Daily Chess Puzzle: Moscow Rapid

Today’s problem is from the Moscow Rapid tournament

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

Carlsen v Utegaliyev, FIDE WCC Rapid Open, Moscow 26/12/2019

Solution

1 c4!! a beautiful move.

What does it do? It isn’t aimed at c*d5 but at 2 Qa3+!!, to which there is no good defence.

How to spot such a move? Well, I doubt Purdy’s examine all biffs would have enabled me to see the move, but maybe his examine all jump biffs would: the Qg3 can, in Purdy terms, do a jump over the Pc3 to a3.

Wonderful.

FEN

r2q1b1r/1p2kp1p/4pnp1/pB1pB3/P7/2P3Q1/1P3PPP/R4RK1 w – – 0 20