Game Clip (Can You Find the Best Move?)

Today I was playing some more 3+0, and I had the white side of a Sicilian, Moscow Variation (3. Bb5+). In the middlegame I felt I was better, especially with his king of f7. I didn't know how to make the most of my opportunity. I didn't see any obvious continuation, so I started looking for "wild" moves.

Take a look. See if you can find the best move. White to play.

If you need a hint, think "Sicilian sacrifice."

Also, notice the particulars of the king's vulnerable position on f7. There is a mate threat, in the so-called "dovetail" pattern. If white could get the queen to e6 (supported somehow, of course), that would be checkmate. The idea then is to *force* white to win access to that square. 

Did you find it?

Look again.

. . .

. . .

White wins with Nd5!! 

This move simultaneously attacks the queen and knight, so black is obliged to capture: ...Nxd5.

After exd5, the pawn supports mate on e6 while also hitting the rook on c6! My opponent panicked and maybe was unaware of the mate threat, so he played Rc2, allowing Qe6#. The best defense was ...Nf5, but after the heroic pawn takes the rook on c6, white is winning.

I wanted to share this tactic because I think it is instructive for a couple reasons.

First, it is important to be aware of maneuvers, plans, and even sacrifices in the openings you play, even those slightly outside your normal repertoire. My familiarity with the Nd5 motif in the Sicilian is what gave me the idea in the first place, even though this game did not come from an Open Sicilian (where the Nd5 sacrifice is most common).

Second, I think this tactic illustrates the importance of "wishful thinking" - that is, thinking, "I'd like to do X," and rather than dismissing the idea because it looks superficially unattainable, considering ways to achieve the desired position. I sensed the king's weakness and saw the mate threat on e6, and then I looked for moves that instantiated that threat. Let yourself be creative and imaginative at the board, and use your calculating abilities to see whether your inspired idea works. Sometimes your idea won't be feasible, but sometimes, well, sometimes you get to play Nd5!!

Did you solve the puzzle?

Questions and comments welcome.