Sacrificial B-file Attacks

The best game of Chess Informant 166 republished in CI 167 offers this diagram, where White won with an instructive final assault. The game is Esipenko,A. -- Abasov, N., Goa 2025. Elements of the combination remind me of two nineteenth century games: Bird,H. -- Morphy,P., London 1858; and Rosanes,J. -- Anderssen, A., Breslau 1862.

White to move

19.b5! c5

The bishop is safe in view of 19...bxa6 20.bxc6

20.b6!

Some of my students found 19.b5, but not 20.b6.

20...bxa6 21.bxa7 Qxa7 22.Qc6+ Bc7 23.Qe6+ Rd7 24.dxc5 Qxc5 

White to move

25.Qxa6+ Kd8 26.Qa8+

Black resigned.

Bird also resigned when he lost an undeveloped rook.

Black to move

17...Rxf2 18.Bxf2 Qa3 19.c6

The attack along the short diagonal and the necessary push of the c-pawn was the first similarity I noticed between this Morphy game and Esipenko's attack.

19...Qxa2 20.b4 Qa1+ 21.Kc2 Qa4+

White to move

22.Kb2?

22.Kc1 leaves Black with a clear advantage, but White can play on. For instance, 22...a5 23.Rhg1 and Black must defend before continuing the attack.

22...Bxb4! 23.cxb4 Rxb4+ 24.Qxb4

Else mate come fast.

24...Qxb4 25.Kc2 e3 26.Bxe3 Bf5+ 27.Rd3 28.Kd2

Black to move

28...Qa2+ 29.Kd1

29.Ke1 Bxd3 and capturing the bishop surrenders the other rook, too.

29...Qb1+ and the undeveloped rook falls.

Rosanes -- Anderssen is simpler.

Black to move

16...Red8

At his best, Anderssen brought his rooks into play with great effect.

17.Nf3?

White remains worse in all lines, but this move offers Anderssen a forced mate in five.

17...Qxb3+ 18.axb3 Rxb3 19.Be1

19.Qd3 delays mate a move longer.

19...Be3+ 20.Qxe3 Rb1#

Mood Swings

Yesterday afternoon, I threw away an easy draw against a player rated 400 lower. How I found myself playing for a draw is another matter. A bit later, a player rated 200 higher than me threw away an easy win.

White to move

81.Ra3+??

81.Kxe5 and Black's winning chances are gone.

81...Kd4? 

Black returns the favor.

82.Ra4+ Ke3 83.Ra3+ Rd3

Now Black is winning and had no difficulty converting what remained of the ending.

It was a painful loss.

Then, early for a chess lesson with some young students, I sat in my truck in the parking lot and played a game on my phone. The opening went poorly after I played the French Defense in an unusual manner.

Black to move

16...Bxa2?

1...O-O was better, but I remain down a pawn.

17.Ne5

White's plans are clear.

17...O-O

17...Rc8 at least shows recognition of White's threats.

18.Rd7?? Ne5!-+

Now I am winning. The next ten minutes sitting in my truck moving chess pieces on my phone brought pleasure as I ground out a win.