{"id":2064,"date":"2023-03-07T10:44:15","date_gmt":"2023-03-07T10:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/?p=2064"},"modified":"2023-03-09T10:14:38","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T10:14:38","slug":"forward-chess-highlights-february","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/forward-chess-highlights-february\/","title":{"rendered":"Forward Chess Highlights: February"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There is an abundance of instructive chess games and positions in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/chess-parallels1:-strategy-and-tactics?section=Search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chess Parallels 1: Strategy and Tactics<\/a><\/em> and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/chess-parallels2:-endgames?section=Search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chess Parallels 2: Endgames<\/a><\/em>, the new brace of books celebrating the life, games and times of Grandmaster Bora Ivkov (1933-2022).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/chess-parallels1:-strategy-and-tactics?section=Search\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"411\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Books-28-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Books-28-1.png 411w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Books-28-1-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Books-28-1-150x188.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/chess-parallels2:-endgames?section=Search\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"474\" height=\"505\" src=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Books-27-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Books-27-1.png 474w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Books-27-1-282x300.png 282w, https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Books-27-1-150x160.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In this month&#8217;s blog post, we would like to draw your attention to six of the best \u2013 three from each volume.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Position 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mark Tseitlin \u2013 Ivkov<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Davos, 2006<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Black to play<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-1\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-1\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"5R2\\\/1p3p1k\\\/4pPnp\\\/2P1P3\\\/4Qp2\\\/7P\\\/1qr3PK\\\/8 b - - 0 57 \",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tseitlin has just played <strong>57. Rf8<\/strong>, hoping to exploit the pin on the night. Unfortunately for him, Ivkov now has a forced win.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>57&#8230;Rxg2+<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>58. Qxg2 Qxg2+<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>59. Kxg2 Nxf8<\/strong> The knight is no longer pinned! <strong>0-1<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Position 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ivkov \u2013 Josip Rukavina<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Novi Sad, 1975<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>White to play<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-2\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-2\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"7r\\\/p2k3p\\\/2p2p2\\\/P1n2Npb\\\/2B1P3\\\/2P2P2\\\/1r4PP\\\/R3K2R w KQ - 0 25 \",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>25. 0-0-0+! 1-0<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes castling late has distinct advantages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Position 3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ivkov \u2013 Arkadij Naiditsch<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wijk aan Zee Open, 1999<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>White to play<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-3\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-3\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"r7\\\/p4pk1\\\/2R3p1\\\/1p1rb1P1\\\/1P2p3\\\/8\\\/PB2KPP1\\\/7R w - - 0 27 \",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Black is angling for further exchanges, but after the clever <strong>27. Rd1! <\/strong>White forces the win of material, thanks to the unusual pin action. (<strong>1-0, 33<\/strong>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Position 4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Stefano Tatai \u2013 Ivkov<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Praia da Rocha, 1978<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Black to play<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-4\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-4\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"5kr1\\\/5P1p\\\/3p4\\\/p1pP3B\\\/4r1nP\\\/2B1p2K\\\/PP2P3\\\/5R2 b - - 0 39 \",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It looks like Black is in serious trouble, yet Ivkov finishes off in style.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>39&#8230;Nf2+!<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>40. Rxf2<\/strong> (40. Kh2 runs into 40&#8230;Rxh4 checkmate) <strong>Rxh4+!!<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>0-1 <\/strong>If 41. Kxh4, then 41&#8230;exf2 and Black\u2019s pawn promotes by force. The best White can hope for is a battle between a queen and two bishops, but Tatai evidently didn\u2019t want to test Ivkov\u2019s technique.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Position 5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Goran Cabrilio \u2013 Ivkov<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Yugoslav Championship, 1976<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>White to play<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-5\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-5\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"r2q1rk1\\\/1p2ppbp\\\/2bp2p1\\\/2n5\\\/p1P1P3\\\/2N1BP2\\\/PPRQB1PP\\\/5RK1 w - - 0 16 \",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously not an endgame, but it shows how little pawns can sometimes become big heroes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>16. Rfc1?? Nb3!!<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It must have come as a shock to White to see this move played on the board. It is a knight fork, but 17. axb3 axb3 shows Black\u2019s other big idea, with the humble a-pawn trapping the rook. (<strong>0-1, 30<\/strong>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-luminous-vivid-orange-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Position 6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all of the games and positions are from Ivkov\u2019s own games. Here is a sparkling example from elsewhere.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>James Plaskett \u2013 Dragoljub Velimirovic<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Banjaluka, 1985<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>White to play<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-6\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-6\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"8\\\/2R4Q\\\/5qp1\\\/P1pPp1k1\\\/2P1Pp1b\\\/4rP2\\\/6PP\\\/5K2 w - - 0 40 \",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plaskett played <strong>40. g4??<\/strong> but after <strong>40&#8230;fxg3<\/strong> he resigned.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ivkov points out a brilliant alternative finish, with 40. Qxh4+!! Kxh4 41. Rh7+ Kg5 42. h4 checkmate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-7\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf675ba70f9-7\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"8\\\/7R\\\/5qp1\\\/P1pPp1k1\\\/2P1Pp1P\\\/4rP2\\\/6P1\\\/5K2 b - - 0 42 \",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A fine position with which to finish this month\u2019s column.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sean Marsh<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There is an abundance of instructive chess games and positions in Chess Parallels 1: Strategy&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":2093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2064"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2094,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064\/revisions\/2094"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}