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
Dao, Thien Hai v Ganguly, Surya, Hamedan, 2/8/2018
Solution
1…Qf5+! overloads the Qc2 which is tied to the Rd1: Black wins.
FEN
3r2k1/p5pp/1pB1p3/6q1/2P5/P7/1PQ1P3/3R1K2 b – – 0 27
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
Han, Yichen v Ray, Hiya, BCF under 12 championships, Hull 4/8/18
Solution
1 Kg5! to trap the king; 1…h6+ 2 Kh5 Be2+
and cleanest is 3 Bf3 and Black’s king is in a mating net.
FEN
BR1R4/p4pkp/b3p3/4P3/5K2/2p5/P5PP/qN6 w – – 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.
White to play
Grischuk v Karjakin, Saint Louis Rapid 12/8/2018
Solution
Grischuk played 1 Rd8 and drew; it was my solution, too: 1 Rd8 Rd8 2 h6! was my ‘clever’ move, but 2…Qd1! 3 Qf6 Kf8! is -+, as is 2…Be6 3 Qf6 Bc4+; so 2 h6? is not so clever at all.
But change the move order: 1 h6!! Qe4 2 Rd8!
and it is game over.
A tough puzzle.
FEN
r1b2rk1/4Qp1p/p2R1p2/1p2p2P/4P3/6P1/6P1/1q2NK2 w – – 0 30
I was delighted when my team-mate Andy Stoker emailed me to tell me he had seen a posting from my site being referenced by Edward Winter.
White to play
CH Roele v W Heidenfeld, Amsterdam 1954
Solution
My posting is here. The solution is that the best move is 1 Qg6+ Ke3[] 2 Kf1!!
I explain in my previous posting the reason why 2 Kf1!! is so strong, and so hard to find. In brief, it is all about the square g1. The rationale is behind human comprehension, I suspect: my old analysis was engine based.
The posting on Chess History is here. Well worth a read.
FEN
4rr2/pp6/2n4R/3p3Q/2pPkp2/2q5/P1P3PP/3R2K1 b – – 0 1
Today’s problem is a variation 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.
White to play
Allan Beardsworth v Carl Gartside, Macclesfield 13/1/2020
Solution
1 Rh8+! Kh8 2 Qh6+ Rh8[] 3 Qf8 mate.
Strong parallels of yesterday’s puzzle from Karpov v Huebner 1979.
I saw the possible tactic instantly, but Black didn’t play into the line; I wonder if my instant sight was due to recollection from when I was 17? I do remember Montreal 1979 as being a key tournament, and I would have followed Karpov’s games.
FEN
6R1/4r2k/2p2pp1/p6p/PnB1q2P/6P1/1P1Q1P2/5K2 w – – 0 34
Today’s problem is from the March 1979 edition of Chess Magazine.
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 (variation)
A Karpov v R Huebner, Montreal 1979
Solution
Yesterday, I gave 1 Rg6, which wins, but 1 Qe3! is even stronger:
If 1…Bd8 (say) 2 Rh8+! and if 2…Kh8, 3 Qh6+ and mates.
FEN
6R1/3qb2k/1r4pp/p2Bp3/1p2P3/1P1Q2PP/P5K1/8 w – – 0 40
Today’s problem is from the March 1979 edition of Chess Magazine.
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
A Karpov v R Huebner, Montreal 1979
Solution
Karpov missed that Huebner’s last move, Qd6-d7, was a blunder, putting the Q on a White square, and LPDO, so that a discovered check would be very harmful. He played 1 Qc4, and the game was eventually drawn.
But 1 Rg8+ Kh7 (a White square) 2 Rg6! and the rook can’t be taken.
FEN
2R5/3qb1k1/1r4pp/p2Bp3/1p2P3/1P1Q2PP/P5K1/8 w – – 0 39
Today’s problem is from the October 1979 edition of Chess Magazine, whch I was browsing through, going down memory lane.
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
Litinskaya N v Samaganova B, Moscow 7/1979
Solution
1 Rf5! and White wins: the Rf8 is tied to the Rd8, so 1…Qf5, when 2 Rf5 and the rook can’t be captured.
FEN
3r1r1k/p1pp2pp/1p4q1/5nQ1/2P5/2B2R2/PP3PPP/5RK1 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
Solution
The type of position I find hard: I would see 1 Bg6! fg[] 2 Nh6 but not be sure that my initiative is strong enough for all eventualities, but Gawain saw the lack of coordination of Black’s forces, and the further disruption by f4-f5-f6.
White’s attack is overwhelming.
FEN
r1bqrk2/1pp2p1B/3pn1pp/2n2N2/p1P2P2/P1B1P3/1PQ3PP/R2R2K1 w – – 0 20
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 Mason v C Gibson, West Bromwich 26/1/2013
Solution
In the game, White played 1 Ne5 and eventually won, but first 1 Bd7! Qd7[] 2 Ne5 is overwhelming.
FEN
r2qr1k1/1b1n1p1p/3bpp1B/pB6/1p1P4/1Q3N2/PP3PPP/R3R1K1 w – – 0 18
allanbeardsworth 