Malcolm Pein on…A Sharp Shak Attack

·

Table of Contents

Malcolm Pein continues his coverage of the New in Chess Classic in today’s Daily Telegraph column, showcasing a sharp Shak attack and a delicate ending featuring World Champion Magnus Carlsen.

Malcolm Pein on…A Sharp Shak Attack

The semi-final match between Shak Mamedyarov and Hikaru Nakamura at the New In Chess Classic on Chess24 provided great entertainment in a first set with four decisive games that Nakamura won 3-1. Games two and four featured a sharp double-pawn sacrifice in the Nimzo-Indian.

In game two, Nakamura appeared to be taken by surprise and went astray. In the return, he defended accurately and emerged with extra material.

The Nimzo-Indian in Action

S. Mamedyarov – H. Nakamura
NIC Classic KO Game two

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0–0 5.Bg5 c5 6.Rc1 cxd4 7.Nxd4 h6 8.Bh4 d5 9.cxd5 g5 10.Bg3 Qxd5 11.e3 Qxa2 12.Bd3 Qxb2 13.0–0! Bxc3 14.Rc2 Qb4 15.Nb5 (White wins a piece back at the cost of two tempi) 15…e5 16.Rxc3 Nc6 17.f4 Bg4 18.Qc2 The crossroads:

Sharp Shak Attack

(18…exf4 19.exf4 Nd5 was game four) 18…Qe7 19.fxe5 Nh5 (Black holds after 19…Nxe5 20.Rc7 Bd7, or 19…Nxe5 20.Bf5 Rad8) 20.Be1 a6 21.Nd4 Nxe5 22.Rc7 Qd6 23.Bh7+ Kh8 24.Bf5 Ng7 25.Bg3 Bh5 (25…Bxf5 26.Nxf5 Nxf5 27.Rxf5 f6 28.Rxf6 Qxf6 29.Qh7# is an inconvenient truth) 26.Qc3 Rae8

Test Your Strength

S. Mamedyarov – H. Nakamura

How did Mamedyarov win material?

In the other semifinal, Levon Aronian levelled the score against Magus Carlsen in the first set after this disaster in game three. The game ended: 43…f6?? 44.Kc3 e5 45.fxe5 fxe5 46.Kb4 1-0 White can halt the e-pawn.

Test Your Strength

Aronian - Carlsen Delicate Pawn Ending

How does Black draw?

Highlight the space below this line to reveal the answers.

Answer One:

27.Ne6! Rxe6 28.Bxe6 f6 29.Bxe5 fxe5 30.Rxf8+ Qxf8 31.Qxe5 Kh7 32.Bf5+ Bg6 33.g4 a5 1–0

Answer Two:

Black draws after 43…f5 44.Kc3 e5 45.fxe5 Kf7 46.Kb4 Ke6 47.Kxb5 Kxe5 48.Kc4 f4 49.g4 f3 50.Kd3 Kf4 51.g5 or 43…Kg7 44. h4 f5 45.Kc3 Kf6 46.Kd4 b4 47.Kc4 e5 48.Kxb4 e4= and 43…Kg7 44.h4 f5 45.Kc3 Kf6 46.Kb4 e5 47.fxe5+ Kxe5 48.Kxb5 f4 49.gxf4+ Kxf4=.

Play Through the Game

Was this helpful? Share it with a friend :)

4.9 with 3.65K user reviews

Check them on individual course pages