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White to Play

Pete Tamburro on Oct 20, 2025

When your opponent makes an error in the opening, you have to be alert to punishing that mistake right away. After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 (A popular choice in recent years, usually combined with follow up moves like Nbd7, Nf6, Be7 and a well-timed c5. Black now shows what not to do.) 4.Nxe4 Bd6 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.Bg5 0–0?? SEE DIAGRAM Normally, castling is good. However, with Black putting the knight on e7 and his bishop on d6 rather than e7, he is now lost. Can you find the entire sequence that leads to a mate?

From Blom-Jensen, Copenhagen, 1938 7.Nf6+!! gxf6 8.Bxf6 Qd7 To unpin the knight so it can go to g6, but it is too little too late. 9.Bxh7+! White had to see this on move seven. 9...Kxh7 10.Qh5+ Kg8 11.Qh8# And just like that, the game is over.

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

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