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White to Play

Pete Tamburro on Mar 27, 2026

The third in our series of instructional games. An example of how to follow up a well-known attacking sacrifice. Alekhine,A. - Asgeirsson,A. (C14) Reykjavik, 1931. The game began with 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Bxf6 Bxf6 6.Nf3 0–0 7.Bd3 Re8 (Black needed to counter sooner with 7...c5)8.e5 Be7 9.h4! c5 (and now a position we didn't offer as a puzzle because so many of you know this classic attacking sacrifice.) 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Kg8 12.Qh5 Bxg5 13.hxg5 Kf8 14.g6 Ke7 15.gxf7 Rf8 16.0–0–0 a6 17.dxc5 Nd7 (SEE DIAGRAM. THERE ARE TWO GOOD WAYS TO GO FROM HERE. PICK ONE)

18.Rxd5 Also brutal is 18.Nxd5+ exd5 19.Qg5+ Nf6 20.exf6+ gxf6 21.Rhe1+ Be6 22.Qf5 Qc8 23.Rxd5 Rxf7 24.Rd6 Kf8 25.Rexe6 18...Qa5 19.Qg5+ Kxf7 20.Rh7 Rg8 21.Rd4 Qxc5 22.Rxd7+! Bxd7 23.Ne4 Qb4 24.Nd6+ Kf8 25.Qf6+! gxf6 26.Rf7 mate. Black Resigns

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

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