Back-rank combination by Chess Legend Capablanca

We all know about back rank, when rook or queen delivered checkmate from last rank because king can not move to next rank because of his own pieces or pawns. Normally it has been seen that back rank mate occurs to low level players but the same motif is a base of some high level combination in grand master's games.

Everybody knows Capablanca, The chess genius is known for his intuition and endgame skill but here are some examples I am going to show you that he had also expertise in combination too. Even anyone who have used fritz 11 or 12 may be know that it say sometimes like 'Capablanca - King of little combination'.

(1) Capablanca,Jose-Raul - Fonaroff,Mark

New York casual, 18.06.1918

Position after Black's 16.... Rad8

Just try to guess what Capablanca played? 

He begun a beautiful combination with 17. Rxd6 - Rd6, 18. Bxe5 - Rd1?? (Computer shows that better was 18....Qa5, 19.Bc3 - Bxc3 19. bxc3 - Rg6 20. Ne7+ and winning rook back) but this is blunder which truly punished by Capa 19. Rd1 - Bxe5 20.Now back-rank combination with Nh6+!! - Kh8 21. Qxe5!!

Position after white's 21st move

21.... Qe5 (Can not capture knight as attack on Queen and g7 pawn is also pinned) 22. Nxf7+ and black resigned because if 22....Rxf7 then Rd8# and if Kg8 then Ne5 with clear piece up.

(2) Capablanca - Rossolimo

Paris 1938

This is the most famous example from Capablanca for Back-rank combination which we always show to our student. Both player reached to following position 

Position after Black's 26th Move

Here his opponent made a mistake which gave Capablanca knight free. He played 26.Nc3?? - Nc3 but his opponent didn't understand the little combination of Capa and played 27. Rc3 - Rc3 28. Rc3 - Qb2 

Queen attacks both rook and queen and Queen can not be captured because of Rd1# so his opponent resigned.

Now Question : Can't Capablanca directly played Qb1 on move no. 28 instead of Qb2 ? Solve it then check it with your computer program.

Intermediate Moves

In Simple terminology 'Avoiding an obvious move or capture and  instead of that; interposing another move called intermediate move or in between move'. It is often seen that this move turns the table or change the outcome of the combination. It becomes very deadly when there is an intermediate check.

Now, we will study some examples from GM's game that will show us importance of intermediate moves.

Kasparov vs Shirov – White to Move

In this game between Kasparov and Shirov played in 2002, both players reached captioned position after 17th move. Here Shirov sacrificed the piece on 17.... Nxc5 with accepting 18. dxc5 ... Qxe5 19. Bd2 .... Qh2 but Kasparov ‘the genius’ came with a nice intermediate move 18 Bf6! (Some of expert says that 'Excellent solution of the problem of the black pieces springing to life. Kasparov will much prefer to enjoy great positional, rather than uncertain material, advantage.') 18.....Bf6 19. ef6...Ng8 and now 20.dxc5. If you are interested in whole game. It is given below.

Kasparov vs Alexy Dreev - 2004

See the above diagram. Black started counter play by playing 44.....c3 with a hope 45. bc3....Bb3 and draw but kasparov played an Important intermediate check 45. Nd3+ which turns the table. and kasparov went on win with following moves. 

44. Nd3+ Kb6 45. bxc3 Bb3 46. c4 Bxa4 47.Kd4 Bc2 48. c5+ Kc7 49. Bf3 Bb3 50. Be4 Ba4 51. Kc4 Bc2 52. Bf3 Ba4 53. Ne5 Kb754. Be4 Kc7 55. Nf3 Bd1 56. Nd4 Ba4 57. Bc2 Bxc2 58. Nxc2 Kd8 59. Nd4 1-0

Try to solve following positions with keep in mind the 'intermediate move' theme.

Anand vs Adams (White to Move)

Karmnik vs Aronian (White to Move)

In this game Black last move was ...bxc4 but after white's Intermediate move, Black resigned on the spot. Find the white's in between move

Evgney vs Peter Leko (White to Move)

What will you play as white?  Last move was Bxc6. as direct capturing on c6 would result into draw endgame. Instead of capturing on c6 Evgeny played another move and went on win.