In Chess Tactics: The King’s role in attack – part 1, you saw how one King, while apparently running away from opponent’s checks, was actually moving towards the enemy camp to assist his own pieces for trapping the opponent’s King. By the time the opponent realized what was happening, it was too late to do anything about it.
The three games we have chosen for this article is slightly different from the aforesaid theme. Here a King deliberately steps out of his castled position and marches towards the enemy King to provide support to his own attacking pieces. Of course this was possible because though opponent’s heavy pieces were still on board, the pawn positions severely restricted their free movement and the attacking King deftly maneuvered through the crowded position.
First game – position after 30 moves:
31
Kh2
Rc8
If Black could guess the intention behind the White King’s move, he could try 31. … Bc8. We would have missed the interesting ending, but White could have still won the game by:31. … Bc8 32. Ng5 Bxd7 33. Rf4. For example: 33. … Bc8 34. Nxf7 (threatening 35. Qxg6#) Rxf7 35. Qxf7+ Kh8 36. Qxg6 Qd7 37. Qxh5+ Qh7 (37. … Kg8 38. Rg4+ Kf8 39. Qh8+ Ke7 40. Qf6#) 38. Qxe8+ and Black has to give up his Queen to avoid checkmate.
32.
Kg3
Rce8
Black is so short of option that he just keeps moving his pieces without much purpose!
33.
Kg4
Bc8
34.
Kg5
Resigns
34. … Bxd7 35. Kh6 any 36. Qg7# 34. … Kh7 35. Rxf7+ Rxf7 36. Qxf7+ Kh8 37. Kh6 with mate in two moves.
Position after 34. Kg5:
Second game – position after 33 moves:
34
f4
Ra2+
1…Rxd4 2. f5 exf5 3 e6 Re4+ 4 Nxe4 fxe4 (4…Bb3 5. Ke3) 5 Rc7, threatening Rxc6
35.
Kf3
Ra3+
36.
Kg4
Rd3
37.
f5
Rxd4
38.
Kg5
exf5
39.
Kf6
Rg4
40.
Rc7
Rh4
41.
Nf7+
Resigns
41. … Ke8 42. Rc8+ Kd7 43. Rd8#
Position after 41. Nf7+:
Third game – position after 28 moves:
29
Kf2
h6
30.
Ke1
Re6
31.
Qg3
Be8
32.
Kd2
g5
33.
Kc3
Kf8
34.
Kb4
Bf7
35.
Ka5
Kg7
36.
Kb6
Kf8
37.
Kc7
Kg7
38.
Kd7
Kf8
39.
Qf2
Rg6
40.
Qf5
h5
41.
g3
Resigns
Black is […] Continue Reading…