Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the currently ongoing Batumi Olympiad. I am writing this message live as I watch the games, though it will be posted on my site in several days’ time, since I write my blogs some days 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

Anand v Ragger

Solution

I would never, ever, play the move Vishy played; because I wouldn’t think about it. It wouldn’t even be a candidate move.

Vishy played 1 g3!?, the point being 1…g5 2 Ng5 hg 3 Qh5 gh 4 gh and 1-0.

Ragger didn’t play 1…g5, and the game went on; White played (after 1…Nf6) 2 Bf6, followed up by h4, Nh2-g4, and an attack on the White squares.

The point of today’s puzzle is how I (and no doubt many players) “rule out” moves automatically.

(The whole game is lovely: Vishy makes it look simple, exploiting little weaknesses: worth playing through and admiring).

FEN

r1bq1rk1/ppp1bpp1/2np3p/4p2n/P1B1P2B/2PP1N2/1P1N1PPP/R2QK2R w KQ – 0 10
wKe1,Qd1,Nd2,f3,Bc4,h4,Ra1,h1,Pa4,b2,c3,d3,e4,f2,g2,h2/bKg8,Qd8,Nc6,h5,Bc8,e7,Ra8,f8,Pa7,b7,c7,d6,e5,f7,g7,h6