This position is from a reader of my newspaper column in New Jersey. Roger Pedersen, playing in the World Senior Amateur, uncorks a fine combination that leads to mate. If any of you have a position where you finished somebody off with a nice combo, send it in!

Solution:

Roger Pedersen - Alexander Gurevich, World Senior Amateur, 2009:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 5.0–0 Be7 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.dxe5 Bg4 8.exd6 cxd6 9.Qd3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Qc7 11.Nd2 Nf6 12.b3 Nd7 13.Bb2 Bf6 14.Bxf6 gxf6? 15.Rad1 Rg8 16.Nc4 Ke7 17.Rxd6 Rg6 18.Rfd1 Rd8 19.Qh5 Qb8 20.Ne3 Qb4 21.Nf5+ Kf8 22.R6d4 Qa5 23.Qxh7 Qc7 24.g3 a5 25.c4 a4 26.Kg2 Qa7 27.Rd6 c5

And now (from our diagram), Roger finished him off with

28.Rxf6! Nxf6 (If 28...Rxf6 29.Qh8# and if 28...Rg7 29.Qxg7+ Ke8 30.Qxf7#) 29.Rxd8+ Ne8 30.Qh8+ Rg8 31.Qh6+ Black resigned because of 31...Rg7 32.Qxg7 mate (the knight is pinned!)

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.