Test your chess: daily chess puzzle

White to play and win

allanbeard v Maulwurfseye 2013

Solution

It is only a pawn, but its loss also ruins black's structure, but it is also another example of the importance of following CJS Purdy's mantra to ignore threats. 1 Bf7+!! and after 1…Kh8, 2 Qa6. If instead 1….Kf7?? 2 Qb3+ wins the black queen, as does 1…Rf7?? 2 Qb8+ Rf8 3 Qb3+.

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'.

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