CHESS

Attack your opponent at his strongest point, I always say! The first move you should consider is the one your opponent has just prevented. If you can land a piece in the heart of the enemy fortifications, it will not only create disarray among his defensive forces, but will surely also destroy his morale. Here is a quick win from an early round of the world championship to demonstrate the point.

White: Loek van Wely

Black: Kiril Georgiev

Queen's Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Nbd2 c6 6.Bg2 d5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Ne5 0-0 9.b3 Bb7

Black has sacrificed a move with his bishop in order to lure the white knight to d2. His plan is to fight back in the centre with c5, when the knight is less effective than it would have been on c3.

10.Bb2 Na6 11.e4 Rc8 12.Re1 Bb4 13.exd5 cxd4 14.a3 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 Qc7

I have always preferred to follow the example of the late Richard Reti in such positions, with ...Rc7 and Qa8.

16.Rc1 dxc4

Clearly expecting some such continuation as 17.bxc4 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qb7+ 19.Kg1 Rfd8, when Black keeps the white central pawns under restraint.

17.Rxc4! Qe7 (See diagram.)

Black seems perfectly secure. He will exchange bishops on the long diagonal, then occupy d5 with his knight.

18.d5!

Brilliant - and surely foreseen on the previous move when White chose to recapture on c4 with the rook. Black's fortress on d5 is invaded.

18...Nxd5

18...exd5 would have run into 19.Ng6.

19.Ng4!

The point of the sacrifice. Now the power of the bishop on b2 is unleashed. White threatens not only Rxc8 followed by Bxd5, but also has visions of Nh6+, or Bxg7, or even Qh6, gxh6, Nxh6 mate!

19...h5 20.Bxg7! Kxg7

20...hxg4 is no better: after 21.Rxg4 White's attack is too strong.

21.Qh6+ Kg8 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Nf6+ Qxf6 24.Qxf6 Bxc4 25.Qg5+ Kh8 26.Qxh5+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Re4 Black resigned.

28...Bd3 29.Rh4+ Bh7 30.Qh6 ends it.