Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from the recent local league match Magnus Carlsen played in.

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.

White to play

Magnus Carlsen v Andreas Tryggestsad, 3rd November 2019

Solution

I suspect Black, rated 2365, knew he was defeated when Magnus ignored the threat and played 1 Be5!

A move I didn’t understand at first.

The point is a nice example of a standard ‘trick’: 1…Qb5 is met by 2 Rc8+! and White wins a rook, because the Rb8 is overloaded: tied to defending the Qb5 and the Rb8.

Very nice.

Picture from Twitter: 

The whole game is nice: in what looks simple, but isn’t, Magnus won a slow game, with no fuss, just little tactics and better strategy.

FEN

rr4k1/1q2ppbp/5np1/1P1p4/3B4/p2QPN2/P4PPP/2R2RK1 w – – 0 20