Combinations Involving Diagonals
Combinations Involving Diagonals
Contents Combinations
./ The long diagonal involving diagonals
./ Opening a blocked diagonal
./ Combinations on other
In this chapter we shall examine combinations
diagonals
which exploit an open diagonal. At the same time
we shall learn how we can open a blocked diagonal
by tactical means. Of course the main pieces to
profit from an open diagonal are the queen and the
bishops. The bishops in particular are dependent on
open diagonals to develop their full potential. But
the other pieces must also support the attacking
efforts by the bishop.
Diagram 15-1
8 V.Vukovic - N.N.
Simultaneous game
7
6 An open long diagonal and the weakness of the black
squares inspire White to a mating attack.
5
l.ctJf5!!
4 Threatening '2lh6# or '2lxe7#.
3 1...'Wxh4
1...gxf5 loses on the spot to 2.l"lg4t fxg4 3.Wxg4t.
2 If 1...Wg5, then 2.Wcl! l"ld1 (2 ... Wxcl 3.!:iJe7#;
1 2 ... Wxf5 3.Wh6!+-) 3.Wxd1 Wxf5 4.Wd4 f6
a b c d e f g h 5.i,c4h-.
2.'Wh5!!
The threat is once more !:iJh6#.
If2 ... Wxh5, then 3.!:iJe7#; while 2 ... gxf5 is followed
by 3.Wxh4 f6 4.i,c4t+-.
1-0
152
Combinations involving diagonals
Diagram 15-2
O.Panno - B.Malich
Munich Olympiad 1958
l.he5! ~xc2?
This intermediate move is refuted in an instructive
way. 1...il.xeS is met by 2.4Jc6 and White wins at
least the exchange, since 2 .. J''1b7? loses to 3.4Je7t.
2.hg7! ~xc1 3.i.f6
Threatening 1Wh6.
3 ... @f8 4JWxc1
White has two pieces for the rook and a strong
attack on the king.
4 ... @e8 5.Wfc7
Black is losing the d6-pawn as well, so he decided
to put an end to his torture.
1-0
Heidelberg 1949
1. .. ~xg2t!
Black opens the long diagonal with a combination.
2.@xg2 ~xf2t!
White resigned, in view of 2.il.xf2 e3t 3.EldS
1Wxf2t 4.~hl 1Wxel t S.~h2 1Wf2t 6.~hl e2-+.
Diagram 15-4
A.Denker - Gonzales
1945
IS3
Tactics 7
Diagram 15-5
F.En lund - A.Perfiliev
Stockholm 1926
l.d5!
White breaks open Black's defences.
l...cxd5 2J'hf5! exf5
Black voluntarily allows the opening of the long
diagonal. 2 ... i.g6 3J~lxg5± would have been better.
3.e6! Wixd6 4.i.b2+- Eldd7 5.exd7 Wixf6 6.dxe8=Wit
1-0
154
Combinations involving diagonals
Diagram 15-7
The end of a study by
S.Kaminer
1925
1..td6!
After this quiet move, Black is in zugzwang. He
must pin the g2-pawn and control both the el-
h4 diagonal and the d8-h4 diagonal. Even a piece
as strong as the queen is overloaded with these
numerous tasks.
1...'Wf4t
1...g4 2.ie7t+-; 1...W'e2 2.ig3#; 1...W'e1 2.g3t.
2.g3t!
A draw would be the outcome after 2.ixf4 gxf4
3.g3t fxg3t 4.<;t>g2 <;t>gS S.<;t>xg3=.
2 ... 'Wxg3t 3.,txg3#
Diagram 15-8
The end of a study by
L.Kubbel
1922
156
Exercises
~ ~ ~;i~
1. ~:~
abc
w;;~
~
~..t~
d e f
~
~
g h abc d e f g h
157
Solutions
Ex. 15-1 Ex. 15-5
1969
Ex. 15-6
Mann-Pa
1.E:xf7! VNxf7 2.VNxh7t! Budapest 1956
The point of the combination.
2 ... VNxh73.0# 1. .. E:xd6!
(1 point) But not the immediate l..Jl:f3t? 2.gxf3
~fl t, on account of 3.E1g2±.
Ex. 15-3 2.E:xd6 E:f3t! 3.gxf3 i.fl#
(1 point)
W. ohn - ESaemisch
Berlin 1932
Ex. 15-7
1... ttJflt!
Kellerman - Freidl
With this move Black wins a tempo for the Nuremberg 1955
redeployment of the queen.
2.hfl VNfl t 3.i.gl VNf3# 1...i.e3t 2. <±>fl
(1 point) Mter 2. <±>g3 the reply 2 ... E1g8t wins. Now
comes an elegant finish.
Ex. 15-4 2 ... VNxf3t! 3.gxf3 i.h3#
(1 point)
Wachtel- Musiol
Poland 1953
Ex. 15-8
1.E:e5!
M.Vanka - Skala
(2 points) Prague 1960
A surprising finish. White is threatening
2.E1xc5t bxc5 3.~c7#. The only way for Black l.b4!
to stop a quick mate is with silly moves like This prepares ~b2.
l...b5 or l...E1b5, but then he loses the rook. 1. ..VNd8
So he resigned. Or l...Wb6 2.Wxf6t+-.
If l...E1xe5, then 2.~xe5 b5 3.~c7# or 2.VNxf6t! <±>xf6
2. .. ~e2 3 .~c3#. 2 ... <±>g8 3.~b2 Cjjxd5 4.Wg7#
3.i.b2#
(2 points)
158
Solutions
Ex. 15-9 Ex. 15-11
E.Guttmann S.Malesic - L.Masic
1935 Yugoslavia 1965
White can force mate. White exploits the activity of his pieces.
1.i.d6! 1.hg6!!
(1 point) (1 point)
1.J.b4? loses to 1...l''k7!, while l.J.c5? loses 1...fxg6
to l..J''1d7!. Or 1...hxg6 2.'<Mrh8#.
1...~f5 2.i.b4! 2.Wfe6#
(another 1 point)
But not 2.J.a3? :gb5-+. Ex. 15-12
2 ... ~f3 3.i.c5! ~f4 4.i.a3!
(another 1 point) Mending 1987
4 ... ~b4 5.hb4 i.f3 6.i.c3#
1.tLlxe5!
Ex. 15-10 (1 point)
The threat is ti'Jf7#.
Muller - Vole
1...~xf2t
1940
1...dxe5 2.J.xe5t :gf6 3.J.xf6#
White carries out a typical mating 2.~hl h5
combination. If 2 ... :gh2t 3.1:t>xh2 '<Mre2t, then 4.~h1
1.Wfe6t!! fxe6 2.i.h5t g6 3.hg6# (also good is 4.:gg2) 4 ... '<Mrxe4t 5.ti'Jf3t ti'Jd4
(1 point) 6.J.xd4t+-.
3.tLlf'7t ~h7 4.~g7#
(1 bonus point for this variation)
Scoring
Maximum number of points is 17
Ifyou scored less than 9 points, we recommend that you read the
chapter again and repeat the exercises which you got wrong.
159