Sometimes we have no counter when our opponent unleashes a decisive combination. However, it is amazing how many defensive resources there are in chess, so it is important not to panic, as there is often a counter to even the most devastating looking tactic.
Consider the following position.
P. Keres - V. Smyslov
Zurich Candidates 1953
In this position Keres played 1.Rch3, allowing his rook to be taken on h5. The big question is whether this sacrifice is sound, as after 1…gxh5 2.Qxh5 Re8 it looks as though the attack can be beaten off. However, White can then play 3.a4!, with 4.Ba3 to follow, and the attack is very powerful. A possible continuation is 3…Qd6 4.Qh6 Bg7 5.Qxh7+ Kf8 6.Rg3 Bf6 7.c5! Qd8 8.c6! Rxc6 9.Ba3+ Rd6 10.Bb5 Ke7 11.Bxe8 Qxe8 12.Rg8 Qc6 13.Qh6, with a winning position for White.
Smyslov admitted after the game that he could not fully analyse the ramifications of the sacrifice, but he saw a clear way of playing that gave him at least equal chances. He therefore decided to decline the offer and play 1…dxc4!, and after 2.Rxh7 c3! 3.Qc1 he avoided 3…cxb2?? 4.Qh6, which leads to a win for White, and instead played 3…Qxd4 4.Qh6 Rfd8. Now there is no mate, so he went on to win in a few more moves. The game finished 5.Bc1 Bg7 6.Qg5 Qf6 7.Qg4 c2 8.Be2 Rd4 9.f4 Rd1+ 10.Bxd1 Qd4+ 0-1
Here is another example which illustrates the defensive resources that are often available.
Simagin - Aronin
USSR 1947
White has just played the stunning 1.R(b3)xb7 threatening 2.Bg6 mate, as well as unveiling an attack on the black queen. The position looks hopeless for Black, but Aronin did not panic, finding the brilliant counter 1…e4! This prevents 2.Bg6 mate, and after 2.Qxa4 there followed 2….Bxh2+ 3.Kh1 Bd6+ 4.Kg1 Bh2+, with a draw by perpetual check.
Here are a couple of examples for you to solve (with answers at the end of the article) where the defence was able to turn the tables in what looked like a desperate position.
Enik - Eiffel
Correspondence 1957
White’s position looks hopeless, but he found a remarkable way to draw. Can you spot it?
Suer - Nunhart
West Germany 1973
White has just played 1.Rxh7, thinking he was winning after either 1….Nxe3 2.Rh8 mate, or 1….Kxh7 2.Ng5+ Kg8 3.Qh3 Nxf6 4.exf6, with mate to follow. What defensive resource had he missed which completely turns the tables?
Answers:
Enik- Eiffel
White draws by 1.Ra8! Rxa8 2.Qa2+ Rxa2 stalemate.
Suer - Nunhart
Black wins by 1….Qc2+, with three variations: (a) 2.Kxc2 Nxe3+ 3.fxe3 Kxh7 (b) 2.Ka2 Nb4+ 3.Ka3 Nd3+ 4.Ka4 Qc6# (c) 2.Ka1 Qd1+ 3.Ka2 Nb4+ 4.Ka3 Qa1#