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The following represent a variety of positions by talented Black players. In each diagram, you're challenged to find the winning line. Each position ends with decisive material gain or mate. Solve each of the four problems (as deep as possible) and check your answers by scrolling below. No peeking!!
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IM Oladapo Adu - GM Alex Stripunsky
White to Move (after 37…Rc6-c7)
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NM Nathan Ateka - NM Grace Nsubuga
Black to Move (after 15. Kg1-h1)
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NM Adrian Jackson - IM Odion Aikhoje
Black to Move (after 37.Rc7-c1)
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FM Kenny Solomon - IM Kudzanai Mamombe
Black to Move (after 24.g2-g3)
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Solutions
No. 1 Adu-Stripunsky (2003 World Open)
The Nigerian Master has pried open the black King's position and exploits it with great effect after the snappy 38.Bxe6+! The ensuing trades are forced giving white a pawn advantage. Adu threatened to further weaken the King's position with a h4, h5 thrust. Stripunsky played …h5 and Adu would march him king up the board as an attacking piece to mate the king! Black's kingside pawns were gobbled and in the final position, white threatened to queen a pawn and mate with two Queens… so black resigned. (See game)
No. 2 Ateka-Nsubuga (2002 Chess Olympiad, Bled; Kenya vs. Uganda)
These two African gladiators know each other very well having competed in East African tournaments. This game came out of the quiet Ruy Lopez, but the Ugandan Master wanted none of the subtle positional maneuvers and struck with 15…Ng3+! Accepting the sacrifice is forced, but after 16.hxg3, Nsubuga played the killer intermezzo 16…Qh6+! and after 17.Kg1 Bxe3+ 18.Rf2 Re5 black's kingside attack will crash through. White gave up. (See game)
No. 3 A. Jackson-Aikhoje (1999 British Championship)
Nigeria's Aikhoje had just come off of a stellar performance in the 1998 Olympiad winning a gold medal on board two. He plays an interesting game out of the Alekhine's Defense and a battle with the heavy pieces on an open board ensued. After dodging checks by the white rook, Aikhoje came up with a rook shot of his own in 37…Rd2! White must lose massive material, but preferred a swift ending after 38.Rxg6 Qxg6+ 39.Kf1 Rf2+ 0-1. (See game)
No. 4 K. Solomon-Mamombe (1998 African Zonal, Gauteng)
This combination is quite instructive and features a number of different sacrificial motifs. Of course this game start as a Classical King's Indian as noted by the pawn structures. It appeared that white had built a solid fortress to protect his king, but that became an illusion after the Zimbabwean International Master shattered white's position with 24…Nxf3+! After 25.Rxf3 hxg4 26.Rf2 Nxe4, black had sacked a knight for an imposing kingside pawn armada. Black wasn't finished yet! The game continued 27.Rh3 f3 28.Qd3 Rxc4! Wham! Another blow to the head! Now 29.Qxc4 Qxb6+ 30. Kh1 Nf2+ 31. Kg1 Nh3+ 32. Kh1 Rh7! (threatening 33…Qg1+!! and 34…Nf2#) 33. Bc5 (desperation) 33…Qxc5 34. Qxc5 dxc5 and white played a few more moves before the black pawn armada steamrolled white's position into mush. Powerful display of energy by Mamombe! (See game)
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