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
Sindik v Cebalo, Zagreb 1978
Solution
White played 1 R7c3? losing most of his advantage, and it all whittled away until later Black blundered, resulting in yesterday’s position.
Instead the creeping move 1 Qf6 would have broken the back of Black’s defences: hitting the LPDO Bd6. If for instance 1…Bd6 2 Rc7 Qb4 another creeping move 3 Qf5! wins.
Also, 1 ed adds to the pressure, being near zugzwang, and White is winning.
Thanks to Chessbase 15’s auto-analysis graph which showed me there had been something a few moves before yesterday’s puzzle.
FEN
4kr2/1bR2p2/p2b4/1q1ppQ2/4P3/3P4/1N5P/1KR5 w – – 0 34
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
Sindik v Cebalo, Zagreb 1978
Solution
Seeing the geometry of the placement of the two queens, or by CJS Purdy’s technique of jump-biffs, it is clear that the Bd6 is pinned; and also, the Qb6 is tied to d8, else White would play Qd8 mate. So 1 Rb4! and Black’s position falls apart: 1-0.
FEN
5k2/1b3pr1/pq1b1Q2/4p3/2R1P2P/8/1N6/1K3R2 w – – 0 41
A third win in 2019 by Luke McShane: this mini-series done since the other day I searched on TWIC for Luke’s games as Black in 2019, to find his Saskirian win, and found that his score so far is -0 =6 +5.
Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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
Walton v McShane, Bunratty 22/2/2019
Solution
1…Ba4!
I wonder whether Luke was cool when playing this? No doubt he was, seeing it all to the end, but I would be so scared that I’d missed something.
2 Ba4 Kd3 3 Kg2 c2 4 Bc2+ Kc2 results in:
and 5 Kh3 Kd3 6 Kh4 Ke2! and White resigned.
Bravo!
I don’t know how reliable Chessbase’s quick analysis graphs are, but below is the graph of this game, where Luke was pressing straight from the opening (a Trompovsky).
FEN
8/8/2b5/8/P2k1p2/2p2P2/2B2K2/8 b – – 0 43
Today’s problem is another nice recent victory by Luke McShane.
Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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
Sarakauskas v McShane, 4NCL 17/3/19
Solution
1…f4! the idea of which is to divert the Bg3 from its square, so it can’t capture the Nh4
2 Nf4 Rf4! 3 Bf4[] Bg2!
White captured the B, but Black forked K and Q, and soon mopped up.
The whole game- on TWIC- is worth playing through, to see how Luke (2661) outplayed a (for him) weaker player (2431) from a fairly level position.
Not many moves earlier, the position had been:
Luke lost the Pc7 by a tactic, but in compensation, Nd6-f4-h5 and f7-f5 gave him an awesome attack: this period of moves reminds me of the discussion in Game Changer by Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan of AlphaZero’s sacrifices for time.
FEN
r4rk1/pb1qb1pp/1p6/2p2p2/7n/3PN1B1/PPPQNPPP/R3R1K1 b – – 0 21
Today’s problem is from the recent World Teams Championships in which England won silver, and Luke McShane got gold on second board. Today is one of Luke’s games.
Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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: examine 1 e6 Qe6 2 Bc5, as played in the game
Sasikirian v McShane, Astana 9th March 2019
Solution
Watching this game live, I felt it was quite level, but also realised I had no real idea what was going in this quiet Italian Opening game. Pieces were juggled around, and I just hoped Luke would be safe, and hoped that he might make something of his passed c pawn.
Then, White played 1 e6 which really surprised me, until I saw the point: 1…fe? 2 Nf4, so 1…Qe6[] when 2 Bc5 snaffles the passed pawn.
But 2 Bc5?? since 2…Nc5 3 Nc5 Qe1+! 4 Kh2[] Qe5+ and the Nc5 falls: 0-1.
Every picture tells a story, and Chessbase 15’s auto-analysis of the game shows that, yes, indeed, the game was level-ish until the end.
FEN
6k1/1p3pp1/1P5p/2pqP3/2n1n3/3NB2P/2Q2PP1/6K1 w – – 0 30
Today’s problem is from the AlphaZero- Stockfish match.
Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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
Solution
The next move is simply beautiful, and not something I have seen before: 1 Qg6+!!!!
1..hg 2 Ng7+ Kf7[] 3 Be6 mate.
Beautiful!
Black, if he/she is an engine or has no feeling, can spoil the beauty by playing 1…Rf7, when White has to settle for 2 Ng7+ Kf8 3 Qh7 when White wins the Rf7 and Bf1: 3…Bc5 4 Nf5+ Ke8[] 5 Qg8+ Kd7[] 6 Qf5+ and 7 Bf1
FEN
r2qkr2/p3b1Qp/1pp2p1B/4p2N/3pP3/1P4PB/7P/5b1K w – – 0 30
Today’s problem is from the AlphaZero- Stockfish match.
Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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
AlphaZero- Stockfish 6th December 2018 (variation from the game)
Solution
Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan posed this problem when discussing this game on YouTube with KingsCrusher.
If you love chess, watch the video; and also watch any of the videos Matthew and Natasha are posting about AlphaZero; and KingsCrusher’s videos on Leela AI are also well worth watching.
The solution to today’s problem is beyond beautiful. I failed to solve it.
It starts with 1 Qg7+ Kg8[]. I tried 1 Qe6+ as well as 1 Qg7+, and also tried 1 Bf1. I actually thought 1 Bf1 was best, missing after 1…d3 2 Ng7! 2…f5!! which seems to win for Black. If Black doesn’t play 2…f5, I felt White was on top.
After 1..Ke8 we reach the following position. What next?
I’ll give the answer tomorrow, to give my readers a further opportunity to find the solution for themselves.
FEN
r2q1r2/p3bk1p/1pp2p1B/4p2N/3pP1Q1/1P4PB/7P/5b1K w – – 0 29
Today’s problem is from the final round of the recent World Team Championships, in which England did superbly well to win Silver.
Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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
Adams v Grandelius, 14/3/19, Astana
Solution
1 Rg7! and Black resigned. Watching the match live, flicking between Mickey’s game and Luke’s and Gawain’s (David had already finished) I didn’t see 1 Rg7: thinking the game might still last a while.
But Mickey finished his tournament in style. If 1..Rg7 then 2 Qf5+ protects f2 before the c pawn promotes.
FEN
6r1/2PR2pk/1q3p1p/p3p2P/P5Q1/6P1/5P1K/8 w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.
Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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
Salminsch v Dage, corres 1963
Solution
1 Bf6! Bf6 2 Nh7!
was the solution given, and one I found, knowing it was a puzzle; also liking the less strong 2 Re8+ Re8 3 Re8+ Kg7[] 4 Nh7 with the same idea.
My engine prefers 1 Qh3 with the cruel point that 1…h5 is met by 2 Qf3: 2…Ne4 3 Qf7+ and 4 Re4 1-0; h5 undefends the Pg6.
FEN
2r3k1/1rq1Bpbp/pp1p1np1/2pP2N1/P1P1R3/1Q6/1P3PPP/4R1K1 w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the 1972 book “Chess Combination as a Fine Art”, a book based on articles published in the 1950s-1960s by Kurt Richter.
Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying 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: evaluate 1…Rc5 2 Nf4, as played in the game
Bhend v Senn, Zurich 1956
Solution
1…Rc5 2 Nf4 Rc2!
If 3 Ng6? Black mates with Rg2+ and Rg4+; so 3 Rf2 Rf2! 4 Ng6 Rg2+ 5 Kf1[] Rg6 -+
Better is 4 Kf2 Qh6 5 Qh6 gh[] 6 Ne6 and the game isn’t totally over (unless White is Carlsen, in which case it was much earlier).
FEN
1n4k1/1b3rpp/p1r1p1q1/1pB1Pp2/3P3Q/3NP3/1PP3PP/R4RK1 w – – 0 1
allanbeardsworth 