No. 1  Harewood-Corbin (2005 Barbados 1st National Qualifier, Barbados)
This was a miniature… one more for Corbin to notch on his belt. His opponent played so timidly, that the result is not at all unexpected. The game started 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Bf5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Be2 e6 5.0-0 Bd6 6.c4 with a wretched move order in the Queen's Gambit. Corbin took advantage of white's misplaced pieces and launched a lightening attack. The game ended with the snappy 15…Bh2+! When black either mates after 16.Nxh2 Qxh2+ 17.Kf1 Qh1# or wins the queen after 16.Kh1 Nxf2+. (See game).

No. 2 Kaufman-Adu (2005 Millennium Chess Festival, Virginia, USA)
These two Maryland-based players have played on several occasions. In such a case, a surprise tactic is often used and Kaufman didn't disappoint with 1.e4 c5 2.a3!? g6 3.b4!?  Because of this enterprising opening, Adu equalized fairly easily and took over the initiative in the middlegame. The game exploded into a tactical melee after 33.Rxd4!? cxd4 34.c5 Qf6 35.d6 g5 36.dxc7 Qxh6 37.Re1 gxf4 38.Rxe7. However, when the smoke cleared, Adu had mated an exchange and a passed a-pawn. From the diagrammed position, Adu finished with winning 54…Qxg3 55.Rxe7+ Kf6 56.fxg3 Rxg3+ 0-1. However, a more efficient demolition would have been meted out by 54…Qb5+! Full marks for the latter choice! (See game)

No. 3  Houska-Gwaze (2004 British Championship, Scarborough, England)
Robert Gwaze has been playing quite a bit since starting his residency in England. He is currencly the leading player in the English Grand Prix standings based on tournament performance. In this game, he plays a rising star in 24-year old Jovanka Houska, a Woman's Grandmaster. In this game, Gwaze put a finishing touch on a complicated and exciting battle with 42…Re1+! 43.Kh2 Rh1+! and Houska resigned without waiting for the elementary 44.Kxh1 Qf1+ 45.Kh2 Qg2#. This is similar to another Chess Cracker entry (January-February 2001, No. 1). (See game)

No. 4  Simutowe-Sosa (2000 Chess Olympiad, Istanbul, Turkey)
Amon Simutowe of Zambia was a young wunderkind ripping through competition on the African continent before he caught the attention of players at the 34th Olympiad with a silver medal on board #1. The 18-year old had begun a meteoric rise from 2240 to 2470 rating and nearly won the World Junior Championship before anyone could figure out who he was. In his silver medal performance, he played Puerto Rico's Luis Sosa and the position ended up in an interesting ending. Known for grinding their opponents down until they quit, Simutowe slowly made progress and ended the resistance with 74.Kb6! which  threw complete confusion into the defensive ranks of black's forces. After 74…Ke8 75. Rg8+  black resigned before losing a rook or getting mated. (See game)