Cordingley puzzle 192 #chess
White to play and win (sort of, but not quite)
Solution
I struggled with this one, not being able to find a win after various tries such as Ne6, Be6, Nb5, Bb5-basically four ways to throw a minor piece away. So, in a game, I would surely have played 1 Rhd1, just bringing a piece out. I would never have guessed this was a 'solution' but it was indeed the move played.
When I looked at the solution, I was confounded. Does it really win? I set the pieces out, and played through some lines, and it is quite curious to me- though maybe it shouldn't have been- that 1…b5 2 Ne6! fe 3 Be6 is so strong.
It doesn't actually win, though. Black's next move in the game, 3…ba, is weak, after which the game is lost, but 3…Bd6 or 3…Ne5 would still mean there is a game. So, the problem is somewhat cooked, but is nevertheless interesting, showing the power of development.
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allanbeardsworth 