Today’s problem is from the recent Aeroflot 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: analyse 21…Nc5
Pranesh M v Savchenko B, Aeroflot Open, Moscow, 20/2/2020
Solution
White is 13 years old, 2425, but beat Boris Savchenko in 21 moves.
Black resigned here, the culmination of yesterday’s game; if 1…Nc5 then 2 Qc8+! Bc8[] 3 Nd6+ and White is the exchange and a better position up; or, better 2 Nd6+! Kd8 3 Qb6+ and 4 Nf5 +-
FEN
2r1kb1r/1Q1nppp1/1p2b3/1N1p1qP1/5B1p/7P/PPP2PB1/R3R1K1 b k – 0 21
Today’s problem is from the recent Aeroflot 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.
White to play
Pranesh M v Savchenko B, Aeroflot Open, Moscow, 20/2/2020
Solution
White is 13 years old, 2425, but beat Boris Savchenko in 21 moves.
The gutsy move was here, 16 d5!: a move I hope I would have played if I had this position, and yet, at my level, a pawn is a pawn is a pawn. But it opens lines, to d4 and b5, and also blocks out Black’s queen.
FEN
r3kb1r/pp1nppp1/2p1b3/5qP1/3P1B1p/5N1P/PPPQ1PB1/R3R1K1 w kq – 0 16
Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.
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: evaluate 1…Ne8
Nick Pert v Ravi Haria, Newport Pagnall 5/11/2016
Solution
1…Ne8 gave me a bit of a blind spot, but 2 cb ab[] 3 ab Bb5[] 4 Rc8 Qc8 5 Bb5 because the Queen was overloaded, tied to defending the Bb5 and Rc8: so 1-0.
FEN
2r1nbk1/1q1n1ppp/p1bp4/1p1p4/PPP5/3B1N1P/3N1PPB/2RQ2K1 w – – 0 21
Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.
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
Nick Pert v Ravi Haria, Newport Pagnall 5/11/2016
Solution
This one took me a while, to get the moves in the right order, making it “work”, but it was nice when it all clicked.
1 d5! ed[] 2 Re8
2..Re8 3 cb! ab[] 4 Nd4!
and White is dominating. Black chose 4…Ne5 which was met by 4 Be5 de 5 Nc6 ba 6 Qa4
FEN
2r1rbk1/1q1n1ppp/p1bppn2/1p6/PPPP4/3B1N1P/3N1PPB/2RQR1K1 w – – 0 19
Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.
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 are his best moves, what would you play?
E Zude v M Marin, Helsingor, 25/7/2016
Solution
I would always, always, play 1 Qd6, but apparently the star of all star moves (+20) is 1 Rc5!
I imagine it is part prophylactic, restricting Black’s Q and N, and shows how helpless Black is.
Next best is 1 Re1, I imagine with the same idea: capture on e5 if you dare. 1…Be5 2 Re5 Re5 3 de and the two threats of Q*LPDO Re8 and e5-e6+ win.
Next best after 1 Re1 is 1 Nd3, an odd move, but again proving how powerful White’s position is.
But I would still always capture on d6.
FEN
1n2r2k/pq2r3/2pb2Q1/1p2N3/1P1P4/P7/1B3PPP/2R3K1 w – – 0 30
Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.
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
E Zude v M Marin, Helsingor, 25/7/2016
Solution
Straightforward today, in the sense that, knowing it is a puzzle, the first move has to be 1 Rh6. In a game, a lot more thinking and worrying about whether there is anything wrong with it.
First, 1…gh.
2 Qg6+ and 2…Rg7 isn’t possible, since the Re7 is tied to defending the Re8.
2..Kf8 or 2..Kh8 both now possible; I’ll look at 2…Kh8 when both pawns are gobbled, and then the LPDO Bd6.
This is what I think Jonathan Tisdall refers to as a stepping stone. Stop here, focus your mind, remember where the pieces are. The Ne5 is very stable, so no back rank mates, White has a rook lift and swing Rc1-c3-g3/h3 and must be at least equal; in fact, he is winning.
FEN
1n2r1k1/pq2r1p1/2pb1p1p/1p2NQ2/1P1P3R/P7/1B3PPP/2R3K1 w – – 0 24
Today’s problem is from one of my recent games.
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: evaluate 1….Be8
Reg Clucas v Allan Beardsworth, Bramhall 11/2/2020
Solution
I played 1…Re2+ and won, but I considered and decided against 1…Be8 because of 2 f7: White either wins the Bishop back, or queens his pawn.
But no: 1…Be8! is Komodo’s first choice and if 2 f7 Re2+!!
Either the rook is not captured, in which case 2…Kg7 and the Re2 guards e8 whilst the King guards f8; or the rook is captured, when the zwischenschach 3..Bb5+ wins since 4…Kg7 guards the now sole queening square.
Lovely. And it would have been impossible for me to have seen.
FEN
8/6Rp/5P1k/1b6/1P6/4K3/7r/8 b – – 0 46
Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.
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 to meet 1…Bf4, as played in the game?
Paravyan D v Golubov S, St Petersburg Korchnoi Memorial op 20/8/2018
Solution
1…Bf4 2 Qc7!!
If 2…Bc7 then 3 g5 smothered mate; if 2…Be6 then 3 Qf4+; so 2…Bh6 was played, met with by 3 Qe5+ Kg5[]
4 Rg3! or 4 h4+ and mates.
White, David Paravyan, is the winner of the recent Gibraltar 2020 tournament.
FEN
r4r2/pp3p2/5kpB/3p1b2/q2P1bP1/1R6/P1Q2P1P/4R1K1 w – – 0 24
Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.
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
Paravyan D v Golubov S, St Petersburg Korchnoi Memorial op 20/8/2018
Solution
1 Bh6+! is the natural first move, its first point being 1…Kh6 2 Rh3+ and picks up the LPDO Qa4.
In the game, Black played 1…Kf6, met with by 2 g41
2….Bc2 3 Rf3+ Bf5[] 4 g5 is an unusual smothered mate.
FEN
r4r2/pp3pk1/3b1Np1/3p1b2/q2P4/1R6/P1QB1PPP/4R1K1 w – – 0 22
Today’s problem is from an old edition of Chess Magazine. I don’t know which one, because, as is my habit, from time to time I photocopy a page to solve on walks or on trains etc; and my copy doesn’t show the magazine date.
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
Leenhouts v Van Wely, Amsterdam 5/7/2018
Solution
White missed the best move, but won after a melee anyway. But 1 Ra8+! is a standard tactic; either diverting the K (1…Ka8 2 Qa4+ 3 Qa7+ 4 Qb6 and mate) or putting the B on an unfortunate square (1…Ba8 2 Qa4 and either 2..Bb7 met as before, or Qa7+ Q*a8)
FEN
1k1r1br1/1b1p3p/1p2p1qP/1N4p1/2PP3n/1Q3p2/1P4PN/R1B2RK1 w – – 0 21
allanbeardsworth 