Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the C.H.O’D. Alexander’s 1973 book”The Penguin Book of Chess Positions”, a book I devoured (and loved) as a child.

I thought I would use it for more of my daily training.

As is my custom, I only say 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.

Black to play

Lundin v Smyslov, Groninger 7/9/1946

Solution

Smyslov played 1…Kh8!, a beautifully inventive move, forseeing the opening of the g file by …g5.

After 2 Qb6 g5! 3 fg Qf5! Black had the initiative.

Yesterday’s position shows the finale of this game. The game is annotated in Megabase.

FEN

2rr2k1/3qp2p/p1pn1pp1/2Q5/1P3P2/P3PB2/5P1P/2RR2K1 b – – 0 23