Tactics Time Chess Newsletter: Naka Fishing

Published: Sat, 03/01/14

Newsletter Issue Naka Fishing

Tactics Time

Naka Fishing

If you want to catch more fish, use more hooks. ~ George Allen, Sr.


T

oday's newsletter is written by my friend, Life Master Joel Johnson, who just released his new book "Positional Attacks" yesterday!

In the position on the right it is Black to move.

Answer below.

Joel writes:

The following game is an excerpt from my new book, "Positional Attacks". The book was released on February 28, 2014.

Most players castle kingside or queenside behind their Pawn cover.

Another more daring concept is the formation of a Center Pawn Mass. The player's King will remain in the center hiding behind his Pawn cover there (with the center closed). The King will have the options of either:

moving forward a square if necessary to connect his Rooks; or
castling queenside away from the opponent's attacking pressure.

The decision can be delayed as long as possible to keep your opponent guessing as to the final resting spot of your King.

The primary benefit of this strategy is the ability of the player to attack on either wing.

Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura performs to perfection, the strategy of the Center Pawn Mass in a Bullet Chess game.

Here is the complete game

[Event "ICC 1 0"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2008.06.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Infernal-XaM"]
[Black "CapilanoBridge"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2008.??.??"]
[TimeControl "60"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 Bg4 4. d4 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. c3 Nd7 7. O-O Ne7 8. dxc5
Nc6 9. Nd4 Bxe2 10. Qxe2 Bxc5 11. Nf3 h6 12. Re1 g5 13. h3 Be7 14. Nbd2 h5 15.
Nb3 g4 16. Nfd4 Ncxe5 17. hxg4 hxg4 18. Bf4 Bd6 19. c4 Qh4 20. f3 g3 21. Bxg3
Qxg3 22. cxd5 Ng4 23. fxg4 Rh1+ 24. Kxh1 Qh2# {White checkmated} 0-1

You can play through this game here: http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2014/3/1/Game282637401.html

Answer:

With Fishing Pole-like tactics, Hikaru Nakakmura blasts a Senior Master off the board in a bullet chess game. Nakamura only used 25 seconds for all of his moves!!

White is checkmated after 23. ... Rh1+ 24. Kxh1 Qh2# 0-1

Happy Tactics!

Your Friend,

Joel

   Life Master Joel Johnson
   2007 U.S. Senior Champion
   Author of "Formation Attacks", "Formation Attack Strategies", "Attacking 101: Volume #001", and now, "Positional Attacks".