Today’s problem is from the current European Team Championships.
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
Erwin L’Ami v Luke McShane European Team Championships, Batumi, Georgia, 27th October 2019
Solution
As so often in chess, “reverse the moves” or, “if you see one good more, look for another” applies here.
Rather than 1…Qe6 as discussed yesterday, followed by 2…Nf2+; 1…Nf2+ is devastating. 2 Kg1[] Rg2+ 3 Kf1[] Rg1+ 4 Ke2[] (4 Kf2 Qg2 mate)
and Black collects the house.
FEN
6qk/p5rp/1p1pQ3/8/P1Pp1Bn1/3B4/1P4PP/4R2K b – – 0 37
Today’s problem is from the current European Team Championships.
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
Erwin L’Ami v Luke McShane, European Team Championships, Batumi, Georgia, 27th October 2019
Solution
1…Re6! which at first glance doesn’t seem possible, but if 2 Qe6 Qe6 3 Re6[] Nf2+ picks up the LPDO Bd3: 4 Kg1 Nd3
Having said this, the resultant position after 5 Bd6 doesn’t seem clearly better for Black to me; and in fact I prefer White.
What had I missed, but Luke had seen? Part of my analysis is wrong: answer tomorrow.
FEN
4r1qk/p5rp/1p1pP3/8/P1Pp1Bn1/3B4/1P2Q1PP/4R2K b – – 0 36
Today’s problem is from the current European Team Championships.
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
Erwin L’Ami v Luke McShane European Team Championships, Batumi, Georgia, 27th October 2019
Solution
My move of the day from this round of the European Team Championships.
Luke played 1…Nf6! sacrificing the g-pawn, a move I wouldn’t ave considered. But, just like AlphaZero, the loss of a pawn equals an open line to attack: Black can put his R and Q on g7 and g8, bearing down on g2.
Erwin took the Pg5, and my engine says White is better, but very quickly Black was winning.
FEN
r2qn2k/p2bbr1p/1p1p4/3Pp1p1/P1PpN3/3B1P2/1P1B2PP/R2Q1RK1 b – – 0 27
Today’s problem is from the current European Team Championships.
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
Jones G v Carlsson, PEuropean Team Championships, Batumi, Georgia, October 2019
Solution
1 Bh6! with the idea that if 1…gh, 2 de wins.
If Black plays 2…fe, then 3 Rd7 winning the exchange, but also with an overwhelming attack.
FEN
3rnk2/3r1ppQ/4pb1p/1q1P4/1p3BP1/pP1R1B1P/P4PK1/3R4 w – – 0 35
Today’s problem is from the current Chess.com Grand Swiss in Douglas, Isle of Man.
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
McShane v Adhiban, Douglas, Isle of Man. October 2019
Solution
I watched the last ten moves or so of this game live, trying to guess Luke’s moves (some times I did, sometimes I didn’t: and he fairly blitzed out the last moves.
1 Rf6! hits the Pg6 which can’t be defended. 1…Rf6 2 Rf6 Re7 3 Rg6+
and the end is near.
FEN
2q1r1k1/1p3R2/p2r2p1/4p3/2P1p3/1P6/P5QP/5R1K w – – 0 29
Today’s problem is from the current Chess.com Grand Swiss in Douglas, Isle of Man.
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
McShane v Adhiban, Douglas, Isle of Man. October 2019
Solution
The move of the tournament for me, Luke played 1 g4!: scarily opening White’s king side, but Luke correctly judged that Black’s king is the most vulnerable, given Black’s pieces, and especially the queen, are offside.
FEN
1qr1r1k1/1p5p/p3p1p1/3p3n/2P1N3/1P6/PQ4PP/3R1R1K w – – 0 23
Today’s problem is from one of my recent games
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
D Lee v A Beardsworth, Stockport v Chorlton, October 2019
Solution
Fortunately I found 1….Bh3+ with a winning attack: the first move of the Bc8, sacrifcing itself to bring White’s King out.
2 Kh3 Qd7+ 3 Kh2 Rf3 4 Rh1 and now to my eternal shame, played 4….Qh3+??: I had seen from afar, a few moves before the diagram position, that the Nc4 was LPDO and liable to be hit by my Q on h4 of g4: stupidly, I played the whole combination instantly. After 4…Qh3+, Daniel was able to hold the draw.
I think this miss will haunt my for life. It is not that often I sacrifice.
FEN
r1bq1rk1/4b1np/p2p3B/2pPp2P/2N5/2N4P/PP1Q1PK1/R4R2 b – – 0 21
Today’s problem is from the current Chess.com Grand Swiss in Douglas, Isle of Man.
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
Howell v Bluebaum, Douglas, Isle of Man. 19 October 2019
Solution
1 d4! and after either 1….Qd4 or 1….Qa5, holding on to the Nc3, 2 Qc7 is a double attack on the Nc3 and Rb8: 1-0
FEN
1r5k/4Q1p1/1p2p2p/4qp1P/8/2nP1BP1/4PPK1/2R5 w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the current Chess.com Grand Swiss in Douglas, Isle of Man.
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 -variation after Qf6: how to gain control as White?
Wojtaszek v Tari, Douglas, Isle of Man. 11 October 2019
Solution
My engine prefers 1 Kh1! (onto a White square, away fron forks on the g1-a7 diagonal) 1…Bg3 (threatening a nasty accident on the first rank) 2 Qc4! protecting f1; 3 Qd3! pushing back the Bg3, and then pushing the d pawn.
Another nice way, also suggested by my engine, was 1 Rb3! preventing Bg3, so preventing nasties on the first rank.
FEN
5r1k/1p5p/p4q2/P1QPp3/4Bb2/7P/6P1/1R4K1 w – – 0 41
Today’s problem is from the current Chess.com Grand Swiss in Douglas, Isle of Man.
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
Wojtaszek v Tari, Douglas, Isle of Man. 11 October 2019
Solution
1 Be4! overloading the Qf5
1…Rc8 (if 1…Qf6 2 Kh1; and with the king safe, the Pd5 can push, though the game still needs to be won).
2 Qe7! 1-0
FEN
5r1k/1p5p/p7/P1QPpq2/5b2/5B1P/6P1/1R4K1 w – – 0 40
allanbeardsworth 