Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess magazine. Not sure which one: I photocopied the page, to take on walks, and the date isn’t on the sheet.
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
Lisko v Aulin Jansson, 28/9/11 Slavia
Solution
1…b3! and in the game White played 2 a4, met with by 2…b2, and either the pawn promotes, or White is mated.
Or 2 ab Qb3+ 3 Ka5 Bd7! and Black mates.
For instance, 4 Qb4 Qa2+ wins the queen.
FEN
2b5/2p2k2/3p4/1K1P2B1/1p4pP/8/P2Q1P2/1q6 b – – 0 44
Today’s problem is a gem seen on Chessbase.com; I thought it worth sharing, and wanted it saved on my site for the delight it gave me.
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
Adhiban v Sethuraman, Tehran 17/7/2008
Solution
1 Qh5! Qd4 2 Qa5!
A beautiful concept, threatening mate, hitting the weakness is Black’s position, the Pc7.
2…Qb6[] 3 Qb6[] cb[] 4 Na4
The game isn’t over, and readers who want to understand the position more should look at the Chessbase article of 3rd May 2019.
FEN
2kr1b1r/1ppbnppp/p1p2q2/8/3NP3/2N3B1/PPP2PPP/R2Q1RK1 w – – 0 12
Today’s problem was seen on Twitter, a tweeter posting he had seen the position on Puzzle Rush. It is a gem 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.
White to play
unknown, Puzzle Rush
Solution
1 Qc6! hitting the LPDO Nd7; if either rook moves to d8 to defend it, or the N moves, there is the same consequence. Let us use 1…Nf6: 2 Nd5!
And White wins a piece: 2…Qc6 3 Ne7+ forks the king and the LPDO Queen.
Lovely.
FEN
1r3rk1/p2nbppp/4p3/P7/3P4/2N2Q2/1Pq2PPP/R1B2RK1 w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the recent Grenke Classic. As is my habit, I am writing this blog many days in advance; in fact, whilst watching the final round live on the FollowChess iPad App. Magnus has just won again, so dominating the field.
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 Vachier-Lagrave, Baden-Baden 29/4/19
Solution
1 Bd5! protects the a-pawn tactically. I do feel Magnus combines postional pre-eminence with tactical mastery. Without one of these skills, he wouldn’t be as strong as he is.
1…Bd5 2 Qe5+ and 3 Qd5:
And Magnus shephered his a-pawn forward and Black resigned after a few more moves.
FEN
1Q6/5pkp/q3b1p1/8/6P1/7P/P4PB1/6K1 w – – 0 33
Today’s problem is from the recent Grenke Classic. As is my habit, I am writing this blog many days in advance; in fact, whilst watching the final round live on the FollowChess iPad App. Magnus has just won again, so dominating the field.
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 Vachier-Lagrave, Baden-Baden 29/4/19
Solution
Watching the game live, and playing guess-the-move, I chose 1 Bf3, a move I would always play, to keep my pawns intact/ not isolate my d-pawn. Stockfish likes it, and White is better, but like Magnus, it prefers 1 ef!, a move I would barely consider- consider and reject.
Its point? I think it is to proceed with f3-f4, without weakening White’s king; the effect of f3-f4 is to undermine the strength of Black’s c5-d6-e5 pawn phalanx.
Magnus went on to win a fine game, in the final round. By the time the above position had been reached, his only potential challenger for the winner’s postion was Fabiano Caruana. Fabiano v Aronian was heading to a draw in the Marshall, which happened a few moves after this position, but Magnus pressed and succeeded, showing his dominance and adding to his rating points.
FEN
1rr3k1/5pBp/3p1np1/q1p1pb2/8/1PNP1nPP/P2QPPB1/R1R3K1 w – – 0 18
Today’s problem is from the recent Grenke Classic.
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 and win
Svidler v Meier, Karlsruje 22/4/19
Solution
Watching this live, I thought Peter’s 1g4! was one of the meanest little moves of the championships.
Once I saw it, it all became clear; Peter is “bringing all pieces to the party”, theatening g4-g5, and also permitting Rd3-h3. In an AlphaZero way, advancing pawns to open lines.
Black resigned in a few more moves.
Classy play by Svidler.
FEN
r4k2/pp3p2/2b2Brp/4P3/7R/P2R2P1/2P5/2K5 w – – 0 33
Today’s problem is from the samw game as yesterday.
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
Keymer v Meier, Karlsruhe 24//4/19
Solution
Watching live, I was panicking, not knowing how, if I were White, I would win. The chance of messing up was high.
But this position seems instructive.
1 Qe3+! because if 1…Kh1 2 Qe4!
2 Qe4! is the only move:
Black is in zugzwang: 2…Kg1[] 3 Qe1 mate.
Instructive.
FEN
8/8/2K5/1P6/8/5Q2/6pp/6k1 w – – 0 71
Today’s problem is from the recent Grenke Chess Classic.
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
Keymer v Meier, Karlsruhe 24//4/19
Solution
Watchng live, I didn’t at first see why Black had played c5-c4, nor what was wrong with b3*c4.
I soon did: 1 bc?? g1(Q))+ 2 Qg1 stalemate.
Daniel King has produced a super video on the ending on his Power Chess YouTube channel. Well worth watching.
FEN
8/8/1K6/8/2p4p/1P5k/6p1/4Q3 w – – 0 60
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: how do you assess the position? And why?
Svidler v Carlsen, Grenke Chess, Baden-Baden 28/4/19
Solution
Magnus showed in emphatic style that Black was better in this position. His Q swung to the king-side, N improved. king-side pawns advanced, and White was mated.
I think a key to this position is that Black had the better minor piece after the exchanges (on f5, after Pf7-f5). The Black N became a monster, and the White B had no role.
Intriguing/interesting how Magnus so often gets the better pieces after exchanges.
FEN
r2q3k/1p4pp/1pn5/2pppr2/8/P1PP4/BP3PPP/2RQ1RK1 w – – 0 18
Today’s position is a snippet from the recent Grenke Open.
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
Svidler v Carlsen 28/4/19
Solution
Whilst not at all a “to play and win” or even “to play and be better”, I watched the start of this game live, and was astounded that Magnus played 1…ab here.
I had assumed 1…Qb6, to keep the pawn structure intact.
My engine, like Magnus, prefers 1…ab.
I wonder why: perhaps readers can offer explanations? My guesses are around (i) opening of the a-file for the Ra8; (ii) defending of the Pc5, thereby looking to a future d6-d5.
Views welcome, in the comments box.
FEN
r1bqk2r/pp2bppp/1Nnp4/2p1p3/2B1P3/3P4/PPP2PPP/R1BQKN1R b KQkq – 0 9
allanbeardsworth 