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

Neomniachtchi v Bacrot, Round 11 (final), Batumi 5/10/18

Solution

An easy one today: Ian played 1 g6, and Etienne resigned, a 24 move last round victory.

If allowed, 2 Rh8+ and 3 Qh1+ 4 Qh7 mate follows, otherwise e.g 1…Rf5 2 Rf5 ef 3 Qf7+ Kh8[] 4 Kg2 and Rh1 mating.

There is still plenty of time to go in the last round (this is live blogged, but posted in areas), but China-USA looks like heading for four draws, so maybe we will have a tie-break with several teams with the same match point.

Nepo clearly ate red meat for breakfast:

A Larsen type opening, Nf3, e3, c4 followed by b3 and Be2, then lunged out with 8 h4 and 10 g4, and was rewarded with this fairly “simple” victory: route one chess at its best.

FEN

r2q1rk1/pQ4p1/1p2p3/2p3PR/8/1P2P3/Pn1PNP2/R4K2 w – – 0 24
wKf1,Qb7,Ne2,Ra1,h5,Pa2,b3,d2,e3,f2,g5/bKg8,Qd8,Nb2,Ra8,f8,Pa7,b6,c5,e6,g7