“Memories stir my soul -2” (Fragments of combinations with Njimegen Open)
Another international tournament has passed and left pleasant memories for the prize-winners and winners, and a large baggage of experience for the rest of the players. Let’s recall some bright and sometimes easy moments from the games of famous draughts players.
We offer several combination motifs from the games.
 | Martin Dolfing – Matheo Boxum, Round 5 Black made a move 1…. 12-17?! and lay in wait. It would be interesting to measure the pulse of both participants at this moment. And to look at them with the eyes of an experienced physiognomist. However, the whites only saw a 3-3 exchange, and boldly plunged into the maelstrom of passions. 2. 27-21?? 16:27 3. 32:12 и тут! 25-30!! 4. 34:25 3-8! 5. 12:3 13-18 6. 3:29 23:41 X
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 | Martin Dolfing – Matheo Boxum, Round 5 The end of the game was no less spectacular. White’s attack of 1. 16-11 was met with a swift response from Black: 1…. 23-29!! and, as they say in some novels, “It was all over.” |
 | Jean Lou Praud – Martin Dolfing, Round 6 When choosing a central strategy, you always need to check yourself: “Am I running too fast?”. What if your opponent has something up their sleeve? Here, White’s move 1. 31-27??, Black quickly demonstrated “who’s in charge!”. 1…. 18-22 2. 27:18 12:34 3. 39:30 25:34 4. 44-40 24-29 5. 33:13 9:18 6. 40:29 17-21!! 7. 26:17 11:24 |
 | Arjan van Leeuwen – Emiel Leijser, Round 6 Black forgot about caution and decided to attack White’s 29th piece. In response, White asked themselves a fair question: “What is he doing?” and created an unavoidable threat in one move. They won. 1…. 19-23?? 2. 29-24! To avoid the threats of combinations on squares 10 and 1, Black decided to give up their piece. 2. … 36-41 3. 47:36 14-19. |
 | Guntis Valneris – Alexei Ovsyanko, Round 8 In a mutual meeting, no advantage can be given to either side. However, White’s position appears more “mobile.” Black, in their erroneous move, failed to consider White’s combinational capabilities. 1….. 13-18 2. 40-34 18-22??. The last move was a mistake. We need to continue the convergence: 9-13, 17-22, 11-17, etc. Now: 3. 38-33 8-13 4. 34-29 23:34 5. 32:23 19:28 6. 39:10 28:50 7. 25:3 15:4 8. 49-44 50:31 9. 26:37 17:26 10. 3:39 |
 | Machiel Weistra – Matheo Boxum, Round 8 Let’s end this selection with a creative position from Matheo Boxum’s game. His play is both surprising and enviously admiring. White has a “torn-to-shreds” position. How can they collect their own pieces? Only the God of draughts knows. Black helped White to “gather” a bit, but only to implement their “devious” plan. 1….. 18-23 2. 27-21 23:32 3. 21:12 5-10 4. 44-39 15-20. The fifth move by White and the subsequent response by Black require a separate diagram. |
 | Machiel Weistra – Matheo Boxum, Round 8 White decided to build a column on Black’s previous move, and … became co-authors of a beautiful study position on the topic “Inevitable Threat.” A gift from Matheo Boxum to coaches. 5. 39-34?? 10-14!! and as they say, “Boss, it’s all over!”. And it’s useless to give up. |