No. 1  Gwaze-Stanley (2004 San Antonio City Ch., San Antonio, USA)
Twelve-year old Tapiwa Gwaze (no apparent relation to IM Robert Gwaze of Zimbabwe) is a rising star on the scholastic chess scene. His fifth-place showing in the San Antonio caused many to take notice including IM Amon Simutowe of Zambia. In this game, he slogged through an endgame with an opponent 200 points higher and capitalized off of a fatal error with the winning 51.f5! Black resigned because capturing the pawn would allow the h-pawn to sprint to the queening square. Let's examine the position once again. The key line was 50…Kd6-e6 51.Kc5 (51.Ke4 loses to 51…b4!) 51…Kf5 (51…b4 is also drawn after 51.Kb5 Kd5 52.f5 gxf5 53.h5 f4) 52.Kxb5 Kxf4 53.Kxa5 Kg4 54.a4 Kxh4 55.Kb5 g5 is drawn. (See game).

No. 2 Carlsson-Torres Tur (2004 Calvia Open - Calvìa, Spain)
There are times that we face our own opening and defensive systems which may make us uncomfortable. In this encounter, Pontus Carlsson faced his favorite weapon… the Dragon. However, he employed a different system which included castling kingside and playing Re1 and Bg5. These are not common moves against the Dragon, but Carlsson developing a crude mating attack on the king. In the diagrammed position, the 22-year old player from Sweden uncorked 32.Rxg6+! Shattering the shelter of the black king. Following was a powerful attack and black hemorrhaged material after  32…fxg6 33.Qxg6+ Kf8 34. Rf3+ Bf7 35.e6. After 35…Rg8 36.Qh6+ Rg7 37.Rxf7+ Qxf7 38.exf7 Rxf7 white ended with 38.Bxd5 which would win more material. The f7-rook cannot move without tossing a whole rook to 39.Qh8+. (See game)

No. 3  Muhammad-Kleiman (2005 U.S. Chess Championship, San Diego, USA)
This was a nice finish by Muhammad who possessed the alertness to spot a tactical motif with few pieces remaining.  He had outplayed his opponent in the middlegame and used his extra queenside pawns to tie down the black pieces.  Black sought to trade off pawns, so Muhammad obliged with the deadly 36.e4! After 36… Bxe4, the lowly pawn revealed the plan with 37.e6! Black had to allow another passed pawn with 37…f6 because on 37…fxe6 white mates with 38.Rxg7+ Kh6 and 39.g5+ Rxg5 40.hxg5#. Kleiman resigned after 37…f6 38.Rc8 hxg4 39.e7 Bc6 40.Rxc6 Kf7 41.Bc5. (See game)

No. 4  Zimmerman-Carlsson  (I Torneig Internacional Cala Millor, Calvìa, Spain)
This time Carlsson got to play his favorite Sicilian Dragon. A typical Yugoslav Attack ensued and black opted for the …h5, …Rc5 line. Both sides went for standard attacks (white with f3, h4, g4 and black with play on the c-file), Carlsson's attack was faster and white was forced to sacrifice a piece for a phantom attack. After 27.Rh1-h1, Black plowed through with 27…Rxb3+! 28.Nxb3 (28.axb3 Ra1#)  28...Bxe4+ ending the game abruptly. Of course on 29.Qxe4, black delivers checkmate with Qb2# and on 29.Rhd3, black plays 29…Bxd3+ winning massive material. Actually, changing the move order with 27…Bxe4+! first is faster due to 28.Rdd3 29.Bxd4 and 28.Qxe4 28…Rxb3+! Still an interesting tactical motif. (See game)