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
Vrolijk v Saravanan, Bruges 27/7/2018
Solution
1 Rd7! with the nice point that 1…Re8 is impossible due to 2 ef+, so R elsewhere, when 2 e7 promotes.
FEN
3r2k1/R4ppp/1pp1P3/8/8/2n3P1/PP3PKP/8 w – – 0 24
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.
Black to play
Fowler v Santos, Bruges 2018
Solution
1…Qa6 or 1…Qb5 both win a piece: afte 2 Rc1 Rc1+ 3 Bc1 Bd5
FEN
6k1/pb3pp1/1p2pn1p/q7/2NP4/P1r1BP1P/4Q1P1/R5K1 b – – 0 1
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
J Emms v D Cummings, Radebeul 13/7/2018
Solution
1 Rb7! and resigns, because if 1…Rb7[] 2 Be4 and White ends up a piece up.
FEN
r5k1/1b2rppp/p7/2p5/2PpnB2/P2B4/2P2PPP/RR4K1 w – – 0 21
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
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
Magnus played 1 f4, and crashed through very quickly, though Black helped him.
But he missed 1 d5!!
1…Nd5?? 2 Bh8
1..ed? 2 Rfe1
1…cd 2 Bb5+ Ke7
and now what? Answer tomorrow.
FEN
r2qkb1r/1p3p1p/2p1pnp1/p3B3/P1BP4/2P3Q1/1P3PPP/R4RK1 w kq – 0 18
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 Re4+! fe[] 2 Bf7+ Qf7[] 3 Rf7 Kf7 4 Qd7+ 1-0.
Magnus made his first round game seem easy.
FEN
r3k2r/1pBq1pbp/2pQ2p1/p4p2/P1BPn3/2P5/1P4PP/4RRK1 w kq – 0 23
Today’s problem is from the Moscow WCC Rapid..
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: who won the game?
FIDE WCC Rapid Open, Moscow 26/12/2019
Solution
Perhaps I should have given the players’ names. White is Magnus Carlsen, Black is Boris Savchenko (2569).
This position was reached, and Black blundered after 1…Rd7 2 Ke6 Rd4?? when 3 Rh7 is 1-0; 2…Rc7 would have drawn.
The whole game was videoed and is enjoyable to watch:
FEN
8/7p/k5p1/5p1P/4rP2/5R1K/8/8 w – – 0 48
Today’s problem is was seen on Twitter, posted my Mikhail Golubev. I felt it worth preserving.
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
Golubev v Feingold, 3-0 blitz, chesscom, December 2019
Solution
A nice one, and had Mikhail spotted the combination in a blitz game is beyond me. I tried various checks, none of which worked, until changing the order of the moves and playing 1 Rhg3!.
The nice point is that if 1…Rf6 then there is a smothered mate with 2 Rg8+ and 3 R3g7 mate; other tries by Black lose to discovered checks.
FEN
r1b2r1k/6R1/2p1pB1p/2np3q/4P3/1pN4R/PPP2P1P/2K5 w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the current Stiges tournament; a postion seen on Twitter.
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.
Balck to play: resigned: should he have?
Dennis Wagner v Maxime Lagarde, Stiges December 2019
Solution
No!
1…Rh7 (with the idea of Rb7) 2 Bd5 (preventing it) 2…Rb7!! all the same! 3 Bb7 stalemate.
Of course, White doesn’t need to capture on b7, and depending on the 50 move count, could torture Black a while, but a nice example of imagination in defence.
FEN
8/8/4B2r/k1K5/4R3/8/8/8 b – – 0 1
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.
Black to play: how does White defeat 1…Kc6
Gawain Jones v Adam Taylor. 4NCL, Reading 20/11/2006
Solution
Yesterday’s problem reached this position. Black played 1…Kc4 in the game, and succummbed to a staircase checking sequence 2 Re4+ 3 Qd5+ 4 Re2+; 1…Kc6 intrigued me/made me ponder more.
2 Be4+! Kd7[] 2 Qe7+ Kc8[] 3 Bf5+! a nice return from whence it came 3..Rd7[] 4 Qd7 mate.
FEN
1r1r4/p4p2/1q1P4/2k1QB2/8/b5PP/5P2/4R1K1 b – – 0 47
allanbeardsworth 