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: examine 1 Qg5 Qd7 2 b3
Kholmov v Lein, Baku 19/11/1961
Solution
1 Qg5?? should have been met by 1…Qc3 0-1; as it was, Kholmov won the game.
FEN
4r2k/1p4rp/p1qp4/3Q4/8/2B5/PP4PP/5R1K w – – 0 35
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. (Actually, today is another game featuring yesterday’s players)
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
Sanguinetti v Najdorf, Buenos Aires 1949
Solution
1…Qd7! is a nice move, not fearing the doubling of his pawns, since that would give Black an open h file; and also permitting a later Re6; so better than 1…Qe6.
FEN
r3r1k1/ppb1qppp/2p2n2/2Pp4/N2B4/1P2PP2/P1Q2P1P/R4RK1 b – – 0 16
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: improve on 1 Kd8? as played in the game
Sanguineti v Najdorf, Mar del Plata 1956
Solution
1` Qg8+! hits the K and the LPDO B, so 1…Bf7[] (though maybe the win after 1…Ke7 is non trivial) 2 Qd8! (or the move I played, 2 Qc8+ 3 Qd8+ 4 Qd6 mate.
But after 2 Qd8 Black can’t avoid mate.
FEN
5Q2/2K5/2p1kpbp/3p2p1/3Pr1P1/8/8/8 w – – 0 58
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: examine 1 Kd8 Resigns 1-0, as played in the game
Sanguineti v Najdorf, Mar del Plata 1956
Solution
1….Resigns?? was a blunder because 1…Rg4 and Black is not worse. 2 Qe7+ Kf4 and the King can actively shepherd his pawns.
I would take Black.
FEN
5Q2/2K5/2p1kpbp/3p2p1/3Pr1P1/8/8/8 w – – 0 58
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: examine the sequence 1 g4 Ng4 2 Qg4
Jones v de Vault, Denton 1968
Solution
1 g4? loses a pawn, since 2 Qg4?? is mated by 2…Qc3+! 3 bc Ba3.
FEN
3rr1k1/pp3ppb/2pbpn1p/q6P/5P2/1BP1B3/PP2Q1P1/2KR1N1R w – – 0 1
Today’s problem is from the current European Club Championships in Halkidiki.
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
Ashton v Kalaitzoglou, Halkidiki 14/10/18
Solution
Adam finished off nicely with 1 Rc8! Rac8 2 Nf5!
2 …Qf5 3 Bg4 Qa5 4 Bc8 Rc8 5 Qg4 1-0
FEN
r1b1r1k1/bp4pp/p7/5p1q/3Np1nP/1P2P1PB/PB3P2/2RQ1RK1 w – – 0 20
wKg1,Qd1,Nd4,Bb2,h3,Rc1,f1,Pa2,b3,e3,f2,g3,h4/bKg8,Qh5,Ng4,Ba7,c8,Ra8,e8,Pa6,b7,e4,f5,g7,h7
Today’s problem is from the recent Olympiad in Batumi
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
Mueller v Christianse, 24/9/18
Solution
1…Qf4! and White resigned; after 2 Qf4 Be5 White has to jettison his rool (3 Rd8+ Rd8[]) and Black then has three pieces for the Q:
FEN
r5k1/4ppbp/2n3p1/4N3/q4B2/4Q2P/1P1R1PP1/6K1 b – – 0 25
Today’s problem is from the current European Club Championship in Halkidiki
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
Alex Longson v Pukkinen, Halkidiki, 13 October 2018
Solution
My team mate Alex finished off in fine style: 1 Rb7! Kb7 2 Ba6+!
2..Ka6 3 Qc6+ and Black resigned.
FEN
N1k4r/pp1npp1p/2n3p1/3p3q/3PPPb1/3BB3/P1Q3PP/1R3RK1 w – – 0 22
wKg1,Qc2,Na8,Bd3,e3,Rb1,f1,Pa2,d4,e4,f4,g2,h2/bKc8,Qh5,Nc6,d7,Bg4,Rh8,Pa7,b7,d5,e7,f7,g6,h7
Today’s problem is from the current European Club Championship in Halkidiki
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
Yu v Veinberg, Halkidiki, October 2018
Solution
1 Nf7+! since if 1…Rf7, 2 Qe8+! and mates.
FEN
1qb2r1k/5pp1/3P1n2/p1p1QBN1/2p5/2P4P/P4PP1/4R1K1 w – – 0 28
wKg1,Qe5,Ng5,Bf5,Re1,Pa2,c3,d6,f2,g2,h3/bKh8,Qb8,Nf6,Bc8,Rf8,Pa5,c4,c5,f7,g7
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: examine 1 Qf3 Ng6 2 Rf7 h4 3 Rf6 as played in the game
Breustedt v Brameyer, Butzow 1969
Solution
1..Ng6? and 2…h4 were blunders, as were 2 Rf7 and 3 Rf6. The players missed Qh5+! Kh5[] Rh7 mate.
FEN
2q2n2/pR6/1p3p1k/1P4pp/8/Q5PP/P2r2BK/8 w – – 0 1
allanbeardsworth 