1

A King’s Golden Cage

Efstratios Grivas, 2010

Nowadays it is acceptable that all combinative motives can be categorized and learned by
training methods. One more combination ‘pattern’ we will examine in the present survey.

Of course I could only present the diagrammed position in question in each of the examples and
avoid the comments on the previous moves of the games. But in my opinion a combination is only
the top of the mountain; a natural consequence of the chessplayer strategy. The reader should
study how the game ‘produces’ the critical moment of the potentional combination; how this is
born in the mind of the chessplayer.

Example ○

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+R+-+0
9zp-wq-+pzpk0
9-+n+-vl-+0
9+-+L+-zPp0
9-+P+-zP-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9Ptr-wQ-+KzP0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White seems to be in trouble. His queen is attacked and 1.Be4+ g6 2.Bc2 Bg7 =+ looks like his
only defence. But the truth is different. The uncomfortable placement of the black king can decide
the game in no time!
1.g6+! fxg6
Or 1...Kxg6 2.Be4+ Kh6 3.Rh8#. But now the golden cage has closed its gates!
2.Qxb2!
The second step: the black bishop must abandon the protection of the g5-square.
2...Bxb2 3.Ng5+ Kh6 4.Rh8#
1–0

2

As always, this certain combination can be categorized, according to certain factors. These
factors can be:

1) The back rank is not satisfactory protected.

2) There are or can be created, doubled g- (or b-) pawns in the opponent’s castle.

3) The queen can be ‘sacrificed’, opening the road for the rooks (or other pieces).

4) The opponent king can be driven to the h- (or a-) file.

5) The (doubled) rook(s) can deliver the final blow from the 8

th

rank.

“During a chess competition a chessmaster should be a combination of a beast of prey and a
monk.” Alexander Alekhine

□ Alekhine,Alexander
■ Colle,Edgar
D07 Paris 1925
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Qa4!? Bxf3
The main alternative is 4...dxc4!? 5.e3 Bxf3 6.gxf3 e5 7.dxe5 Qd5 8.Nc3 Qxf3 9.Rg1 Qh5 10.Bg2
Nge7 11.f4 0–0–0 12.Qxc4 g5 oo Braun,A-Rodshtein,M/Budapest 2006.
5.exf3 e6
Black has also tried 5...dxc4 6.Bxc4 Qxd4 7.Nc3 e6 8.Be3 (8.0–0 Bd6 9.Rd1 oo/= Portisch,L-
Mariotti,S/Budapest 1975) 8...Qe5 9.Bb5 Nge7 10.0–0 0–0–0 11.Rad1 Rxd1 12.Rxd1 a5? (12...a6
13.f4 Qh5 14.Bxa6! Qa5 15.Qxa5 Nxa5 16.Bd3 +=) 13.f4 Qh5 14.b4! Nd5 15.Nxd5 Nxb4
(15...exd5 16.bxa5 d4 17.a6! +-) 16.Be2! Qxe2 17.Qe8# 1–0 Inkiov,V-Dubois,L/Clichy 2001. Of
course 5...e5? should be avoided: 6.dxe5 d4 7.Bd3 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Bxd2+ 9.Nxd2 Nge7 10.f4 +/- Da
Silva Rocha,A-Grau,R/Carrasco 1938.
6.Nc3 (D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvlntr0
9zppzp-+pzpp0
9-+n+p+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9Q+PzP-+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

6...Bb4?!
I do not really like the text-move, which surrenders the bishop-pair to White and improves his
pawn-structure. Better is 6...Nge7! 7.Bg5 (7.Be3 g6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bb5 Bg7 10.0–0 0–0 =
Fuster,G-Bronstein,D/Budapest 1949) 7...Qd7 8.Rd1 (8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bb5 Be7 10.Bxc6 bxc6
11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.0–0 0–0 13.Rac1 Rfb8 14.b3 a5 = Gebhardt,U-Zaragatski,I/Hamburg 2005)

3

8...h6 9.Bf4 g5 10.Be3 Bg7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.h4 0–0–0 oo Ivanov,I-Watson,J/New York 1984.
7.a3! Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nge7 9.Rb1 Rb8 10.cxd5 Qxd5
The other capture with 10...exd5 is also pleasant for White: 11.Bd3 0–0 12.Qc2 (12.0–0 Qd6
(12...Nc8?! 13.Qc2 h6 14.a4 Nb6 15.Qa2 +/- Borocz,I-Ruck,T/Zalakaros 1995) 13.g3 Ng6 14.Bb2
a6 15.Qc2 Nce7 16.h4 Rfe8 17.h5 Nf8 18.Bc1 h6 19.Bf4 += Smistik,M-Novak,P/Svetla nad
Sazavou 1996) 12...Ng6 13.0–0 Re8 14.f4 Qd6 15.g3 Na5 16.f5 Nf8 17.Bf4 +/- Kempinski,R-
Spyra,W/Karvina 1994. The bishop-pair is like heaven, at least in such a position.
11.Bd3 0–0 12.0–0 Qd6 13.Qc2 Ng6 14.f4 Nce7
Not helpful is 14...Nxf4 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Be4 Nd5 17.Re1 +/-.
15.g3 Rfd8 16.Rd1 b6 17.a4 (D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-tr-+k+0
9zp-zp-snpzpp0
9-zp-wqp+n+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9P+-zP-zP-+0
9+-zPL+-zP-0
9-+Q+-zP-zP0
9+RvLR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White enjoys a healthy advantage. His bishop-pair and the possibility to create initiative in both
flanks is a welcome concept for every strong player.
17...Nd5 18.Bd2?!
18.f5! is more accurate: 18...exf5 19.Bxf5 +/- as now Black cannot continue with 19...c5? 20.dxc5
Qxc5 21.Rb5 +-.
18...c5!
Black must create pawn weaknesses in White's camp, in order to find some counterplay.
19.f5 exf5 20.Bxf5 cxd4 21.cxd4 Nde7 22.Bb4 Qf6 23.Bxe7?!
White should maintain his slight advantage with 23.Bh3 Nc6! (23...Rxd4?! 24.Qc7 Re8 25.Re1
Rdd8 26.Bg2 +/-) 24.d5 Nxb4 25.Rxb4 Qd6 26.Re4 +=.
23...Qxe7
Not of course 23...Nxe7? 24.Bxh7+ Kf8 25.Be4! Rxd4 26.Rxd4 Qxd4 27.Rd1 Qe5 28.Rd7 +/-.
24.Rbc1 Rd5?
According to modern middlegame theory, Black had to create a passed pawn of his own, in order
to keep equal chances. This is best done with 24...a6! 25.d5 b5 26.axb5 axb5 =.
25.Be4 Rd7 26.d5 Qf6
26...Re8 27.Re1 Rdd8 28.Re2 Qd7 29.Rce1 is another try for Black, although White keeps his
advantage.
27.Re1 Rbd8 28.Qc6?!
I 'd rather like 28.Rcd1 Ne7! 29.Rd3! (29.Bxh7+?! Kf8 30.Be4 Nxd5) where White keeps a nice
advantage.
28...Qg5? (D)
This is a fatal mistake, which allows a nice combination. Black had to continue with 28...Ne7!
29.Qxf6 (29.Qb5 g6 30.Rcd1 Nf5 31.Qb4 [31.Bxf5 Qxf5 32.Qa6 =] 31...Nd6 =) 29...gxf6 30.d6
Rxd6 31.Rc7 R8d7 32.Bxh7+ Kf8 33.Rxd7 Rxd7 34.Bc2 Rd2 35.Rc1 +=.

4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9zp-+r+pzpp0
9-zpQ+-+n+0
9+-+P+-wq-0
9P+-+L+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+-zP-zP0
9+-tR-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

At first sight it would seem that Black has neutralised the dangerous passed d-pawn, and there is
now way for White to make use of the Black's temporary weakness on the back rank.
29.Bxg6!
This looks quite strange, since now the d-pawn cannot be protected anymore. But Alekhine used
this move to support his strategical plan with tactical nuances.
29...hxg6? (D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9zp-+r+pzp-0
9-zpQ+-+p+0
9+-+P+-wq-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+-zP-zP0
9+-tR-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Obviously 29...Qxg6? was bad due to 30.Qxd7 with a simple mate threat, but what is wrong with
Colle's move which after all opens a safe haven for the black king on h7? In fact the only move
was 29...fxg6 though it wouldn't have stopped White's decisive advantage: 30.Qe6+ Rf7 (30...Kf8
31.Rc4! Rf7 [31...Rxd5 loses nicely to 32.Rf4+ Rf5 33.Re5!!] 32.Rc8 wins) 31.Rc8 Rxc8 (31...h6
32.f4 ; 31...Kf8 32.Qe8+ Rxe8 33.Rcxe8#) 32.Qxc8+ Rf8 33.Re8 Qf6 34.Rxf8+ Qxf8 35.Qc7!
(35.Qc6 Qd8 36.d6 Kf7 37.Qc4+ Kf8 38.Qc7 Ke8 39.Qxg7 Qxd6 40.Qg8+ Kd7 41.Qxh7+ Kc6
42.h4! +/- but not 42.Qxa7 Qd1+ 43.Kg2 Qd5+ 44.f3 Qd2+ 45.Kh3 Qh6+ 46.Kg4 Qh5+ 47.Kf4
Qf5+ 48.Ke3 =) 35...Qf3 36.Qb8+ Qf8 37.Qxa7 Qd6 38.Qb7 Kf8 39.Kf1 +-.
30.Qxd7!! Rxd7 31.Re8+
The 'correct' rook. The 'alternative' 31.Rc8+? Rd8 -+ would have ruined an excellent combination.
31...Kh7 32.Rcc8
What an irony! The black men on the g-file create a burial site for their own king. There is no
escape...

5

32...Rd8 33.Rexd8!
33.Rcxd8? prolongs the game: 33...Qc1+ 34.Kg2 g5 +/-. But now Black had to resign.
1–0

□ Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar
■ Timofeev,Artyom
D45 Moscow Aeroflot 2004
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0–0 Be7 9.e4!?
Most players try 9.b3 here.
9...dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 Nf6 12.Ne5 (D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
9-zpp+psn-+0
9+-+-sN-+-0
9-+PzPL+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

12.Bd3 c5 seems to be OK for Black: 13.dxc5 Bxc5 = 14.b4?! Bxb4 15.Qa4+ Qd7 16.Qxb4 Qxd3
17.Ba3 0–0–0 18.Rfe1 Bxf3 19.Re3 Qd2 20.Rxf3 Qxb4 21.Bxb4 Rd4 -/+ Drozdovskij,Y-
Smeets,J/Oropesa del Mar 1998.
12...Rc8
Obviously 12...Qxd4? 13.Bxc6+ Bxc6 14.Nxc6 favours White.
13.Rd1 Nxe4
Black must capture the bishop, as after 13...0–0? 14.Bf3 +/- he will face hugh difficulties in
advancing his c-pawn to c5.
14.Qxe4 0–0 15.Bf4 Ba8
With 15...Bf6!? 16.Rd3 Qe7 Black could obtain a position from the game Stefanova,A-
Polgar,S/Vienna 1996 (with the white rook on f1 instead of a1), in which Polgar successfully
neutralized her opponent's initiative and won.
16.Rd3 c5 17.Qe3!
Black would have an easy game after 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 Bd6 =.

6

17...Qe8!
The text-move avoids a devilish trap, which can be seen after 17...cxd4? 18.Rxd4 Qe8 19.Nd7 Bc5
(D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9l+r+qtrk+0
9zp-+N+pzpp0
9-zp-+p+-+0
9+-vl-+-+-0
9-+PtR-vL-+0
9+-+-wQ-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

20.Nf6+! gxf6 21.Bh6 Be4 (21...Kh8? 22.Bg7+! Kxg7 23.Rg4+ Kh8 24.Qh6 mates) 22.Qxe4 Kh8
(22...f5? 23.Qg4+! fxg4 24.Rxg4+ Kh8 25.Bg7+ Kg8 26.Bf6#) 23.Rd2 Rg8 24.Rad1 +/-.
18.d5?!
White should consider to continue with 18.dxc5!? f6! (18...Bxc5?! 19.Qg3 +/-) 19.Nd7 e5!
(19...Bxc5? 20.Nxc5 Rxc5 21.Bd6) 20.Bg3 (20.Nxf8 exf4 21.Qxf4 Bxf8 22.cxb6 axb6 23.b3 oo)
20...Bxc5 21.Qe2 Rf7 22.Nxc5 Rxc5 23.b3 +=.
18...exd5 19.cxd5 c4!
19...Bd6 20.Qg3 +=.
20.Rdd1
20.Rd2 Bb4 21.Rdd1 Bd6 does not change anything.
20...Bd6
Black would be also stand fine after 20...f6 21.Ng4 (21.d6? fxe5 22.d7 Qg6 ; 21.Nc6 Bxc6
22.dxc6 Rxc6 23.Re1 Rf7) 21...Bc5 22.Qg3 Qd7 23.Ne3 Bxe3 24.fxe3 f5.
21.Qg3 Qb5?! (D)
Black should have continued with 21...Rc5! 22.Nxc4 (22.Nd3 Bxf4 23.Nxf4 Qe4 24.Rac1 Qf5 oo)
22...Bxf4 23.Qxf4 Rxd5 =.

XIIIIIIIIY
9l+r+-trk+0
9zp-+-+pzpp0
9-zp-vl-+-+0
9+q+PsN-+-0
9-+p+-vL-+0
9+-+-+-wQ-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

7

22.Nc6! Bxf4 23.Ne7+ Kh8 24.Qxf4 Rcd8 25.Rd2 Qc5 26.d6 Rd7?!
White, helped by Black's 21st move, achieved the advantage, but Black's last move increase it.
Better was 26...f5 +=.
27.Rc1 b5 28.Rc3!
Threatening Rh3-h7+!
28...Rfd8
Black feels short of moves: 28...g6 29.Qf6# ; 28...h6 29.Ng6+ ; 28...f5!? 29.Re3 +/-.
29.Re3?!
White missed the strong 29.Qxf7! Be4 30.Rg3 Qe5 31.f4 Qf6 32.Qxf6 gxf6 33.Rd4 Bb1 34.a4 a6
35.f5 +/-.
29...Rxd6? (D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9l+-tr-+-mk0
9zp-+-sNpzpp0
9-+-tr-+-+0
9+pwq-+-+-0
9-+p+-wQ-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0
9PzP-tR-zPPzP0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

The text-move loses by force, as White can present the 'usual combination'. Bad was also 29...h6
30.Qxf7 Qg5 31.Rg3 Qf6 32.Ng6+ Kh7 33.Nf8+ +- but Black should try the interesting and far
from completely clear line with 29...Qb4!? 30.Rde2 Qxd6 31.Qxf7 Qd1+ 32.Re1 Qg4 33.f3
(33.Rg3? Rd1!) 33...Qd4 34.Kf1 Qf6 35.Ng6+! hxg6 36.Re8+ Kh7 37.Qg8+ Kh6 38.h4! (38.Qh8+
Kg5 39.R8e5+ Qxe5 40.Rxe5+ Kf4 41.Re8 Rd1+ 42.Kf2 R1d2+ =) 38...g5! 39.Qh8+! (39.R1e6
Rd1+ =) 39...Kg6 40.hxg5 Rxe8 41.Qxe8+ Qf7 42.Qxa8 Qd5 43.Qe8+ Qf7 44.Qc8 +/- or the
modest but safe enough 29...f6! 30.Re6 Qg5 31.Qxg5 fxg5 +=.
30.Ng6+!! hxg6
The alternatives are: 30...fxg6 31.Qxd6 Rxd6 32.Re8# ; 30...Rxg6 31.Rxd8+ ; 30...Kg8 31.Rxd6
Qxd6 32.Qxd6 Rxd6 33.Re8#.
31.Qh4+ Qh5
Or 31...Kg8 32.Qxd8+ Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kh7 34.Rh3+ +-.
32.Qxd8+! Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kh7 34.Ree8
Black resigned as the forced 34...g5 35.Rh8+ Kg6 36.Rxh5 Kxh5 37.Rxa8 leaves him a rook
down.
1–0

8

□ Azmaiparashvili,Zurab
■ Shirov,Alexei
A07 Dubai FIDE GP 2002
1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nd2 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Ngf3 Nbd7 7.0–0 e5 8.e4 Bd6 9.exd5 cxd5 (D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9zpp+n+pzpp0
9-+-vl-sn-+0
9+-+pzp-+l0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+P+NzPP0
9PzPPsN-zPL+0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

10.g4!?
The most usual move is 10.c4 0–0 (10...d4 11.Qe2 0–0 12.g4 Bg6 13.Nh4 Nc5 14.Nxg6 hxg6
15.b4 +/- King,D-Norwood,D/Germany tt 1994) 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Qb3 (12.Nc4!? Bc7 13.Qb3
N5b6 14.Bg5! Qe8 15.Rfe1 (15.Rac1 Nxc4? 16.Qxc4 += Hodgson,J-De la Villa Garcia,J/Dos
Hermanas 1992) 15...Kh8 16.Bd2 f6 17.Bb4 Rg8 18.Nd4 += Norwood,D-Girinath,P/Calcutta
1994) and now:
a) 12...N5f6 13.Nc4 (13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.dxe4 Nc5 15.Qd5 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Qf6 17.Bg2 Rfd8 18.Be3
Bf8 19.Qc4 Nd3 = Norwood-Adams/Plymouth Ch-UK 1989) 13...Nc5 (13...Bc7 14.Be3 b6
15.Rfe1 Rc8?! [15...a6 16.d4 ; 15...Re8!? ; 15...Rb8 16.d4] 16.d4 Bxf3 [16...exd4 17.Nxd4 +/- ;
16...e4 17.Nfe5 x c6, e4] 17.Bxf3 e4 [17...exd4 18.Bxd4 +/-] 18.Bg2 Re8 [18...a6!] 19.Rac1 +/-
[19.Qb5!?] Vaganian,R-Torre,E/Moscow OL 1994) 14.Qa3 e4 (14...Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Be7 16.Nxe5
Ncd7 17.Qc3 Rc8 18.Qe1 Bc5 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Kg2 += Vaganian,R-Kaidanov,G/Glendale 1994)
15.dxe4 Ncxe4 16.Nxd6 Qxd6 17.Qxd6 Nxd6 18.Bf4 += Kogan,A-Jonkman,H/Lisbon 2000.
b) 12...N5b6 13.Ne4 Be7 14.a4 (14.Be3 Kh8 15.Rac1 += Bricard,E-Stefansson,H/Bischwiller
1999) 14...Kh8! (14...a5 15.Be3 Bb4 16.Rfc1 Kh8 17.Nc5 [17.d4!?] 17...Nxc5 18.Bxc5 Bxc5
19.Rxc5 f6 = Foisor,C-Delgado Crespo,M/Benasque 2001 ; 14...Rb8? 15.a5 Nc8 16.d4! +/-
Ivanov,M-Kharitonov,A/Moscow 1995) 15.a5 f5! oo Vaganian,R-Khalifman,A/Eupen 1994.
10...Bg6 11.Nh4 0–0 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.c4
The alternative is 13.Nf3 Rc8 14.Nh4 Nb6 15.a4 a5 oo Haziev,A-Bakhtiyarova,A/Ufa 2004.
13...Nc5 14.Nb3
Or 14.cxd5 Nxd3 15.Nc4 (15.Qb3 Nf4) 15...Nxc1 16.Rxc1 Re8 =.
14...dxc4 15.dxc4 Qc7 16.Be3
Unclear is also the alternative continuation with 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.g5 Nh5 18.Qb3. But in general
Black should happy of the opening outcome, since he is fighting under equal terms, having
neutralized White's (minimal) opening edge.
16...e4!? 17.Nxc5
Bad is 17.g5?! Nfd7 =+.
17...Bxc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Qe2 Rfe8 20.Rac1
Interesting is 20.Rad1 where Black should avoid 20...e3? 21.Bxb7 Rab8 22.Bd5 Rxb2 23.Qxb2 e2
24.Qb5 +/-.
20...Rad8 21.Rc3 Rd4 22.Qe3 Red8 23.Re1?!

9

In my opinion White should have tried 23.g5 Nh7 24.h4 oo.
23...Qb4?!
Why not 23...g5! 24.a3 a5 =+ ?
24.g5! (D)
24.a3?! Qxb2 25.Rb3 Qc2 26.Rxb7 Rxc4 27.Rxa7 Rd1 28.Rf1 Rc8 is about equal, although it
seems that White should be on the alert.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9zpp+-+pzp-0
9-+-+-snp+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9-wqPtrp+-+0
9+-tR-wQ-+P0
9PzP-+-zPL+0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

24...Rd3?
Black had to be 'satisfied' with the modest 24...Nh7 25.Bxe4 Qxb2 26.Rb3 Qxa2 27.Bxb7 Nxg5
28.Ra3 Qd2 29.Qxd2 Rxd2 30.Bd5 +=.
25.Qc1?!
A much better continuation than the game was with the simple 25.Rxd3! Rxd3 26.Qc1 Nh5
27.Rxe4 Rd2 28.a3 Qxb2 29.Qxb2 Rxb2 30.Re8+ Kh7 31.Re7 +/-.
25...Nh5 26.Bxe4 Rd2?
Too optimistic. Forced was 26...Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Qxc3 28.bxc3 b6 29.Bd5 Nf4 30.Kh2 Kf8! +=
(30...Nxd5?! 31.Rd1 Kf8 32.cxd5 Ke7 33.c4 +/-).
27.Bd5! R8xd5
Black had counted in the text-move when he entered this variation, as the alternatives are clearly
lost for him: 27...Qxb2 28.Qxb2 Rxb2 29.Rf3 Kh7 30.Re7 +- ; 27...Rxb2 28.a3 Qb6 29.c5 +-.
28.cxd5 Qf4 (D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9zpp+-+pzp-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+P+-zPn0
9-+-+-wq-+0
9+-tR-+-+P0
9PzP-tr-zP-+0
9+-wQ-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

10

29.Rf3?
An interesting moment of mutual blindness. Both players overlooked the 'well-known'
combination: 29.Re8+ Kh7 30.Qxd2! Qxd2 31.Rcc8 Qxg5+ 32.Kf1 Ng3+ 33.Ke1 +-. The only
logical explanation is that this was a rapid game, but still...
29...Qxf3 30.Qxd2 Nf4
And now Black wins!
31.Qxf4 Qxf4 32.Rd1 Qxg5+ 33.Kf1 Kf8
0–1

Sometimes we can come across similar patterns, which help us not to mate on the usual way, but
just to win material or even strategical superiority. An excellent example is the following game
between the two K’s:

□ Kasparov,Garry
■ Karpov,Anatoly
E21 Moscow Wch m (11) 1985
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0–0 5.Bg5 c5 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 h6 8.Bh4 d5 9.Rc1 dxc4
10.Bxc4 Nc6 11.0–0 Be7 12.Re1 b6 13.a3 Bb7 14.Bg3 Rc8 15.Ba2 Bd6 16.d5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5
Bxg3 18.hxg3 exd5 19.Bxd5 Qf6 20.Qa4 Rfd8 21.Rcd1 Rd7 (D)

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0
9zpl+r+pzp-0
9-zpn+-wq-zp0
9+-+L+-+-0
9Q+-+-+-+0
9zP-+-+NzP-0
9-zP-+-zPP+0
9+-+RtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

22.Qg4! Rcd8?
Equally bad was 22...Re7? 23.Rxe7! Qxe7 24.Bxf7+! Qxf7 25.Rd7 h5 26.Qh3 +- or 22...Rdc7
23.b4! += or finally 22...Rdd8 23.b4! +=. But Black could have achieved a perfectly playable
position with 22...Rd6! 23.Be4 (23.Re4 Rf8! 24.Rf4 Qd8 25.Qh5 Ne5!) 23...Rcd8 24.Rxd6 Rxd6
25.b4 Re6! =.
23.Qxd7!
The ‘usual’ pattern. The queen is sacrificed in order to open the road to the back rank and by using
the opponent’s king placement, to win material.
23...Rxd7 24.Re8+ Kh7 25.Be4+
Black resigned as he is losing too much material after 25...g6 26.Rxd7 Ba6 27.Bxc6.
1–0