Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from this year’s Wijk. I drafted this blog mid-game, whilst watching on Playchess. Posted online today, since I write my posts in advance.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying which side is to play: and not giving an idea if the move wins or otherwise, unless on occasion I think signposting would be helpful. Instead, the problems are posed with the instruction to decide what you would play, as in a game.

White to play: what happens if 1 Re5 Qf4?

Vidit v Krasenkow, Wijk aan Zee, Challengers, round 2

Solution

White wins by 2 Be3!, trapping the Queen.

My forecast is that Vidit is a likely winner of this year’s Challengers.  He seems to have a good style and approach to the game. In this game, he got a dominating position soon after this opening:

As mentioned, this posting is mid-game, but I suspect it will be 1-0. White seems to be dominant, with two of Black’s pieces not playing in the game.

FEN

r1b1r3/3p1k2/2pQpn1q/p1B4p/2P2Pp1/2RB4/PPK3PP/4R3 w – – 0 25