Tactics Time Chess Newsletter: Happy Holidays 2016

Published: Sun, 12/25/16

I send you every good wish for a joyous holiday season, whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule or Kwanzaa—or perhaps more than one of these!

Here is a tactic for you enjoy with your figgy pudding!

White to Play

This position comes from the game Wilhelm Steinitz vs Mikhail Chigorin, World Championship Rematch played in Havana in 1892.

White to Play

Answer Below

Here is the complete game

[Event "Steinitz - Chigorin World Championship Rematch"]
[Site "Havana CUB"]
[Date "1892.01.07"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "4"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Wilhelm Steinitz"]
[Black "Mikhail Chigorin"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "55"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. c3 g6 6. Nbd2 Bg7
7. Nf1 O-O 8. Ba4 Nd7 9. Ne3 Nc5 10. Bc2 Ne6 11. h4 Ne7 12. h5
d5 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qxd5 16. Bb3 Qc6
17. Qe2 Bd7 18. Be3 Kh8 19. O-O-O Rae8 20. Qf1 a5 21. d4 exd4
22. Nxd4 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Nxd4 24. Rxh7+ Kxh7 25. Qh1+ Kg7
26. Bh6+ Kf6 27. Qh4+ Ke5 28. Qxd4+ 1-0

You can play through this game here: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1036342

Answer

White sacrificed his rook earlier in the game to break open the h file, and has a very nice mate in three with

27.Qh4+ Ke5 28.Qxd4+ Kf5 29.Qf4#

Happy Tactics and Happy Holidays!

Your Friend,

Tim Brennan

[email protected]