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A tactic a day keeps the losses at bay!
[FEN “r5k1/1p3pb1/2p4p/2Pnp1p1/1PB3q1/4P1P1/3N1PP1/1Q1R2K1 w – – 0 25”]
How did White follow up on 25.Ne4 Nc7?
Smyslov,Vassily – Fuller,Maxwell
Hastings 68-69 (5), 1968
King’s Indian Defense [E61]
1.Nf3 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 d6 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Be2 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.0-0 c6 11.b4 a5 12.a3 axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1 14.Qxa1 g5 15.Bg3 Nh5 16.Nd2 Nxg3 17.hxg3 Nb6 18.Rd1 Be6 19.Nce4 Qc7 20.Nc5 Ra8 21.Nxe6 Qe7 22.Qb1 Qxe6 23.c5 Nd5 24.Bc4 Qg4 25.Ne4 Nc7
26.Nf6+!! Bxf6 27.Qg6+! Bg7 28.Qxf7+ Kh8 [28…Kh7 29.Rd7! Ne8 30.Be6! and Black must give up the queen to stop checkmate beginning with Bf5+.] 29.Rd7! 1-0 [It is hopeless after 29…Qxd7 30.Qxd7 Nd5 31.Qxb7.]
Exquisite!
To me, this is what chess is all about! Beyond the hyperbolic verbiage valorizing aggression and ego, we come upon these remarkable moments of pure aesthetic beauty. If the “enemy” harbors a generous spirit, he would unhesitatingly reach his hand across the board and offer a smiling salute.