In chess and in life, it’s not a victory until you cross the finish line. Throughout the history of chess there are numerous examples of players overcoming bleak circumstances with one extraordinary move which was overlooked by their opponent. However, few are as stunning as the combination that GM Lenier Dominguez Perez used to escape a seemingly imminent checkmate during Round 2 of the 2024 US Chess Championship. Can you spot his game saving combination?
White to move and draw (Lenier Dominguez Perez vs Sam Shankland, R2 of the United States Championship in Saint Louis, 10/12/2024).
Examples like this one remind us that chess can be extraordinarily brutal game where one miscalculation can undermine hours of effort. I train the chess players I coach to maintain absolute focus until the game is over as anything less can spell disaster. “Zoning out” at the chessboard, even when it’s your opponent’s turn, is never an option!
Click here to schedule a chess lesson with me today! Online lessons start at $75/hr.