Discovered Attack - Learn Chess Tactics (John Nunn) - 2

As you may have previously read, I am currently working through "Learn Chess Tactics" by John Nunn. It's a beautiful book and you should get it. 

There is one game listed in the exercise section of the chapter on Discovered Attack, that I wanted to share for its sheer beauty.

The position is from the game Anand - Lautier 1997. Here is the position (Lichess link), with white to move. Remember the theme is discovered attack:




In this position, I saw that the white and black queen were lined up and a check with the light squared bishop would win the queen. So I considered 1. Rxf7 as a possibility, because if 1... Kxf7, then 2. Bg6+ wins the queen. However, Kxf7 isn't really forced, and black could instead just protect their queen.

The solution, which Anand played in the game, was the incredible 1. Bg6!!. Black is unable to win white's queen, because if 

1... Qxd1 

2. Rxe6+ (f pawn is pinned), Kf8 

3. Bxh6+, Kg8

4. Bxf7#

In the actual game, the continuation went differently and Anand was able to swap pieces off and then won because Black's g2 bishop gets trapped. The amount of calculation required to see all the eventualities from that position and play it in the game is just incredible.

It makes me happy that I am finally able to read Chess literature, and appreciate the beauty within these games.

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