The International Chess Federation’s Grand Swiss tournament qualifies the top two finishers for two of the eight spots in the Candidates Tournament. Eight players then compete for the chance to challenge the reigning World Chess Champion.
The Netherlands’ Anish Giri won the Grand Swiss and moved back into the list of the top 10 rated players in the world, ranking No. 7. Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum also qualified, placing second on tiebreaks.
This week’s position is from Giri’s final-round game against America’s Hans Niemann. Giri is white; Niemann, black. Giri used a pin to win a pawn, then converted the advantage to win both the game and the tournament. With this hint in mind, please try to find how white wins a pawn.
Black’s c5 pawn lies on the c5-d6-e7 diagonal, vulnerable to white’s bishop on e3. However, Black’s knight guards the c5 pawn. Giri still won the pawn by first sacrificing the exchange, trading his rook for Black’s knight.
Black’s bishop on e6 captured white’s rook. Now white’s bishop freely captures the c5 pawn while pinning Black’s rook to its king (see next diagram).
Because of the pin, Giri regained the exchange by capturing Black’s rook with his bishop. Each player was left with a light-squared bishop, and Giri had won an extra pawn.
The lesson this week is that the pin truly is mightier than the sword.
Reach Eric Morrow at ericmorrowlaw@gmail.com or (505) 327-7121.
