Polgar,S - Hajdu,G
Debrecen 1980
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White to move, mate in 2 moves
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This game is one of my first memories of playing in a chess tournament.
I was about six years old and played at the Hungarian championship for
girls under 11. Despite the age difference, I managed to win the event
and I was especially pleased with how the game ended. It's one of the few
games in my chess career, where I managed to checkmate my opponent with
a double check!
1.Qg7+! Rxg7 2.hxg7# 1–0
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Polgar,S - Gocheva,R
Novi Sad Olympiad 1990
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White to move and win
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In the 1990 Olympiad, in Novi Sad, I played board 3 on the women’s team
for Hungary behind my two sisters. We took the gold again as a team and
I also won an individual gold medal on my board with a score of 11.5 out
of 13 games. With the exception of getting the medals, my most pleasant
memory from this event was the little combo at the end of this game.
It’s a good demonstration of the strength of doubled rooks on an open file.
36.Qxf6+! 1–0
(36... gxf6 37.Rhxg8 Kf7 38.R1g7#)
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Polgar,S - Garcia Nunez,A
Wch U18 Guarapuava, 1991
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White to move and win
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There's a funny story from this World U-18 championship. I went home with a medal,
but not from the chess tournament... It was a silver medal I won with the Australian
player in the table-tennis doubles competition! Ok, there were some good chess moves
played too.
This combination is a nice example of destroying the pawn structure around the
opponent’s king.
32.Rxh6+! gxh6 33.Qxh6+ Kg8 34.Qg6+ Kf8 35.Rf5+ Bf6 36.Nxf6 Rf7 37.Nh7+ 1–0
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Riegler,P - Polgar,S
Wch U20 Matinhos, 1994
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Black to move and win
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The World Junior championships are unique events. On one hand, the best junior
players fight for the medals, on the other hand partying after the games is big
part of the fun. From the chess point of view, it's also special. Within a few
years some talented youngsters give up chess, while others become the very best
players of the world. After my Rome result, winning the silver medal on the U-20
world championship in Brazil is the achievement I'm most proud of.
30... Rc1+! 0–1
Exploiting the pin on the e file, the king will not ot be able to hold on to both rooks.
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Belakovskaia, A - Polgar, S
Moscow Olympiad, 1994
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Black to move and win
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After winning two team gold medals in the Women Olympiads, Judit started
playing for the (Men) national team. In Moscow, I played on the second
board behind my elder sister Susan. This time I played every game, scoring
12,5 of 14 and along with the team silver, I again won a gold medal for
the individual performance.
This game is a nice example on the tactical themes of fork and the back rank.
24...Ncd3! 25.cxd3 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Nxd3 27.Qg1 Bxd4 28.Qxd4 Qe1+ 0–1
(29.Qg1 Nf2 smothered mate)
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Polgar,S - Kerma,S
Portoroz, 1994
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White to move and win
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One of the first tactical themes I learned as a kid is the back rank
problem. Today I teach my sons and my other students about these tricks.
It comes handy to have my own games to demonstrate tactics.
This game is a good example also on weak black squares as well as deflection.
26.Nxe7! Rxe7 27.Qd4+!
Capturing the queen would clear the way for back rank mate after
27...Rxd4 28.Rc8+
27...Ne5 28.Qxd6 Rxc3 29.Qf6+ 1–0
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