Fong Yit San - IM Mas , SEA Selection

In an earlier post, I mentioned that Fong Yit San could have a winning game against our IM Mas Hafizul. With so much going on, I did not have time to give that game. Now that things are quietened down, it is time to return to the SEA Games Selection.

Fong Yit San - IM Mas

I saw this position as I was about to leave after my game. At first glance, I thought Bxf6 left black in a very difficult if not lost postion. White actually played 20.e5 and after  20... Nd7 21.
Rxf8+ Nxf8 22. c4 Rb8 23. Rb3 Qc7 24. Bf4 Ng6 25. Bg3 Ne7 26. cxd5 Rxb3 27.
axb3 cxd5 28. Bd3 Bb7 29. h3 Nc6 30. Qe2 Nb4 31. Bxh7+ Kxh7 a draw was agreed.

After 20. Bxf6 black has two recapture  (A)20...Rxf6 and (B) 20...gxf6. We look at the first option which is the weaker one since it leaves the back rank undefended.

(A) 20...Rxf6 21. Rxf6 gxf6 The point is that the black king is exposed. But can the reduced material take advantage of the weakness? 22. exd5 Now black has two way to recapture
(A1) 22...cxd5 23. Rg3+Kh8  24. Qb4  Qf7 (24...Bd7 25 Qe7 and there is no stopping Qg7 or Qxf6) 25. Bh5 wins the queen or mates.

(A2) 22...exd5 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. Qh6 (24. Qb4 c5 )  Qe7 (25...Qf7 26. Bh5) 25. Re3 Qd8  26. Bh5  Bd7  27. Be8! 

This tactic forces black to give up the queen

Qxe8  28. Qxf6+  Kg8 29. Rg3+ Qg6  30. Rxg6+ hxg6  31. Qxg6+ Kh8  32. Qf7 with an easy win.


(B) 20... gxf6 21. exd5 
(B1) 21...cxd5 22. c4  dxc4 23.Rg3+  Kh8 24. Rxf6 Re8 25. Qc3 e5 26. Qxe5!
(B2) 21...exd5 22. Qh6! White simply threatens Rg3+ and Qxf8. Surprisingly there is no defence to this, example 22...Qe7 23. Re3 or 22..Qf7 23...Bh5 22....Be6 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. Rxf6 and again no answer to the threats of Rxe6 and Rxf8.