Daily Chess Puzzle

Today’s problem is from a recent local league match played by Magnus Carlsen.

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

Magnus’s choice is instructive.

I would have taken Black’s last move as a mistake, and happily played 1 Qd5 Qd5[] 2 Ne7+ Kf8 3 Nd5

However, Black then swaps Ns into a rook and pawn ending: 3…Rd8 4 Nc3 Nc3 5 Rc3[] Rd1+ 6 Kg2[] Rb1 7 Ra3[] Rb5

Yes, it is winning, but some care is needed: Pa2 to a7, push pawns forward, create a passer, to force Black’s king out of g7-h7.

Instead, Magnus played the maximal move 1 f3! making Black’s N worse after 1..Ng3 when the combination followed but in a better way. If instead 1…Nf6 then 2 Qc5 with a clamp, and the b5 pawn pushes forward.

Instructive, how the maximum is attained, even when winning.

FEN

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