A club of unexpected and interesting findings. Part 6

28.09.2024

We thank Alexander Getmansky and Yuri Khokhlov for the opportunity to share their interesting findings in Russian and international draughts. We will be happy to publish their wonderful historical materials.

This time the findings will be dedicated to the World Championship in Russian draughts 2024. “Black magic” reigned on all the boards and spared no one. The mistakes were provided by Alexander Getmansky.

A. Aslanly – M. Sarshaev, Round 2, game 1 (white to move)

Black are attacking and white need to be careful. So 1. de3 loses, because of ab4. On 1. fe3? ed6 2. g:e7 d:f8! (exactly backwards) also with black winning.

There is a draw only after 1. de5! f:d4  2. bc3 (but not 2. gf6? or 2. gh6? because of 2. … dc3!x) d:b2  3. a:c1 ef6  4. g:e7 d:f6  5. dc3! cb4  6. fg3 and a draw is just around the corner.

D. Vinicius – G. Kolesov, Round 2, game 1 (black to move)

White have a bad triangle of pieces a3, b4, a5, black pieces are more active. However, 1. … bc5? only leads to a draw which white have made.

Black also have a column on the right flank, you can notice the combination ideas connected to it.

1. … hg5! and now on 2. cb2 or 2. cd2 there are simple two-move combinations. And on the attack 2. gf4 another blow 2. … ba7 3. f:h6 fg7 4. h:c5 b:f2 with a win.

T. Nachgebia – O. Dashkov, Round 1, game 2 (white to move)

Initially it seems that the essence will not change from the sequence of moves, but the move made 1. gf4? leads to defeat, as black prepares a plan to break through the flank 1. … ba7 2. gf2 de7 3. hg3 ba5 4. d:b6 a:c5 5. cd4 ab4 6. d:b6 fe5 with a win.

The breakthrough does not work, if you move the piece in the other direction 1. gh4!

Now in the same variant 1. … ba7  2. hg3 de7  3. gf2 ba5  4. d:b6 a:c5 we already have an attack 5. cd4 and the position is equal.
R. Schukin – M. Gulyan, Round 1, game 2 (black to move) 

White threatens to attack dc3, followed by winning a piece, in the game black did not find a draw.1 … dc5? 2. dc3 de3 3. ba3 and with the next move white won the piece and the game.

Draw was possible after the sacrifice 1. … de3! 2. d:f4 ab4 3. bc3 b:d2 4. c:e3.

Although white have more pieces, but the shapeless five pieces on the flank act as compensation for black’s position. Then you can continue 4. … ab6 5. ab2 ba5 6. bc3 de5 with a draw.

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