allanbeardsworth

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

Dolmadjan v Angelov, Sofia 1977

Solution

1 Re7! examine all biffs Re7[]  2 Nd6+ Qd6 3 Re7!

If 3….Qe7, 4 Qc6+ is curtains.

If 2…Kb8 3 Re& and it is over.

FEN

2krr3/3qbp2/1p3n1p/pNppR1p1/Q1P5/6B1/PP3PPP/4R1K1 w – – 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

Dennison v Pos, Manchester 1978

Solution

1 Nh6+

1…Kf8?? 2 Qe7 mate;

1…Kh8 2 Nf7+ Kg8+ 3 Nh6+ Kh8[] 4 fg+

4…Kg7[] 5 Qe7+ Kh6 6 Qf6+ Kh5 7 g4+! etc

1…gh 2 Qg4+ Kf8 3 Re1

3…Re4 4 Qg7+ Ke8[] 5 Re4+ etc

FEN

r5k1/pp3ppp/1qp2P2/5N2/3r1p2/8/P1P1Q1PP/b4R1K w – – 0 1

Today’s problem is from one of my games: a move I found when analysing the game recently, when preparing for another match against the same opponent.

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 moves would you consider? Look for candidate moves

Allan Beardsworth v Robert Shaw, Stockport 10/4/17

Solution

I only looked at 1 h3 and the move I played, 1 Kb4; both are good, and I managed to win the game, but my engine’s first choice is a move I didn’t even consider.

1 c4!!

Should I have seen it? I think I should, but had blinkered thinking, and regarded the Queen side pawn structure as blocked.

But if I have done as Purdy said, and examined all biffs maybe I would have considered it;

Or if I had considered all pawn breaks, maybe also?;

or if I had talked to my pieces, I would have seen that the Bd2 is not very happy and that on b4, it would skewer the king and rook;

if if I had done another thing Purdy said, look for pins, I might have found it : the alignment on the a3-f8 diagonal of K and R.

Purdy on nets, pins and ties, Fine Art, vol 2, pg 205

Some things are hooey,

and most others lies;

But forks you mustn’t miss,

nor pins, nets, ties.

Or if I had followed Jacob Aagaard’s advice and addressed his three questions, I might have found it.

Aagaard’s three questions

1. What are the weaknesses? (potential targets)

2. What is the worst piece? (improve position)

3. What is my opponent intending? (prophylaxis)

Or if I had followed another of Jacob’s words of wisdom, and brought all pieces to the party, I would have found it.

But despite knowing all these mantras, I didn’t even look at it, it was beyond my vision.

I wonder how many readers spotted it, or have “systems” in place to not overlookl such hidden moves?

(By the way, 1 c4 is best, but relies on some tactical lines to work; had I seen it, I still might not have played it. To be honest, I think I should have played 1 h3 which is a mean, prophylactic, move. The fact that 1 Kb4 is very strong doesn’t absolve me from finding a good move, and then looking for a stronger one.

FEN

5r2/1p2k3/4pb2/1p1p2pr/3P4/PKP2R2/1P1B1R1P/8 w – – 0 38

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

Mildenhall v Ardin, Coventry 1978

Solution

1 Rf6! Qf6[] 2 Nd5! and if 2…Qb2, a standard mate results: 3 Ne7+ and 4 Qh3 mate.

FEN

r2q1rk1/pb3pp1/1p2pb2/2pp4/8/1PN1P1Q1/PBPP2PP/R4RK1 w – – 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

Faibisovich v Kaminski, Leningrad 1978

Solution

1 Qg5! and Black resigned: 1…fg[] 3 Rh7 g6 and 4 Bf7+ is curtains.

FEN

4r1k1/4qrpp/2pp1p2/p3p1nR/Pp2P1Q1/1B1PP2R/1PP3PP/6K1 w – – 0 26

Today’s problem was seen very recently in Leonard Barden’s Saturday Financial Times column. It took me a while- half a dog walk- to solve in my head- so I thought it might interest my readers. Hopefully they will do better than 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

Kociscak v Tazbir, Czech Republic 1 December 2018

Solution

1 Rf8+! Kf8[] is obvious, but for a while I couldn’t see the next move, the key one; so oscillated between 1 Rf8+, 1 Bh6, and other attemps.

2 Bd6+! is the key.

Black resigned.

The key is that the Qe6 is tied to e8 (so as to defend against Qa8+) so the B can’t be captured, and the LPDO Rc7 drops off.

FEN

R4bk1/2r2p1p/3pqPp1/8/2p2B2/5QPP/1P4K1/8 w – – 0 35

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

Regan v Shamkovich, Pasadena 1978

Solution

1 Nh6! examine all biffs 1…Nh6 (1…Qh6 2 Rh5 +-) 2 Qe4!

2…Nf5[] 3 Rf3 bringing more pieces to the party, and Black must sacrifice his queen, for the game to go on, but he is losing.

Black played 3…Qg7 but resigned a few moves later.

FEN

r2r1q1k/pp1b1p2/4p2p/4PnR1/5PN1/2PB4/P3Q1P1/5RK1 w – – 0 27

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.

Black to play

Janosevic v Petrosian, Lone Pine 5th April 1978

Solution

This game was played 41 years ago today.

1…Rg1+! and White resigned: the Rf1 is tied to defending f2 so that 2…Nf2 is mate.

FEN

6rk/p3p2p/1p2Pp2/2p2P2/2P1nBr1/1P6/P6P/3R1R1K b – – 0 33

Today’s problem is from the European Individual Championships.

Dipping into the tournament live on the Follow Chess app (dipping in because I was working that day) I was struck by the pressure Artemiev had in this position, and wondered if was going to convert it. Later, I logged on to see he had, and in style.

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

Artemiev v Hracek, EIXX 2019 Skopye, 26/3/19

(variation after 20….Qb2)

Solution

I had wondered what would have happened if Black had captured on b2.

White would win by 1 Rb1! forcing 1…Qa3, when a discovered attack wins: 2 Ne4! (and not 2 Nd5- no need to improve Black’s Bc6)

If 2…Qe7 3 Nf6+ gf[] 4 Nc6! hits the Q whilst winning a piece.

Tomorrow, my puzzle will be the game finale itself.

FEN

r2b1rk1/1p3ppp/p1b2n2/3pNQB1/3P4/2N1R2P/Pq3PP1/3R2K1 w – – 0 21