Daily Chess Puzzle

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

Tan v Goryachkina, Baku Olympiad 13/9/2016

Solution

A nice one, and one which caused me difficulties.

It took me a while, and then I was pleased, to find 1 Nb5! and if 1…Qe3 2 fe Be5 3 c7 Bc7[] 4 Nc7

And White’s knight can get back to control b1 just in time: chess is a game of one tempo.

The win is then trivial: K to the q-side, gobble the b-pawn, and then back to the kingside.

In the game, Black played 1…Qb5 and I was just about able to see that White could control f2 and also push his pawn, with checking threats meaning his pawn’s advance is faster than the b pawn’s.

2 Qe6+ Kg7 3 Qd6 Qb6 4 Kg2 was played in the game

and Black soon resigned.

FEN

6k1/7p/2Pbp1p1/4q3/1p1N3P/4Q1P1/5P1K/8 w – – 0 46