White to Play

Pete Tamburro on Feb 12, 2026

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Isolated Queen Pawn based attacks can get quite complicated. This game is interesting because Black didn’t pick the most tenacious defense. The engine gave an alternative, yet still had White winning, so the sac was sound; however, I let the engine run on the alternative, and it says it is decisive. Play it through. It’s a lot tougher than the actual game and the final position may be evaluated as decisive, but it’s a war. My best guess is that White’s kingside pawns will play a big role and Black’s pieces won’t find it easy to move as a group.

The game was Kiuru – Salo, Helsinki, 1941

1.Nxf7 Kxf7 2.Bxe6+ Kf8 2...Qxe6 3.Rxg7+ Kxg7 4.Qxe6 Bd8 5.Qh3 Nbd5 6.f3 Bb6 7.Qh4 Re6 8.Kh1 Ne7 9.Qh3 Rcc6 10.Qg3+ Kh8 11.Ne4 Nfd5 12.Rc1 Rxc1+ 13.Bxc1 h6 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.dxc5 Bc8 16.h3 Bd7 17.Bd2 Kh7 18.Qh4 Be8 19.Qg4 Rg6 20.Qd4 Kg8 21.Qe5 Rf6 22.Kh2 Bc6 23.h4 Kf8 24.Qb8+ Be8 25.Qe5 Bc6 26.Qe2 Bd7 27.Qd3 Kg8 28.g4 3.Bh6 gxh6 4.Qh5 Black resigned as after 4...Qxe6 5.Qxh6+ Kf7 6.Qg7#

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.