Lessons From Cap Negret VI

MY round-six game, where I had White against Josep Fernández Pérez (1801), featured a common pseudo-sacrifice that is perhaps not as well-known as it should be.

The relevant position arose after Black played 56...Ka6-a7.

White is a pawn up, but the extra pawn is on a rook's file, and there is no obvious way to safely advance it 

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57.Nxc6+!

This takes advantage of the fact that the b5 knight, although apparently occupying a strong outpost, is only supported by a pawn, which in turn is only supported by a piece that cannot help defend b5.

After the forced 57...Nxc6 58.Kxb5, I had won a second pawn, and Black resigned.

LESSON: knights, and to a lesser extent rooks, are vulnerable to this pseudo-sacrifice.