MARK RUBERY CHESS

Some years ago IM Ryan Van Rensburg alerted me to the following amazing game played in Vietnam. Two very strong players got embroiled in a razor-sharp position and it concluded with White’s attack arriving decisively before Black’s. However, our silicon friends show an alternative line for Le Quang where an under-promotion, followed by a queen sacrifice and then a rook sacrifice, would turn the game into a brilliant win for Black…

Ni Hua (2673) - Le Quang Liem (2703) [B90]

Asian Continental 2012 Ho Chi Minh City VIE (8.3)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.Be2 Qc7 8.g4 b5 9.g5 Nfd7 10.a3 Bb7 11.Qd2 Nc6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.f4 Nc5 14.Bf3 Qb7 15.Qd4 e5 16.fxe5 Ne6 17.Qd2 dxe5 18.Nd5 Bd6 19.0–0–0 0–0

(Both players, and perhaps particularly Le Quang, should be congratulated for their lust for a fight as the battle lines are now clearly drawn. These type of cut-andthrust games are far more entertaining for the average chess fan than the usual dour positional struggles that permeate top-flight chess) 20.h4 a5 21.h5 b4 22.h6 bxa3 23.b3 Rfc8 24.Nb6

Bb4 25.Qh2 Bxe4 26.hxg7 a2 27.Kb2 a4 28.c4 axb3 29.g6 h5 (It would be churlish to put a question mark here and it is debatable how many players would find the magnificent continuation hidden in the position) 30 Qxh5 Ba3+ 31 Kxb3 1-0 …

Now let us rewind to the position after White’s 29th move …Ba3+! 30 Kxb3 a1=N+! 31 Rxa1 …Qxb6+!! (A stupendous shot) 32 Bxb6 Nd4+ 33 Kc3 (33 Bxd4 Rcb8+ 34 Kc3 Bb4+ 35 Kb2 Bd2+ mates) …Rxc4+!

(A far from obvious conclusion to this grand combination. Now White either faces a mating net or ruinous loss of material) 34 Kxc4 (34 Kd2 Nxf3+) … Rc8+ followed by mate

‘The most cunning tactical tricks, stunning combinations, manoeuvres, zugzwang and subtle positional playthese are all just the means by which the objectives of our positional plans are achieved’-I Zaitsev