Author: Dana Turnmire
Date: 15:32:36 12/14/01
BRILLIANCY MOVE TEST SUITE
-- -- -- BR BK -- -- BR TEST 1
BP -- -- -- -- BP WR BP
-- -- -- -- BP -- -- --
BQ -- BP WP BN -- -- --
-- BP WP -- -- -- -- --
-- -- -- -- BP -- -- WB
WP WQ -- -- WK WP -- WP
-- -- WR -- -- -- -- --
BLACK TO MOVE: 20...Rxd5!! A spectactular sacrifice to open a line for the
queen toward the White king. (Fedorowitz-Shamkovich, New York 1981) The
Mammouth Book of Chess p. 218
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- TEST 2
-- -- -- -- -- BP -- BP
-- BP -- -- BP WP BK --
BP -- BP -- WP -- -- --
WP -- WP -- WK -- -- BB
-- -- -- -- WB -- -- --
-- WP -- -- -- -- -- WP
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
WHITE TO MOVE: 1.b4!! White wins by using an interesting tactic designed to
clear the way for the a4-pawn's advance. It's based on the fact that Black's
queenside pawns are resting on dark squares, thus making them vulnerable to
attack by White's Bishop. (Smyslov-Yastrebov, Moscow 1936). How to Reassess
Your Chess Workbook, p. 326
-- -- -- BR -- -- BK -- TEST 3
-- BP BP BR -- -- -- BP
BP -- -- BP -- BP -- --
-- -- -- -- BP WN BB WR
-- -- WP -- WP -- WP --
-- WP WP -- -- -- WP --
WP -- -- -- -- WP WK --
-- -- -- WR -- -- -- --
WHITE TO MOVE: 1.Rhh1!! The subtle point of White's play. By forcing
...f7-f6, White has taken away a route of retreat from the Black Bishop. White
now intends to win the bishop with Rhf1 and f4. There is no defense against
this threat.
-- BR -- BQ -- BR BK -- TEST 4
-- -- BP -- BB BP BP BP
BP -- -- -- -- -- BB --
-- -- -- BP WP -- -- --
WB BN -- WP BN -- -- --
-- -- WN -- WB WN -- WP
-- WP -- -- WQ WP WP --
WR -- -- WR -- -- WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 1.Na2!! We reach a position that was once thought to be all
right for Black. However, a new move was unveiled that cut to the heart of the
position and showed that White is actually clearly better. (Short-Karpov,
Linares Match 1992). How to Reassess Your Chess Workbook, p. 125
BR -- -- -- -- -- BK -- TEST 5
-- BB -- BN -- -- BQ --
BP BP -- BP -- -- -- BP
-- BP -- WP BP -- BP --
-- -- -- -- -- BR -- --
-- -- WP -- WN -- -- WP
WP WP WB -- -- WP WP --
WR -- -- WQ WR -- WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 1.a4!! A very deep move. The idea is to force an exchange of
one pair of Rooks after 1...bxa4 2.Rxa4. This in turn, will give White
permanent control over the f5-square. Anand points out that neither 1.Bf5 Rf8
2.Be6+ Kh8 nor 1.g3 Rf6 2.Bf5 Raf8 gives White much.
-- -- BR BQ -- BR BK -- TEST 6
BP BB -- BN BB BP BP --
-- -- -- -- -- BN -- BP
-- -- BP BP -- -- -- --
-- -- -- -- -- WB -- --
-- -- WN -- WP WN -- --
WP WP WQ -- WB WP WP WP
WR -- -- WR -- -- WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 1.a4!! Portisch made the comment "What move is this? He's just
weakening his queenside. Is that really so? Oh no, he's starting to push the
pawn to a5 where it will take the important b6-square from my Knight."
Black figured out the first point of a2-a4: if the pawn can get to a5 it will
severely restrict the movements of the Black Queen and make b6 inaccessible to
the d7-Knight.
BR -- -- -- BR -- BK -- TEST 7
BP -- BQ -- -- BP BP BP
-- -- BP -- BP BN -- --
-- -- -- BP -- BB -- --
-- WQ -- WP -- -- -- --
-- WP WP -- -- WN -- WP
WP -- -- -- -- WP WP --
WR -- -- -- WK WB -- WR
BLACK TO MOVE: 1...e5!! Ripping the center open so that the Black army can
reach the centrally placed White King. 1...Rab8 is possible as long as you
thought that this move made the following ...e5 advance even stronger (it
actually forces the White Queen to run to a better square). How to Reassess
Your Chess Workbook, p. 250
-- -- -- BQ BR BB BK -- TEST 8
-- -- -- BB -- BP BP --
BP -- -- BP -- BN -- BP
-- -- BP WP -- -- -- --
BN BR WP -- WP -- -- --
-- -- -- WB -- -- WN WP
WP -- WQ WB -- -- WP WN
-- WR -- -- WR -- WK --
BLACK TO MOVE: 1...Qc7!! This fine move gives up the Exchange for several
positional plusses. By making this sacrifice, Black gives himself something to
play with. Of course, he could have retained material equality by 1...Rxb1, but
then every advantage would have been on the opponent's side. No self-respecting
grandmaster would accept such a dismal state of affairs! (Tal-Gligoric,
Candidates' Quarter Final Match 1968). How to Reassess Your Chess Workbook, p.
258
BR -- BB -- -- BR BK -- TEST 9
BP BP -- -- -- BP -- BP
-- -- -- -- BP WB BP --
-- -- -- -- -- BQ -- --
-- -- -- WP -- -- -- WQ
-- -- -- -- WK -- WR --
WP -- -- -- -- WP -- WP
WR -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BLACK TO MOVE: 1...e5!! Black is two pawns up and doesn't have to worry about
giving one back. Thus, for the small price of one tiny pawn, Black opens up the
center (White's King is far from happy there!) and frees the Bishop on c8.
(Thomas-Williams, San Francisco 1996). How to Reassess Your Chess Workbook
-- -- BR -- BR -- BK -- TEST 10
-- BB -- -- BQ BP -- BN
-- -- -- BP -- -- BP --
-- BP BP WP -- -- -- BP
-- BN -- -- WP -- -- --
-- WP -- -- WN WN -- WP
-- -- -- WQ -- WP WP --
WR WB -- -- WR -- WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 1.Nd1!! The best move without a doubt. White's Knight retreat,
though odd looking, stops Black's ...Ng5 (White's Queen now hits that square)
and prepares to swing the Knight around to c3 where it takes aim at Black's
loose pawn on b5. Black can save his pawn by moving his b4-Knight and pushing
the b-pawn to b4, but that leaves a once-active Knight on a poor square, and
also creates a hole on c4. (Anand-Kamsky, Las Palmas Match 1995). How to
Reassess Your Chess Workbook, p. 270
BR -- BB -- -- -- BK -- TEST 11
BP BP -- BN -- -- -- BP
-- -- BP BB BP BQ -- BR
-- -- -- BP -- -- -- --
-- -- WP WP BP -- BP --
WP WP -- -- WP -- WP --
-- WB WQ WN -- WP -- WP
-- -- -- WR WR WB WK --
BLACK TO MOVE: 17...Rxh2!! Black could have continued the attack slowly, for
example by 17...Nf8 18.Bg2 Bd7 19.Nf1 Rg6, intending ...h5 and then
...Nh7-g5-f3, but Tartakower's judgment is excellent. The sacrifice presents
White with enormous practical problems, and analysis shows that Black retains
the advantage even against perfect defense. (Maroczy-Tartakower,
Teplitz-Schonau 1922). The World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 104
BR -- BB BQ -- BR BK -- TEST 12
BP -- -- -- -- BP BP BP
-- BP BN BP -- BN -- --
-- -- BP -- -- -- -- --
-- -- WP WP BP WP -- --
-- WN WP -- WP -- -- --
WP -- -- -- WB -- WP WP
WR -- WB WQ -- WR WK --
BLACK TO MOVE: 12...Qd7!! This move, together with the subsequent queen
manoeuvre, astounded the chess world at the time it was played, but its concept
has been an inspiration to many grandmasters since. Nimzowitsch's main idea was
first to restrain, then blockade and finally destroy. Here Black starts the
restraining part of the plan. (Johner-Nimzowitsch, Dresden 1926). The World's
Greatest Chess games, p. 142
BR -- -- BR -- -- BK -- TEST 13
BP BP BQ -- -- BP BB BP
-- -- -- BP -- BN BP --
-- -- -- -- BP -- -- --
-- -- BB -- WP WP -- --
-- WP WN -- WB WB -- --
WP -- WP WQ -- -- WP WP
-- -- WR -- WR -- WK --
BLACK TO MOVE: 16...d5!! It is always nice to be able to play a move like this
- there are four pieces trying to stop this advance, yet Black can play it.
Moreover, the move creates such serious threats that Black need not move his
attacked bishop for now. (Rauzer-Botvinnik, USSR Championship, Leningrad 1933)
The World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 159
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- TEST 14
BP -- -- -- BQ -- BK BP
-- BP -- -- WP BN BP --
-- -- -- BP WQ -- -- --
-- -- BP WP -- -- -- --
-- BN WP -- -- -- WN --
-- WB -- -- -- -- WP WP
-- -- -- -- -- -- WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 30.Ba3!! There are two ideas behind this move: to remove the
blockader from in front of the e-pawn and to divert the queen from defending the
f6-knight. (Botvinnik-Capablanca, AVRO Tournament, rotterdam 1938). The
World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 165
BR -- BB -- -- BR -- BK TEST 15
-- -- -- -- BQ BP -- BP
BP -- -- BP BP BB -- WQ
-- -- -- -- BN WP -- --
-- BP -- WN WP -- -- --
-- -- WN -- -- -- -- --
WP WP WP -- -- -- -- WP
-- -- WK WR -- WB WR --
WHITE TO MOVE: 18.Nc6!! A truly incredible sacrifice. The logic is that
Black's kingside is hanging by a thread, but this state of affairs will exist
for only one move. If Black could play ...Bb7 and ...Rg8 then he would have a
large advantage thanks to his two active bishops. Thus White must take instant
action and the point of this sacrifice is simply to remove the knight from e5
for a moment. Analysis shows that White gains the advantage in every line.
(Kholmov-Bronstein, USSR Championship, Kiev 1964).
-- -- -- BK -- -- -- BR TEST 16
BP -- BP -- -- BP -- --
-- WN -- -- -- -- -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- BP
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
-- -- -- WP -- -- -- --
WP WP -- -- -- -- WK --
WR -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BLACK TO MOVE: 28...cxb6!! "To win, Black needs to penetrate with his king to
the queenside without allowing White to reduce the number of pawns with the plan
a4-a5." Sowray. Thus 28...axb6 29.a4 intending a5 should be sufficient for
White to hold the draw. (Estrin-Berliner, 5th Correspondence World Championship
1965-8). The World's Greatest Chess Games.
-- -- -- BQ -- BR BK -- TEST 17
BP BB -- -- -- WN BP --
-- BP -- -- -- -- -- --
-- -- -- BP WP WQ -- WP
-- -- BR -- -- -- -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
WP BN -- -- -- WP WP --
-- -- -- WR WR -- WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 25.e6!! White now threatens 26.e7 and 26.Nxd8. The move is far
better than 25 Nxd8? Rxf5 26.e6 Bc8 27.e7 Bd7, when Black stops the pawn at the
cost of a "mere" bishop. (Polugaevsky-Tal, USSR Championship, Moscow 1969).
The World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 327
BR -- -- -- BK BB -- BR TEST 18
-- -- -- -- WP BP -- --
BP BN -- -- -- WP -- --
-- BP BP -- -- -- WB --
-- -- BP -- -- -- -- --
-- -- WN -- -- -- WP --
WP WP -- -- -- WP -- WP
-- -- -- WR WK WB -- BB
WHITE TO MOVE: 17.h4!! Polugaevsky had cooked up this astonishing idea in his
"laboratory" at home. 17exf8=Q gives black the better chances in
Beliavsky-Bagirov, Moscow 1981. (Polugaevsky-Torre, Moscow 1981). The World's
Greatest Chess Games, p. 412.
-- -- BR -- -- BR BK -- TEST 19
BP -- BQ -- BB BP BP --
-- BP -- -- -- -- -- --
BN -- -- WR -- -- -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
WP -- -- -- -- WN -- --
-- WB -- -- WQ WP WP WP
-- -- -- -- -- WR WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 21.Bxg7!! In this situation it's worth giving up the bishop to
remove another pawn from the king's shield. Now the black king has no place to
hide, and White's queen, rook and knight form a formidable team. Also, as
Kasparov points out, Black's knight on a5 takes time to get back into the game,
and this proves vital for the success of White's attack. (Kasparov-Portisch,
Niksic 1983). The World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 422.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- TEST 20
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BP -- -- BK -- BP -- --
-- BP -- BP -- -- -- BP
-- WP -- WP -- -- -- BP
WP -- -- -- WN WP WP --
-- -- -- -- -- WK -- --
-- BB -- -- -- -- -- --
WHITE TO MOVE: 47.Ng2!! By sacrificing a pawn, White makes certain that his
king will have a route into Black's position. Together with the fact that
Black's bishop is now very "bad", this is quite enouth to seal Black's fate.
Instead 47.gxh4 would leave White with no real winning prospects.
(Karpov-Kasparov, World Championship Match (Game 9), Moscow 1984/85). The
World's Greatest Chess games, p. 426
BR -- -- -- BN -- -- -- TEST 21
-- -- -- BB -- -- BK BP
-- BQ WN BP -- -- BP --
-- BP -- WP BP -- -- BN
-- WP -- -- WP BP -- --
-- -- -- WB -- WN -- WP
-- WQ -- -- -- WP WP --
-- -- WR -- -- -- WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 36.Rc5!! The obvious sacrifice is 36.Nfxe5 dxe5 37.Nxe5, but
this is refuted by 37...Qf6. Instead Tal combines his queenside play against
the b-pawn with tactics along the long diagonal. (Tal-Hjartarson, Reykjavik
1987). The World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 460
BR -- BB -- -- BR -- BK TEST 22
BP BP BP -- BQ -- BP BP
-- -- BN -- BP BB -- --
-- -- WP -- -- -- -- --
-- -- WB WP BP BP -- --
WP -- -- -- WP WP WB --
-- WP WQ -- -- -- WP WP
-- -- WK WR -- -- WN WR
WHITE TO MOVE: 14.Qxe4!! This brilliant piece sacrifice kills Black's attempt
at snatching the initiative. (Steinitz-Lasker, St Petersburg 1895/6). The
World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 47.
-- -- BR -- -- BK -- -- TEST 23
BP BB -- -- -- BP -- --
BQ -- -- -- -- -- -- BR
-- -- BP BP -- -- -- --
BN -- BP -- -- WP -- --
WN -- -- -- -- -- WP --
WP WP WQ -- -- -- WB WP
-- -- WK WR -- -- -- WR
BLACK TO MOVE: 22...c3!! "Perhaps the most difficult move of the game."
(Shirov). He perceives that 22...Rb6 23 Qh7 gives real counterplay, whereas the
game continuation, although hair-raising, only gives White visual counterplay.
(Kamsky-Shirov, World team Championship, Lucerne 1993). The World's Greatest
Chess Games, p. 499
BR -- -- BQ BK BB -- BR TEST 24
-- BB -- -- BN BP -- BP
BP -- -- BP BP -- -- --
-- -- -- -- BN -- WP --
-- BP -- -- WP -- WP --
-- WN -- -- WB -- -- --
WP WP WP -- WN -- WQ WP
WR -- -- -- WK WB -- WR
BLACK TO MOVE: 13...h5!! Far better than 13...Nc4 14.Bd4 e5 15.Ng3!, when
White's pieces suddenly find some coordination. A key move breaking open lines
on the kingside. (Shirov-Polgar, Sicilian theme Tournament, Buenos Aires 1994).
The World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 510.
BR -- -- -- BK BB -- BR TEST 25
-- -- BP -- -- -- BP BP
BP -- BN -- BP -- -- --
-- BP BN -- WP -- -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
-- -- BQ -- -- -- -- --
WP -- WB WN -- WP WP WP
WR -- WB WQ -- WR WK --
WHITE TO MOVE: 15.Nb3!! This was bashed out instantly by the defending
champion. Anand pondered for a full 45 minutes before making the most obvious
reply. (Kasparov-Anand, PCA World Championship Match (Game 10), New York 1995).
The World's Greatest Chess Games, p. 520.
I ran these test positions with Chessmaster 8000 and Genius 5 on an AMD K6-2/500
128RAM.
Giving them 2 minutes to find the solutions:
Genius 5 solved 8 out of 25 (2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 14, 17, 24)
Chessmaster 8000 solved 11 out of 25 (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 17, 23, 24)
This page took 0.01 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.