Karpov-Ovetchkin: a lovely puzzle

White to play and win

Solution

I came across this lovely puzzle in Emmanuel Neiman's 'Chess Tactics Antenna' (New In Chess, 2012) which I am presently working through. A trivial point is that white is indeed Alexander, not Anatoly, Karpov, a player whom I have not previously heard of.

There is a clue given, since the puzzle is in chapter 10 on 'Alignment': the book comprises a primer based on typical motifs, and this chapter instructs the reader to look for geometries, pieces on the same ranks, files, or diagonals.

This puzzle stumped me for a good while. On second or third sitting, I thought of looking instead based on CJS Purdy's maxim:

Purdy on threats, In Search of Chess Perfection, pg 289

You must see all real threats. That means you must also see the unreality of real threats…. When in doubt, you can always save time by remembering it is really your move. Try then the following way of thinking:

Imagine the threat could not possibly be executed. Then what would be my best move? Try out each attractive move separately, considering each one as follows. Visualise the whole position as it would be after this move of yours, and then work out whether the opponent would gain by executing his 'threat'.

Previously, and with the alignment clue, I had looked at 1 Bf4 Qa1+ 2 Rd1 dis+, but 1…Qf4 spoils it, and also 1 Qg3 Qa1+ 2 Rd1+, to no avail; and also the line (diagonal) clearance 1 Rb6+, again without success. So, re-focus, look at Purdy's maxim, and ignore the threat of 1…Qa1+: imagine that it couldn't possibly happen. Then 1 c6 is a move that I would like to play, threatening mate on b7, and if 1…Rc7, 2 Rd8+ and mates. So 1 Bf4! and if 1…Qf4 2 c6!! and mates.

All that was needed was to deflect the queen, to give the tempo for the move I most wanted to play.

Beautiful. Simple. Not simple.

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