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
Solution
1 Rg7!! “obvious”, but the continuation isn’t; 1….Kg7[] 2 Rg7+ Kh8[] 3 Nd5!! fabulous!
3…Nd5 4 Bh6 and Black is curiously- or, at first, I found it curious, helpless. The main point is that if 3 Bh6 Rg8 defends, after 4 Rg8+ Ng8[]; the insertion of 3 Nd5 drags the defender away.
In the game, Black played 4…Bf6 and resigned after 5 Qf6+!
Artemiev is clearly a player on the road to greatness.
FEN
r2bbr1k/1p3ppp/p4n2/3pNQ2/3P1B2/P1NR2RP/1q3PP1/6K1 w – – 0 25
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from 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
Janice v Udemann, St Louis 1902
Solution
1…Bf4+ 2 Nf4 (2 Qf4 is prosaic) 2…f1(N) mate!
FEN
6rk/1bp2Q1p/p2p4/1p2p2N/7N/1P1Pb2P/1PP2p1K/8 b – – 0 29
Game Score
For those who might want the score:
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from 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
Larsen v Schmid, Aarhus 8/9/1971
Solution
1…Nf1!!
The game isn’t over, and Bent played on with 2 Rd4 Bg2; but Nf1! is spectacular; if 2 Kf1 Bg2+ 3 Ke1[] Bf2 mate.
Chessbase’s auto-analysis isn’t a fan of Bent’s Bird’s Opening:
FEN
6k1/p4p1p/6p1/NB1b4/P2p4/3Rb3/1Prn2PP/3RK3 b – – 0 31
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from forty years back.
In this edition, the 16 year old me appears a couple of times, the one which brings back most memories being:
Atherton’s winning team, captained by the much missed Mike O’Hara, was led by now FIDE Vice President Nigel Short, pictured here with me some years earlier [will update if I find out when this clipping was taken]
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.
Today’s problem is taken from this era
Black to play
Solution
1…Rd8, and the pin wins.
FEN
2n2rk1/3q1p1p/3N2p1/1Q6/8/1P6/5PPP/3R2K1 b – – 0 28
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from 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
Wedberg v Aperla, Stockholm 1978
Solution
1 Be6! fe 2 Qe6+ Kh8 (2…Kf8 3 Rf3+ +-) 3 Rg6!
3…Bc8 4 Qe7 or 4 Rg7 (and the skewer picks up the queen eg 4…Be6 5 Rg3+ Ng7[] 6 Rg7, and the Queen can’t escape the next discovered check)
3…hg 4 Rd3
3…Qd7 4 Rd3 or exchange the queens, and emerge two pawns up.
FEN
r2rn1k1/5ppp/b1qpp1n1/pp6/3BP1Q1/PBN3R1/1PP2PPP/3R2K1 w – – 0 24
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from 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
van der Wiel v Mateu, European Junior championships
Solution
1 Rg7+! (or 1 Ne7 and 2 Rg7+) Kg7[] 2 Ne7 (or 2 Rg1+, as in the game) and if 2…Qe4 3 Nd5 with a lethal pin; a point being 3…Qd5 4 Bf6+ picks up the Queen.
FEN
r1r5/1p2ppbk/p1qp1n1p/3N1P1P/3BP3/1P6/1PPQ4/2KR2R1 w – – 0 0
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from 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
Keller v Jasser, corre 1976-78
Solution
1 Q8d4! – a move which took me a while to see; but once seen, it is “obvious”: Bh6 follows, with mate on g7.
The main line is 1…Nd4 2 Bh6 Ne6 3 Qe6! and if 3…fe 4 Rf8 mate.
FEN
3Q1rk1/pq3p1p/2n2Qp1/2p3B1/3b4/8/6PP/5R1K w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from 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 : what was wrong with yesterday’s line 1…Ng4 2 hg Rd4 3 Nf6+
Rodriguez v Andersson, Calella 1978
Solution
White’s third move isn’t best:
3 Nc5!! instead, a move I would never see.
If the Nc5 is captured, White checks on e6 and then takes the Rd4; so 3…Rd6, and say 4 Kh1 or 4 b4, and Black is better, but the game goes on.
I wonder if Ulf Andersson saw Nc5? It wasn’t mentioned in Chess magazine.
FEN
3r2k1/pp4b1/1qp3bp/4n1p1/3NN1P1/1PP1Q2P/P5B1/5RK1 b – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from 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
Rodriguez v Andersson, Calella 1978
Solution
1…Ng4! 2 hg Rd4!
3 Nf6+ Bf6 4 Rf6 Rd1+ 5 Kf2[] Qe3+ 6 Ke3[] Kg7, and after the rook moves, Black wins another pawn- either the c pawn, a pawn, or g pawn!
FEN
3r2k1/pp4b1/1qp3bp/4n1p1/3NN1P1/1PP1Q2P/P5B1/5RK1 b – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the March 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 this magazine from 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
Skorpik v Vinklar, Czechoslovakia 1978
Solution
No prizes for the first two moves, but it is the follow which matters.
1 Bh7+ Kh7[] 2 Qh5+ Kg8[]
3 Re3! or 3 Re4! – the rook lift and decides. 3 Nf7 Rf7 4 g6 Bh4! is only +=.
FEN
2rq1rk1/pp1bbppp/4p3/4N1P1/1nPP4/3B4/P4P1P/R1BQR1K1 w – – 0 1
allanbeardsworth 