Today’s problem is from the April 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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
Faulkner v Learner, Southend Easter 1979
Solution
1 Rd4 is a move to make without thinking (though my engine says 1 Bd7 also wins as well) 1..Bd4 2 Nef6 and mates.
FEN
2qrrk1b/1p1b1p1p/p2p3P/3N2Q1/2PnN3/1P4PB/P4P2/2RR2K1 w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the April 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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
Blewett v Morris, Southend Easter 1979
Solution
1…d5, and the threat of 2…Bc5, wins a piece. A rest day.
FEN
r1b1k2r/1p2b1pp/p2ppn2/6B1/2BQP3/q1N5/P1P3PP/1R3RK1 b kq – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the April 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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.
Blac
Rawcliffe v Gold, Southend Easter 1979
Solution
1..Rg1+ and after the exchanges on g1, Be3+ skewers the king and Ra7.
FEN
3k2r1/R7/p6b/1p1PB2r/8/2P5/PP5p/5R1K b – – 0 0
Today’s problem is from the April 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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
Moffat v Sutherland, Southend, Easter 1979
Solution
1…Ng3+ and after 2 hg, Rh5 is mate.
FEN
6k1/pp3p2/6p1/2pnr3/Q2b2b1/2PP4/PP2n1PP/4RR1K b – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the January 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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 happens after 2 Kh3 (instead of 2 Bh3, as in the game)?
Alan Ludgate v John Littlewood, Blackpool 1979
Solution
2 Kh3 Qh6!!
FEN
1r3bk1/5p1p/p5p1/4n1qn/Np2P3/1P4Pb/P3N1BK/2RQ1R2 w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the April 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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
Alan Ludgate v John Littlewood, Blackpool 1979
Solution
1…Bh3!!; superb, by one of my childhood heroes.
2 Bh3 Rd8! 3 Qe1 Re2!
and White is in zugzwang.
e.g. 4 Rf2 Re2! 5 Re2 Nf3+ picks up the queen.
FEN
1rb2bk1/5p1p/p5p1/4n1qn/Np2P3/1P4PP/P3N1BK/2RQ1R2 b – – 0 0
Today’s problem is from the April 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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
Capablanca v Botvinnik (?)
Solution
1 f4! and mate next move: the position is mate in 2.
The magazine puts a question mark to the players, and I can’t see the game in Megabase 2019.
FEN
2rr4/pb1R1pp1/2p1pk2/2B1N3/2P5/1P6/P4PPP/1B4K1 w – – 0 0
Today’s problem is from the January 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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
Prandsetter v Jankovec, MarinskeLazne 1978
Solution
1 Qb6! and either the rook reaches d7 with devastation, or White is a pawn up, with an attack.
FEN
r1r5/1p3k1p/pn2pPpB/2q5/1Q6/2P5/P1P3PP/3R1R1K w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the April 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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
Pribyl v Peev, Decin 9th June 1978
Solution
1…Ba6+ 2 Ke1 Qg5 0-1
If 3 Ba8 then 3…Qg1+ and mates.
FEN
r1b1k1r1/3n1p1p/1p1Ppq1b/p5N1/3P4/2Q5/PPP2NBP/R4K1R b q – 0 19
Today’s problem is from the April 1979 Chess magazine. I have hundreds (many hundreds) of magazines on my book shelves, and I thought I would dip into them; and thought I would start with going forty years back.
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
Mariotti v Panchenko, Las Palmas 1978
Solution
1 Rb6! and White mates after 1..Qb6 2 Qh8+ Kg6 3 Bh5; interposing 1…Rd6 just adds a further move.
FEN
2Q5/1R6/5q1k/3rnpp1/1P2p3/6P1/4BPK1/8 w – – 0 48
allanbeardsworth 