Sharp attacking finish!

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

One of my favourite cities in the whole world, San Sebastian, is holding the 36th Edition of the popular San Sebastian Open. This year the event is not as large nor as strong as usual–probably because of the effects of the crisis in Europe–but the organizers have still achieved one of the year’s strongest opens in Spain. There are not less than 21 titled players representing 12 countries.

Below is a cute finish from yesterday’s round:

Aranaz Murillo,A

San Rodero,M

Both sides are playing all or nothing as they each try to mate the other’s King. White’s attack is the stronger, with threats such as h6 and Nf5 hanging in the air. Black has no obvious way to get her Queen into such an active position as the White Queen has already achieved, and trying to re-organize with 22…Qc7 (hoping to exchange Queens!) 23.Qe6! achieves nothing. Therefore, Black embarques on violent measures to expose the White King:

22…Nxb4!?

The only practical chance! If now White takes the Knight he loses immediately: 23.PxN? Qxb4+ 24.Bb3 Qc3 etc. So White, also, has no choice but to proceed with his own attack on the other side of the board…

23.h6!

Black has a discovered check but, fortunately for White, it can only do limited damage! If now 23… Nxa2+ 24. Bb3! Nxc3+ 25. Kc2! Qd4! only try 26. hxg7+ Qxg7 27. Qxg7+ Kxg7 28. Kxc3 and White must eventually win. THEREFORE, Black takes his best chance

23…Nd5+ 24.Bb3!Bf8!

Attack and Defence at every turn!

25.Nf5!

Renewing the threat on g7. Relatively best now is to play 25…Qc7, giving up a piece to take the mate out of White’s attack. However, there would be no practical drawing chances in such a line…so Black tries to hold things together as long as he can on the Kingside and hope for an inaccuracy on White’s part…

25…Pxh6 26.Nxh6