Daily Chess Puzzle Chess magazine

Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.

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

S Ansell v J Rowson, Olympia 4/12/12

Solution

I thought I had solved this position, playing (as Simon played) 1 Bf4 Nf3+ 2 Bf3 Qf5[] (2…Qh3 3 Bg4) but it is nothing much for White, and my engine says it is merely +0.5.

Instead 1 Qe5!? a move I never even considered.

1…Be5? 2 g4+-; so 1…Qe5[] 2 Ne5 Be5 3 Bh6 with slightly more of an edge.

If I could only adhere to CJS Purdy’s maxim, which I know so well, examine all biffs, maybe I would have found 1 Qe5. But, alas, even with it being a problem, I didn’t. That’s chess.

FEN

r4rk1/pp1b1pb1/4p1pp/3Pn2q/8/5NPP/PP2QPB1/R1BR2K1 w – – 0 16