[Event "37th European Chess Club Cup (Women)"] [Site "Mayrhofen AUT"] [Date "2022.10.05"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Eline Roebers"] [Black "Viktoria Radeva"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2352"] [BlackElo "2263"] [Annotator "USER"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "Eline Roebers Top 5 Games - Meet The Bulldog #1"] [ChapterName "Eline Roebers - Viktoria Radeva"] [FEN "2r1r1k1/1p3pp1/4p3/pP2P1Np/1b1BN2n/4Q1R1/1nq2PP1/5RK1 w - - 0 27"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/GGJ4wYWp/AEJzfbxP"] [Orientation "white"] { In the previous two games, we have seen two queenless positions where Eline showcased her calculating ability and handling of the initiative. These two traits/strengths of her style, however, are more apparent in sharp and complicated positions with the queens of the board - that are actually featured in the majority of her games. Let's take a look at a few such typical positions, starting from the following game taken from a successful competition by Eline - European Chess Club for Women held in October 2022., where she made 5/7. We join her game against Viktoria Radeva from Bulgaria on move 27. Eline has sacrificed a few pawns in order to obtain a winning initiative on the kingside. Can you figure out how to break through in the position? } 27. Nf6+ { As Capablanca used to say "In such positions, combinations are as natural as a baby's smile". Eline sacrifices a knight to open up the king and deliver a deadly discovered check! } { [%cal Rf6e8,Rf6g8] } 27... gxf6 { There is no particular choice - the knight has to be accepted. } (27... Kh8 28. Nxf7#) (27... Kf8 28. Ngh7+ Ke7 29. Rxg7 { are quite hopeless. }) 28. Ne4+ Ng6 29. exf6 { A very impressive quiet move. Eline correctly calculates/judges that this strong - relatively slow - recapture is the best way to go, as now the threats of Qh6 and Rxg6 are simply deadly. } { [%csl Gf6][%cal Ge3h6,Rg3g6] } 29... Bf8 { What else? } (29... a4 30. Qh6 { It may seem as if Black has Bf8 to response to Qh6, but after } 30... Bf8 31. Rxg6+ { Black loses on the spot. } 31... fxg6 32. Qxg6+ Kh8 33. f7+ Bg7 (33... e5 34. Qg8#) 34. Qxg7#) 30. Rxg6+ { A very nice tactical finish! } 30... fxg6 31. f7+ { Opening up the bishop on d4. Three pieces coordinate nicely and deliver checkmate on the dark-squares. } { [%csl Gd4,Ge3,Ge4][%cal Gd4h8,Ge3h6] } 31... Kxf7 32. Ng5+ Kg8 (32... Ke7 { is no better: } 33. Qxe6+ Kd8 34. Bb6+ Rc7 35. Nf7#) 33. Qe5 { And here Black resigned as the mate can be delayed, but not avoided. Brutal attack by Eline! } { [%cal Gd4h8] } 1-0