There are few worse feelings in chess than the sudden realization that your opponent has a strong move available. Sometimes you realize this right after making your own move, and must sit there squirming, awaiting the judgment of fate. Other times, you’ll remain oblivious right up to the moment when the hammer falls. In either case, you feel the agony of hope draining away as you grasp at variations, searching for a salvation that doesn’t exist.
The following position is from Yasser Seirawan vs. Viktor Korchnoi, Las Palmas 1971.
Korchnoi, who had been pressing earlier in the game, decided to capture on c5 here, intending to exchange rooks. Was this a good idea?
Reveal Solution
What could be more routine than an exchange of rooks? This one turned out to be anything but routine.
Our next example is from a game I watched in person. At the 2011 North American Open, I was playing on the board next to then FM (later IM) Teddy Coleman. The following interesting position arose:
White had been pressing for a while, but things were beginning to start looking up for black, whose knight is eyeing the powerful outpost on d3. White decided to play Qd4 here, intending to exchange queens if black moves his knight (ex. Nxc6 Qxf6, when white is happy).
Was this a wise decision?
Reveal Solution
Black’s next move came as a shock to me as I was watching the game, and I distinctly remember white’s face falling when he saw it appear on the board. White must have felt the sinking feeling acutely as he contemplated variations such as the one shown below.
In the following game from 2002, IM Justin Sarkar had been defending a difficult position with black against the young Hikaru Nakamura. Through tenacious defense, he managed to reach the diagram position.
Here, black decided that the logical conclusion of his defense was to tuck his harassed king away on g8, thereby completing its long “castling by hand” maneuver.
Was this a good time to do so?
Reveal Solution
Unfortunately for black, this natural move runs into Rxe4! when the rook cannot be recaptured due to the threat of mate on f8.
In Vladimir Kramnik-Wang Hao, Dortmund 2013, Wang Hao (black) was defending a slightly worse endgame against the former world champion.
In keeping with the rule that rooks belong behind passed pawns, Wang Hao played Ra2 here.
Do you agree with this decision?
Reveal Solution
The general principle was sound, but here Ra2 loses to the crafty sequence Qb8+-b1+.
In game 6 of the 2014 World Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand, Carlsen (white) had been enjoying his two bishops and pressure on h6.
In the endgame, it’s often a good idea to bring your king closer to the action. Carlsen attempted to do this by playing Kd2 here. Was this advisable?
Reveal Solution
Next time you start to experience the sinking feeling, take heart! And be sure to keep a poker face! Carlsen must have done so after Kd2, since Anand failed to spot the tactical shot Nxe5.
Next time you see a natural, principled move, by all means play it. But be sure to pause and check for danger first. You might end up saving yourself some agony. And if you do miss a strong reply, stay calm and act confident-your opponent might be as blinded as you were!
