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
D Lee v J McPhillips. Manchester 2018
Solution
My solution was 1…Qh4+ 2 Kg1 Rg5+ exploiting the pin on the Pf4 because the Qd4 is LPDO.
This wins; but Komodo says 1…Rh5+! 2 Bh5[] Rd2 is even better (at least in terms of numerical assessment.
The game isn’t in Megabase, so I don’t know which continuation Joe chose.
FEN
3r2k1/1p2npp1/p6p/2r4P/4QP2/4P1q1/PP2B3/1R3R1K b – – 0 1
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 is the winning plan?
Aronian v Karjakin, Saint Louis 18th August 2018
Solution
(i) force the h-pawn to h3;
(ii) prevent it from advancing by Kg3
(iii) advance the q-side pawns, resulting in a passed a pawn.
(iv) Changing of the guard: free up the K by moving the B to the h2-b8 diagonal
(v) advance the king
(v)) Move the king to b6, advance the a pawn, repeat if necessary and win the Bishop, then mop up.
FEN
8/8/4kP2/1p6/3B1KPp/1P6/P5b1/8 b – – 0 56
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
Aronian v Karjakin, Saint Louis 18th August 2018
Solution
1 h4! is a near automatic try: if it doesn’t win, it doesn’t win, there is nothing else to try. But after 1…gh[] 2 Kh4 the h-pawn is under lock and key.
White can force the h-pawn to h3, by g5 and Kg4; once on h3, the pawn has to be defended by the B, overloading it from watching the queen side pawns.
And white makes progress.
FEN
8/8/4kP2/1p4p1/3B2P1/1P2K2P/P5b1/8 w – – 0 55
Edward Winter’s Chess Notes, www.chesshistory.com have recently carried a bumper article about CJS Purdy, the first World Correspondence champion, and my favourite author.
The article is here; so much to read and enjoy.
Today’s puzzle: critique these moves:
Or, if preferred:
White to play
Solution
See Edward’s article for the solution.
FEN
8/8/8/5kPp/7P/5K2/8/8 w – – 0 1
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
D Yevseev v A Goganov, St. Petersburg 19/3/2013
Solution
I failed this one, not finding anything convincing; and Komodo tells me that I was right, except for the one move played in the game, 1 Rab1, which gives White a winning advantage. Even when I saw the solution I didn’t fully appreciate it.
1 Rab1
I thought 1…Qa3, but 2 Nb5! and the LPDO Ra8 means at least an exchange is won.
If 2…Bb5 then 3 Qd8+ Bf8[] and 4 Rb5 (4 Bh6 e6 is apparently still easily winning, at +4.7, but for some reason 4 Rb5 is +5.6: nonsense, of course, both are winning easily).
FEN
rn4k1/pp1bppbp/6p1/8/3N4/2rQB1P1/Pq2PPBP/R4RK1 w – – 0 15
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
P Svidler v A Grischuk, Candidates London 25/3/2013
Solution
Black missed – and it took me a couple of sittings before I solved this, even knowing it is a puzzle- 1…Qe5! which is a double attack.
In a game, I am bound to have played either 1…Qf3+, as Grischuk played, or 1…Qf5+; and likely, the game would have been drawn, as their game was. How to spot 1…Qe5? Well, perhaps by identifying LPDOs (Rd4 and Ba6) and then looking for geometries (Qf6 hits both Kf1 and Ba6, but it is a hard stretch..
FEN
1r6/5pk1/B5p1/7q/P2R4/2N5/1P4RP/5K2 b – – 0 29
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
Mirzoev A v Pakleza Z, Presolana 25/8/2018
Solution
1..Re3+! 2 Ke3[] g6 and Black is stalemated.
FEN
8/6p1/8/5pPk/1P3P1p/Pr2PK1P/3R4/8 b – – 0 47
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
Arruebarrena, R v Mikhalevski, V Calgary 17/8/2018
Solution
1…Rb3 2 cb[] Qb3 and against most moves, 3 Nb4 follows: 0-1
FEN
1r4bk/6b1/2QN3p/p2np2P/P7/1B5q/1PP2B2/K2R4 b – – 0 33
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
D Howell v A Ahuja, Harrow 9/9/2018
Solution
1 Rf6! is automatic, and the only question is if 1…Be7 defends; but 2 Rh6+ gh[] 3 Qh6+ Kg8[]
4 Bf4, 5 e5, 6 Ne4 bring more pieces to the party: 1-0.
FEN
r4r2/1p1q1ppk/2pb1n1p/p7/P1B1P1bQ/2NP4/1PP3PP/R1B2R1K w – – 0 17
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
Bhatia K v Walker K, Solihull 31/8/2018
Solution
1 Rfd1+ Nd5 2 Rd5+ is automatic and winning: 2…ed 3 Qg4+ +-
FEN
3r1b1r/pp1k1ppp/4pn2/qN6/5B2/8/PP2QPPP/2R2RK1 w – – 0 16
allanbeardsworth 