Stunning Tactics and Kasparov's Turbulent Return at the STL Rapid & Blitz

After 9 captivating rounds of rapid chess, Levon Aronian is the clear leader with 5 impressive victories. The event is far from over, however, today begins the 18 rounds of blitz games with many players still in contention, including the two American competitiors, Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, who are tied for 2nd. Here are a few of the dazzling tactics that have taken place so far.

One of the most exciting games of the event so far, Garry Kasparov vs. David Navara. Photo: Lennart Ootes

Tactic #1

Garry Kasparov vs. David Navara

The final day of the rapid segment was especially turbulent for Kasparov who started the day with a loss in a winning position against Navara. After playing a model positional game in the middlegame, the 13th World Champion overlooked a key defensive opportunity for his opponent. Can you find it? Kasparov has just played 49. Nc6+ nearly leading to checkmate.

Black to move.

Level: Warm-Up

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Garry Kasparov"]
[Black "David Navara"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2Q5/4kpp1/1KN1P3/6P1/5p2/8/P2r4/7q b - - 0 49"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.12"]49... Qxc6+ $1 {A shock to everyone watching!} 50. Qxc6 Rd6 {Navara wins the
queen back, and the resulting king and pawn endgame is winning for Black
because of his advanced passed f4 pawn.} 0-1[/pgn]

https://twitter.com/ChessMike/status/897899384318435328 https://twitter.com/chesscom/status/897913293184143360 https://twitter.com/MagnusCarlsen/status/897899858731843585 Kasparov's luck changed the next round, though, when his opponent, Le Quang Liem, hung a rook.

[pgn][Event "Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.16"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Garry Kasparov"]
[Black "Le Quang Liem"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/p3rpk1/1p3qb1/1B1p2p1/1P1P2P1/P4P2/3Q2K1/2R5 b - - 0 40"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2017.08.14"]40... Re8 $4 41. Bxe8 1-0[/pgn]

Fabiano Caruana. Photo: Eric Rosen during his US Chess Twitter Takeover on Day 1

Tactic #2

Fabiano Caruana vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi

[pgn][Event "Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fabiano Caruana"]
[Black "Ian Nepomniachtchi"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r2r1k1/p3qpp1/2p5/7p/8/2P1B1Pb/P1Q1PP1P/3RR1K1 b - - 0 19"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]{Entering the 7th rapid round, Nepomniachtchi led the field with Caruana tied for 2nd. Although the duel ultimately ended in a draw, Nepomniachtchi tried for an
exciting rook sacrifice with} 19... Rb2 $1 {which Caruana wisely avoided with
20. Qa4. What happens after} 20. Qxb2 {?} *[/pgn]

Black to move.

Level: Intermediate

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fabiano Caruana"]
[Black "Ian Nepomniachtchi"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/p3qpp1/2p5/7p/8/2P1B1Pb/PQ2PP1P/3RR1K1 b - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]20... Qe4 21. f3 Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 Qf2 23. Rg1 Rxe2 {"And that's all she wrote!"
-Commentator GM Maurice Ashley} *[/pgn]

Levon Aronian. Photo: Eric Rosen during his US Chess Twitter Takeover on Day 1

Tactic #3

Leinier Dominguez Perez vs. Levon Aronian

Black to move.

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.16"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Leinier Dominguez Perez"]
[Black "Levon Aronian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r3/8/2k3P1/2p5/5K2/8/3p4/7R b - - 0 48"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2017.08.14"]48... Re1 $1 {Simple, but risky. Aronian decides to allow his opponent to
queen.} 49. g7 d1=Q {Both sides promote, but Black wins White's queen by force.
} 50. g8=Q Qd4+ 51. Kf5 Qf2+ 52. Kg6 Qg2+ {and White resigned. If} 53. Kf7 Re7+
54. Kf8 Re8+ {wins.} 0-1[/pgn]

Hikaru Nakamura. Photo: Eric Rosen during his US Chess Twitter Takeover on Day 1

Tactic #4

Viswanathan Anand vs. Hikaru Nakamura

How did Nakamura finish off his winning position against the 15th World Champion?

Black to move.

Show Solution

[pgn][Event "Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid)"]
[Site "St Louis, MO USA"]
[Date "2017.08.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Viswanathan Anand"]
[Black "Hikaru Nakamura"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/R4pk1/5npp/4N3/4pK2/1p5P/5PP1/1r6 b - - 0 46"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2017.08.13"]46... e3 {and Anand resigned. If} 47. Rxf7+ Kg8 48. Kxe3 (48. fxe3 Rf1+ 49. Kg3
(49. Nf3 b2) 49... Ne4+ 50. Kh2 Rxf7) (48. Rxf6 exf2 49. Ke3 f1=Q) 48... b2 49.
Rb7 Re1+ 50. Kf3 b1=Q 0-1[/pgn]

Don't miss the first 9 blitz rounds live today at 1 p.m. CST with commentary GMs Yasser Seirawan, Maurice Ashley, and US Chess editor Jen Shahade. Also, look for IM Eric Rosen to take over the US Chess twitter again later this week. https://twitter.com/USChess/status/897235501656264704