Test your chess: daily chess puzzle # 35

Black to play and win

(Or, at least, get a large advantage).

M Van Shaick v D Thom 2003

Solution

Examine all biffs, and noting the geometrical alignment of the white Q and KR, 1….Bd5! is not hard to find.

White must take, so 2 Qd5 Rcd8, and white can either lose the exchange, by moving his queen (Zhenjiang the win would be fairly straightforward) or try to survive by 3 0-0! Then 3…Rd5 4 Rd5:

I am not convinced that black is winning. For instance, if black tries to keep a pawn on the queenside, by 4…b4, white can play 5 Bc4 threatening both to take on a5 and to advance his king pawn to e6, when black may be forced into passivity. So, instead, 4…a4 5 Rb5 ab 6 ab Qd2 7 Bc4 Qg5+ 8 Kh1 Qf5 reaching the following position:

Black is to be preferred, but would you this as black against Carlsen? I wouldn't, or would not be at all confident of doing so.

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