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
Gawain Jones v Adam Taylor. 4NCL, Reading 20/11/2006
Solution
Unlike yesterday’s puzzle, which taxed me and I almost gave up, today’s was intuitive, with just a bit of calculation.
1 Re5+! fe 2 Qe5+ Kf8[] 3 Qh8+ Ke7[] 4 Re1+ Kd6[]
So far, so good: a forced line, more or less. Once the position was anchored in my mind, it was just a matter of being able to see with fair confidence that Black had no way out: 5 Qe5+ Kc5 6 d6+ forces the king into the wide-open.
I’ll leave any interested readers the task of defeating 6…Kc4 (or 6…Kb4)
FEN
1r1r3Q/p3kp2/1q3p2/3PpB2/8/b5PP/5P2/3RR1K1 w – – 0 42
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
Jobava v Ponomariov, Baku Olympiad 10/9/2016
Solution
This one took me a while to solve- half an hour, almost gave up, before the light bulb moment struck: 1 Bh6! gh 2 Qh6
2..Rc3 3 Qg5+! Kf8 4 Qf6
and the threat of Bf5 (which at first sight looks at the jump-biff to the LPDO Qb6, but is more aimed at the Be6 being tied to defending f7) wins.
Black had a better defence: 1 Bh6 Nh5! 2 Qg5! Nc6 and the game still has to be won.
3 Re6 fe[] 4 Be2 and yes, White is better, but would I beat Magnus Carlsen from here? Not sure I would.
FEN
r1r3k1/4Rppp/pq2bn2/np1p1p2/3P1B2/P1NB3P/1PPQ1PP1/3R2K1 w – – 0 17
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
R Frischmann v M Brown, Novi Sad/ 7/11/2006
Solution
1 Nh7! since if 1…Kh7? 2 Rh3+ wins the LPDO Qc4. So 1…Rfc8 to move the rook and protect the queen, when 2 Nf6+ and if 2…gf 3 Rg3+ Kf8 4 Bh6+ Ke8[] 5 Rg8 mate. The Pd6 has a function in the attack.
FEN
r4rk1/3b1ppp/np1Pp3/p5N1/2q5/3R4/PP2QPPP/R1B3K1 w – – 0 19
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
Palliser v Jones, British Championships Bournemouth 5/8/2016
Solution
I watched this game live, over the intrernet, from Turkey. I marvelled at Richard’s audacity: 1 Nd5! met with by 1 …Rc1 2 Qc1; 2 Bc1! was better. 2…ed 3 Ng5 and if 3…Bg6 4 Ne6.
Numerous lines could be looked at, and in the game there was chaos until eventually Gawain triumphed.
FEN
2rqkb1r/1p1n1ppb/p3p3/3pPn1p/3P4/1PNB1N2/PB3PPP/2RQ1RK1 w k – 0 14
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: what else did Magnus have, other than the move he played, 1 b4
Carlsen v Ghaem Maghami, Baku Olympiad 2016
Solution
Whilst I gave 1 b4 as the solution a couple of days ago, being what Magnus played, 1 Nf7! was my solution to the puzzle and is just as strong, if not better. In fact, Komdo prefers 1 Nf7 (2.54) Rfd1 (2.2) to b4 (1.4).
1 Nf7! Ne4 (say) 2 Qf4 and if 2…Rgf8 3 Nd6. The computer’s line is 2…g5 3 Qh2 Bb5 4 Nfe5:
FEN
2r3r1/pp2kpp1/2b1pn1p/2q1N3/2N3P1/4P1Q1/PP3PP1/2R2RK1 w – – 0 21
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, played 1…Bb5; what followed?
Carlsen v Ghaem Maghami, Baku Olympiad 2016
Solution
1…Bb5 2 Rf7+! and next 3 Nd6+ +-
FEN
2r3r1/pp2kpp1/2b1p2p/8/1NN3P1/4P1P1/P5P1/2R2RK1 b – – 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.
White to play
Carlsen v Ghaem Maghami, Baku Olympiad 2016
Solution
1 b4! Qb4 2 Nd3! and the Q can’t move because of 3 Qd6+; so 3…Ne4[] 4 Nb4 Ng3[] 5 fg
and White is much better.
FEN
2r3r1/pp2kpp1/2b1pn1p/2q1N3/2N3P1/4P1Q1/PP3PP1/2R2RK1 w – – 0 21
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
Salem v Fedoseev, Abu Dhabi 27/8/2016
Solution
1 Bf7! Rf7[] 2 fe
and Black’s forces are too uncoordinated to put up a fight.
FEN
2k4r/pb1n1pr1/1q2p2b/1p1pPPpB/2pP2Q1/6B1/PPN3P1/R4RK1 w – – 0 21
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
Y Pelletier v R Song, Baku Olympiad 2016
Solution
White played 1 e4 and won anyway, but 1 Ne4! Qg6 2 Nfg5! is much stronger.
If 2…hg? 3 Nf6+ and either 3 Qg6+ or 3Qh7 mate follow, with the Bc4 pinning the f7 pawn. So 2…Bf5 3 g4 with a clear edge.
FEN
rnb2rk1/ppp2pb1/5q1p/4p1p1/2B5/2P1PNP1/PPQN1PP1/R3K2R w KQ – 0 13
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 played 1…b3: what was White’s elegant win?
Tan v Goryachkina, Baku Olympiad 13/9/2016
Solution
After 1..b3 White played the lovely 2 Qe7+ Kg8 3 Qb7! and Black resigned.
Very pretty.
FEN
8/6kp/1qPQ2p1/8/1p5P/6P1/5PK1/8 b – – 0 49
allanbeardsworth 