ODT070717

=**Brilliancy prize to Croad**=


 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in four.

At the recent Otago Queen's Birthday Open one prize was not awarded immediately following the end of the event. The Brilliancy prize of $200 required a review and some analysis of the games. 'Brilliancy' was taken to mean a game with a period of sparkling play, rather than a faultless win.

While there were many fine games, the game to emerge the winner featured a sound piece sacrifice to expose the opposing king followed by a king-hunt to mate. It was played in the third round between Nicholas Croad, who finished second in the event, and Mirek Voracek, who finished tied for third. Croad, the winner of the game and the prize, was Black. media type="custom" key="26829142" In this variation of the Queen's Indian Defence, White usually exchanges pawns on c5 or defends d4 here. Black can keep the pawn and it looks as if White will get double-edged play but not more for it. Tempting White to try 9 b5!? Bxb5 10 cxb5 Nb4 11 Qb2 when either 11 ... Nc2+ 12 Kd1 Nxa1 or 11 ... Rc2!? 12 axb4 Rxb2 13 Bxb2 Bxb4+ exposes the White king for a small investment in material. Offering back the pawn, which could have been held with 10 ...e5. After White's next Black intends to attack the pinned c-pawn instead. The c-pawn is doomed, but Black's kingside remains undeveloped. Black wisely decides to develop and castle rather than try to hold his extra pawn. In fact 17 ... Rxc3 18 Nxc3 Bd6 19 a4! would have regained the pawn for White. Since White's plan is to play a4, creating a passed pawn on the queenside, Black plays for a kingside attack. If White breaks up the black king's pawn cover with 23 Bxf6 gxf6, the two bishops, central control and open g-file could assist Black. White chooses to restrain Black's central pawns. The only chance to win, since 30 ... Bxd5 31 Rxd5 Qxe2 is equal. White throws away the fruits of his strong play since the opening in one move. Instead 31 Rd1 Bxd5 32 Qxd5 was a level ending. Now Black pursues the white king out into the open. White is forced to give back the plunder. E.g. 34 Kg4 h5+! 35 Kg5 Qf6+ 36 Kxh5 Qg6+ 37 Kh4 Rxh2 mate. However the attack continues... Threatening mate on h8, but we have reached the position in today's diagram and Black has mate in four.
 * 1. d4 Nf6**
 * 2. c4 e6**
 * 3. Nf3 b6**
 * 4. g3 Ba6**
 * 5. Qc2 c5**
 * 6. Bg2 Nc6**
 * 7. a3?! ---**
 * 7. --- cxd4**
 * 8. b4 Rc8!?**
 * 9. O-O b5**
 * 10. Rd1 Qb6**
 * 11. c5 Qc7**
 * 12. Nxd4 Nxd4**
 * 13. Rxd4 d6**
 * 14. c6! d5**
 * 15. Rd3 Qxc6**
 * 16. Rc3 Qd7**
 * 17. Be3 Be7**
 * 18. Rxc8+ Bxc8**
 * 19. Bxa7 O-O**
 * 20. Bd4 Bb7**
 * 21. Nc3 Rc8**
 * 22. Qb3 Bd6!?**
 * 23. f4 Re8**
 * 24. a4 bxa4**
 * 25. Rxa4 e5**
 * 26. fxe5 Bxe5**
 * 27. b5 Bxd4+**
 * 28. Rxd4 Qe7**
 * 29. Nxd5 Nxd5**
 * 30. Bxd5 Qxe2!!**
 * 31. Bxb7? ---**
 * 31. --- Qe1+**
 * 32. Kg2 Re2+**
 * 33. Kh3 Qf1+**
 * 34. Bg2 ---**
 * 34. --- Qxg2+**
 * 35. Kg4 h5+!**
 * 36. Kg5 Re5+**
 * 37. Kf4 Re6**
 * 38. Rd8+ Kh7**
 * 39. Qd3+ g6**
 * 40. Qd4 ---**
 * 40. --- Qf1+**
 * 41. Kg5 Qf5+**
 * 42. Kh4 g5+**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Qf2+ 2 Kg5 (2 Qf2 Qxf2+ 3 Kg5 Qf6#) Qf5+ 3 Kh4 g5+! 4 Kxh5 Rh6#.