Lagrave round 7 Masters

MVL has sacrificed a piece, and best play would have resulted in a draw by perpetual check. However after Rd2?? a winning combination was executed.

Exercise 4 (Easy)

Timman – Dale round 5 Challengers

Dutch legend Jan Timman had a disastrous 2015 tournament, but was victorious in this encounter.

Exercise 5 (Medium)

Haast – Shankland round 13 Challengers

Anne Haast, who scored her final WGM norm at Tata Steel 2015, falls victim to a forcing sequence by US standout Sam Shankland.

Exercise 6 (Medium)

Potkin – Gunina round 3 Challengers

The Black position is creaking. How did White decide the game?

Exercise 7 (Medium)

So – Saric round 11 Masters

There are a lot of pieces hanging. How did White take advantage of the moment?

Exercise 8 (Medium)

Wei – Sevian round 6 Challengers

In this battle between rising stars, White’s more centralized pieces and a lightly defended king spell trouble for Black.

Exercise 9 (Difficult)

Carlsen – Radjabov round 9 Masters

Classic Carlsen: a slow positional buildup followed by decisive action against the king.

Exercise 10 (Difficult)

Navara – Michiels round 8 Challengers

Black menaces both …gxf4 and …Be4. How did White prove his own threats to be more relevant?

Exercise 11 (Difficult)

Wei – Haast round 12 Challengers

This is arguably the most beautiful combination of the tournament.

Exercise 12 (Difficult)

Ivanchuk – Jobava round 1 Masters

The game continued 28.Qxc3. In the post-game interview, Ivanchuk explained the tactical consequences of 23.Bxf6. Is 23.Bxf6 an improvement over the game?

Solutions

Solution to Exercise 1

Solution to Exercise 2

Solution to Exercise 3

Solution to Exercise 4

Solution to Exercise 5

Solution to Exercise 6

Solution to Exercise 7

Solution to Exercise 8

Solution to Exercise 9

Solution to Exercise 10

Solution to Exercise 11

Solution to Exercise 12

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