Today’s problem is from the same game as yesterday, Lilienthal v Smyslov, Candidates match, game 1, Budapest 11/4/1950.
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
Lilienthal v Smyslov, Candidates match, game 1, Budapest 11/4/1950.
Solution
Lilienthal played 1 Be3 here, and the game was immediately drawn.
But 1 Be6! Qe6[] (1…fe 2 f7+ wins the Rd8) 2 Bh6!!
Threatening 3 Bg7 and 4 Qh8 mate; 2…Qf5 (intending to meet 3 Bg7 by 3…Qh5) 3 g4! (preventing 3…Qh5) 3…g5! 4 Bg5 and White is a pawn up.
FEN
r2r2k1/5p2/2p1nPp1/p3pqB1/PbB4Q/8/1P3PP1/R2R2K1 w – – 0 29
Today’s problem is from the book of Andor Lillienthal’s games which I recently wrote about.
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.
Which game is the position on the book cover from?
I decided to use Chessbase’s search function to find the game. Using position search, I found out that it was from Lilienthal v Smyslov, Candidates match, game 1, Budapest 11/4/1950.
White to play
Lilienthal v Smyslov, Candidates match, game 1, Budapest 11/4/1950.
Solution
Examine all biffs means that 1 hg! has to be examined; it doesn’t win- Black can defend by 1…hg, and the game goes on. If instead 1…Qg4? then 2 Bf7+ and if 2…Kf8, 3 Bh6 mate; or 2…Kh8, 3 g7 is mate.
FEN
r2r2k1/3q1p1p/2p2Pp1/p3p1BP/Pb1n2Q1/8/BP3PP1/R2R2K1 w – – 0 26
Today’s problem is fthe continuation of yesterday’s game.
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
Andreikin v Gelfand, Hengshui 2019
Solution
1…d5! and the game is over: Black’s rook swings over to a6, and it is mate.
Easy to spot from the air chair. Alas, Boris missed it, playing 1…Re2?, no doubt in time trouble. So he missed playing a masterpiece. After 1…Re2, 2 Qc1! defends everything, and White is a rook up: 1-0.
Chess is cruel; Boris’s 1…b3!! and 3…Bb2!! deserved better.
FEN
6k1/p4pp1/3pr3/2p3P1/1qP2QP1/8/K1P2P2/3R3R b – – 0 6
Today’s problem was seen in a Daily Telegraph column by David Howell, and I felt worth sharing
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
Andreikin v Gelfand, Hengshui 2019
Solution
1…b3!!
My engine tells me 1..hg 2 hg b3! is also winning, and in the game, it transposes.
2 ab hg 3 hg Bb2!!
A beauty.
4 Kb2 Rb3+!
5 Kb3 Qb4+ 6 Ka2[]
I will post more on this game tomorrow.
FEN
1r4k1/p4pp1/3prb1p/q1p3N1/1pP2QPP/8/PPP2P2/1K1R3R b – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from a fairly recent column by Malcolm Pein in the Daily Telegraph.
I found the puzzle very hard; having to cut out the clipping, try solving it a few times on dog walks, before getting the pieces out, setting the position up, before I had the eureka moment.
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
Grandelius N v Nihal, Sarin, Malmo 8/5/19
Solution
I saw that the Black queen was in a net but it took me a long time to see how to make use of it.
1 Bg5!!
In the game, Black played 1…Bd4 2 Rd4 fg 3 Rd7, and white was dominant and won a few moves later.
If instead 1…fg then 2 Re5 Kf7 (say) 3 Re7+ and mates.
Very difficult.
FEN
4r1kr/p3p2p/1pp2ppB/2p1b2q/2P1R2P/3PQ3/PP3PP1/4R1K1 w – – 0 23
Yesterday I recounted a story about meeting Andre Lilienthal and I posed the question “what was his most famous move”?
White to play
Lilienthal v Capablanca. Hastings 1 January 1935
Solution
1 ef!
Fischer’s greeting to Lilienthal: “Pawn e5 takes f6”
The game is also annotated in the book I have of his games.
Any reader who can translate the analysis should post comments.
FEN
2r1k2r/2pn1pp1/1p3n1p/p3PP2/4q2B/P1P5/2Q1N1PP/R4RK1 w k – 0 20
Turin, 4th June 2006
He died in 2010 aged 99. Andre Lilienthal, May 5th 1911 to May 8th 2010
Today’s problem is a further look at yesterday’s game from the TCEC final.
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
Stockfish v LeelaZero 19/5/19
Solution
1 Rb7!!
Beautiful. It turns out that this is an exchange sacrifice.
1…Qb7 2 Qf8+ Rg8 3 Qh6
and the threats on f7, h7 and to promote the f-pawn meant Black had nothing better than 3…Be8 4 f7 Qf7, giving the Q up:
White won about 30 moves later.
Clearly, I have only given the game continuation: I think deep analysis is needed to understand Stockfish’s conception.
FEN
2q4k/p2b3p/2nQpPrn/3p1pN1/2pP4/2P5/2P1BPP1/1R4K1 w – – 0 27
Today’s problem is from the current TCEC final between Stockfish and LeelaZero.
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: find the next few ideas to pursue the attack
Stockfish v LeelaZero 19/5/19
Solution
I suspect it is humanly impossible to see through Stockfish’s creation: he powers through in a way in which I am sure will be the subject of videos on YouTube.
1 h6! Nh6 2 Bf6!!
The game continued 2…gf 3 ef Rg8 4 Ng5!
Does Stockfish have sufficient for the piece? It turns out he did. Only a great deal of analysis would enable me to prove this, but the weakness on the black squares proved to be Black’s undoing- in fine style.
Black had to give material- his queen back- to survive into a lost ending.
FEN
r5nk/p2b2pp/q1n1p3/3pPpBP/2pP4/2P2NQ1/2P1BPP1/1R4K1 w – – 0 22
Today’s problem is from a recent game, seen online.
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: Black resigned here
(i) should Black have resigned?
(ii) make a guess what move number the position is at.
Players: see below
Solution
Yes, Black was right to resign. It is mate in 6 after 1 g7+! Kg7[] 2 Qd7+ Bd7 3 Ne6+
3…Kf6 4 Qe7+ Kg6 5 Rg8+! and mate next move.
It was move 104: this is a game taken from the current TCEC computer chess final between Stockfish 
and LeelaZero. There had been a few occasions on endless ‘repetition’ throughout this long game.
FEN
2R2Nbk/3n4/3P2Pp/1P2pQ2/4P1PK/8/1r1qB3/8 w – – 0 1
allanbeardsworth 