This is a very instructive position for players who are a bit timid to give up material. You have to realize that just about all sacrifices fall into certain categories. One of those categories is to pick up time on your opponent. It’s like getting two or three moves in a row! Another is to break up a castled position. Both of these categories are in play here.

Solution:

The game started out this way for 15 moves: Reti,Richard - Capablanca,Jose Raul [C74] Berlin, 1928: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.c3 a6 5.Ba4 f5 6.d4 fxe4 7.Ng5 exd4 8.Nxe4 Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Qxd4 b5 11.Nxf6+ gxf6 12.Qd5 bxa4 13.Bh6 Qd7 14.0–0 Bb7 15.Bg7

See Diagram

Black gives up the exchange by castling on the queenside which in turn protects the bishop on b7, thus releasing the knight on c6 to play Ne5 with a great effect. Then, the Bf3 move gains more time by another attack on the queen. In that way, Black’s attack is launched. He didn’t try to keep his rook and he didn’t try to capture the bishop that took it. His goal was to mate the White king. Notice how he used all the advantages we mentioned.

15…0–0–0 16.Bxh8 Ne5 17.Qd1 Bf3 18.gxf3 [Might as well as 18.Qd4 Qh3 19.gxh3 Rg8+ 20.Qg4+ Nxg4 21.hxg4 Rxg4#] 18...Qh3 White Resigns, as after any response, there's a mate: 19.Qd5 c6 20.Qe4 Rg8+ 21.Qg4+ [21.Kh1 Qxf1#] 21...Nxg4 22.Re1 Ne3+ 23.Kh1 Qg2#

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.