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
MVL v Garry Kasparov, Clichy Blitz 17/9/2011
Solution
In this blitz game, Garry missed 1…h4! and White’s artack is over.
FEN
1r4k1/5p2/1q1p1Qp1/3P2Pp/4P1P1/5P1K/1p6/1R6 b – – 0 41
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
Sumets v Oney, Istanbul 12/9/2011
Solution
1 Be6! and Black resigned.
There is no sensible defence.
FEN
kr6/p5Rp/2p5/2Pp1P2/P3q3/1nQ1p3/K7/6R1 w – – 0 51
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
Wagner v Aronian, Douglas IOM 21/10/18
Solution
The one that got away: Whtite playec 1 Ka3 and resigned a couple of moves later.
But 1 R1g4! or 1 R7g4! wins.
1…Qf5 (say) 2 Rg8 +-.
FEN
kr6/p5Rp/2p5/2Pp1P2/P3q3/1nQ1p3/K7/6R1 w – – 0 51
Today’s problem is from the recent Bolton Rapidplay.
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
(i) solve the problem
(ii) what move does Komodo 10 suggest to me is Black’s second best move?
P Seery v Paul Macklin, Bolton Rapidplay, 2/12/19
Solution
I was playing on the adjacent board, and saw Paul doing the inexorable KID build up of loading his pieces on the king side and h-file in particular.
Paul, the deserving co-winner (with a potential rising star, Han Yinfen, 12, from Necastle) of the tournament, didn’t of course miss 1…Bh2.
With the nice point of 2 Qh2 or 2 Kh2 both being met by 2…Bg2+ -+
The second part of my puzzle is harder: much harder.
1..Bg2+ is clearly Komodo’s first choice; but 1….Ra8?!?! is its second choice. And for some reason 1…Bg2+ is mate in 11, whilst 1…Ra8 is not mate in 12 but mate in 13.
(I’ve played through to see why: in fact, in one of the shortest mating lines, the Ra7 comes into play).
FEN
7k/rBp4p/P1Pp3r/3Pp2q/4Pp2/1R3Pbb/4Q2P/2R4K b – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the November 2019 edition of Chess Magazine. I am posting it because the problem was in the “warm-up puzzles” section. I normally solve all such problems instantly or near-instantly. This one, I just couldn’t solve.
I wonder if my readers think it is easy?
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
Emre Can v Ivan Saric, Konya, Turkey, 20/7/2019
Solution
1…Bd7! 2 Nc5 Bc6! is the trick I missed.
The Queen is lost.
Was it simple? Well, for one thing, Saric, 2681 missed it. I would say the puzzle wasn’t simple. One of the pains of chess is that once seen, the solution does indeed become simple.
FEN
Qnb1k2r/5ppp/pq2p3/1pb1P3/4N3/3B1N2/PP4PP/R1B1K2n b Qk – 0 14
Today’s problem is from a fairly recent Financial Times article by Leonard Barden.
I very rarely look at “mate in x” problems, but something about this position caught my eye.
White to play: mate in 4
composer unknown; problem given in FT, 10/2019
Solution
Mate in 5 is easy- the one I found, thinking it was mate in 4 (i.e., I failed) was 1 Rc7, 2 Rc1 etc).
Mate in 4? Komodo solved it instantly, I failed despite many attempts, including putting the pieces onto the board.
1 Qd8! b6 (or 1…g5) 2 Rd7 g5
3 Rd2 ed[] 4 Qb6 mate.
Very pretty; I wonder how many, if any, of my readers solved it?
FEN
8/1p2R3/6p1/1K2p3/4PpNp/4pP1P/4P1B1/3QN1k1 w – – 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 meet 1…f6 2 dc Rd7?
Ja. Horton v J Reed, Chester 20/1/13
Solution
After 1…f6 2 dc Rd7:
White played the pretty 3 c8(Q) and Black resigned: he loses the exchange after 3…Rc8[] 4 Bf5 for no compensation.
FEN
3rr1nk/ppp2p2/2nP4/6pp/8/2P1B3/PPB2P1P/2K1R1R1 b – – 0 27
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
Ja. Horton v J Reed, Chester 20/1/13
Solution
1 Ng5+! and after 1…hg 2 Qh5+ gh[] 3 e5+ Kh8 3 ed White breaks through.
FEN
3rr1n1/ppp2p1k/2nb2pp/7q/4P3/2P1BN2/PPB1QP1P/2K1R1R1 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.
White to play
D Mason v C Gibson, West Bromwich 26/1/13
Solution
White played 1 Qg3+ which I find very natural, winning the exchange and possibly a pawn (if after 1…Kh8[] 2 Be8 Black plays 2…Bh6). But it is third or fourth best, apparently
1 Rcd1 is preferred; second best is the very odd move 1 Qe3 (though it does prevent Qb6) best is 1 Qh3.
Komodo’s evaluations are not much different: but why would an engine prefer Qh3 to Qg3? Quite simply, I don’t know, and would be interested in any reader’s comments.
I should also add that after 1 Rcd1 the engine’s preference is 1…Bh6: if 1…Qb6, more natural to me, then 2 Be8 Bh6 3 Bf7+! is curtains, since the Pe6 will fall after Rd7+ to Qe6.
FEN
r2qrbk1/1b3p1p/4pp1B/pB2P3/1p6/1Q6/PP3PPP/R3R1K1 w – – 0 20
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
D Mason v C Gibson, West Bromwich 26/1/13
Solution
1 Ne5! double attack: Nd7 and Qg3+ 1…Ne5 2 de Bf8 and 3 Qh6+, 4 Be8 +-
Typically, the engines improve on White’s play, thinking 2 Qg3 is second best. I will look at this further tomorrow.
FEN
r2q1rk1/1b1n1p1p/3bpp2/pB6/1p1P4/1Q3N2/PP1B1PPP/R3R1K1 w – – 0 17
allanbeardsworth 