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

Aronian v Karjakin, Saint Louis 18th August 2018

Solution

1 h4! is a near automatic try: if it doesn’t win, it doesn’t win, there is nothing else to try. But after 1…gh[] 2 Kh4 the h-pawn is under lock and key.

White can force the h-pawn to h3, by g5 and Kg4; once on h3, the pawn has to be defended by the B, overloading it from watching the queen side pawns.

And white makes progress.

FEN

8/8/4kP2/1p4p1/3B2P1/1P2K2P/P5b1/8 w – – 0 55