The game against Leonid was very nice! Thanks for the informative analysis. Does anyone know where I can download chessbase ebooks?

Wicked!

Steal!!!

He played 20...Kg7 to guard the h6-pawn. Something like 20...Nb2 would be nice in theory, but then 21.Qxh6 Nxd1 22.Ng5 forces the win of the queen (or checkmate).

He could have tried 20...h5 as well to guard the pawn, but then he gives White the g5-square, which could be quite useful for him. Something like 21.e6 Qf6 22.exf7 Qxf7 23.Qg3 (hitting g6) Kg7 24.Ng5 and 25.Ne6+ would win material for White.

why did black move his king to 20...Kg7 on "What would you play for White after 18...h6?" was that his best move? seems like he is trying to buy time....is there another better move for black?

Ponomariov had very interesting analysis on this line in a recent NIC magazine, where he had to face the variation when Paco Vallejo whipped it out.

In the Pono game, at a key moment, Paco actually could have justified his setup and equalized but went wrong and lost prosaically.

Another interesting game and well-written article, thanks!

great

Hey guys, thanks for the comments. As for 19.Bxc4 (I think that's what you meant instead of 19.Bxc6?), the problem is that Black plays 19...Rxc4 as Zibanzo pointed out. There's still a pin on the d-file, but to take advantage of it, you have have to give your Q for the R before getting Black's Q for your R, so in the end, it's just a massive trade of pieces. Since Black is up a pawn and defending against an attack before all those trades, this doesn't really favor White.

CChess18 - thanks for pointing that out! I set the start/end points on that one incorrectly. I'll fix it now.

Redbaron, 19 Bxc6 doesn't work because of Rxc6. after 20 Qxc6 d5xc6 21 Rxd8 Rxd8 material is even but white's position is much worse and black's is better. Black has an advanced passed pawn, bishop with open diagnol, and rook on open c file. Even if 19 Bxc6 Rxc6 is met with something like 20 Nd5 or Rd5, black can just retreat and white loses his much better bishop for black's terrible knight. Qf5 was my guess. Black HAS to advance his pawn (weakening his kingside) to stave off a mating threat.

thought hard on it i just dont know this one.

goot article

question 2 board moves and question 3 board moves r the same!!

thank you, nice insight into the semi

why not 19 Bxc6? either up a piece or end up trading into queen and rook vs two rooks, right?

Thanks these articles have improved my game awareness, and increased my blitz rating

Very interesting game and good tactically defended at 36 rf7+

mmmh, let's play tabletennis:)