600 Chess Puzzles: From Beginner to Master (Part3)
Hello everyone!
Welcome to Part 3 of the “600 Chess Puzzles: From Beginner to Master” series. In this part, we’re making a major jump — here you’ll find 150 puzzles carefully selected to challenge your tactical depth, accuracy, and long-variation calculation. Take your time with each position, think deeply before checking the solution, and enjoy this advanced-level training.
Let’s begin!
Puzzle 61: White to play
White can win, but must carefully sidestep some false paths.
Solution 61: White to play
Training position
1 Bf4! (White attacks the rook to force it to abandon its defence of the e6-knight; instead 1 Nxc5? Rxe3+! is unclear, while 1 Bxc5? is met by 1...Kf5! 2 Bxe7 Nf4+ =) 1...Re1 2 Bg3 Rd1+ 3 Ke2 +– (or 3 Kc2 +–) with an easy win.
Puzzle 62: White to play
How can White drive home his advantage?
Solution 62: White to play
Das – R.Prajesh
Mumbai 2018/19
It’s funny that to launch an effective attack on d6, White must remove his bishop from f4: 17 Be3! (17 Bg5+?! Ke8 +=) 17...Bc5 18 Na4 Qb4 19 Nxc5 (White wins back the pawn with decisive threats on the d-file) 19...Qxd2 20 Rxd2 dxc5 21 Bxc5+ +–. White will follow up with Rfd1 and Black’s position will rapidly fall apart.
Puzzle 63: White to play
Black has not yet developed all his pieces. How should White take advantage?
Solution 63: White to play
Tarun – Samant
Mumbai 2018/19
After 21 Bg4! (the pin against the c8-bishop will cost Black a pawn or the exchange; instead 21 Nf5?!, as played in the game, gives White too little after 21...Qg5) 21...Bb7 (21...Ba6 22 Nxf7+ +/–) 22 Nxf7+ Rxf7 23 Rxd7 White’s advantage is more or less decisive.
Puzzle 64: Black to play
Can Black take the bishop on d3?
Solution 64: Black to play
Yogesh – Kravtsiv
Visakhapatnam 2012
It looks risky, but Black can take on d3, as his knight then closes the e-file with a gain on time on the white queen: 10...exd3! 11 Re1 Ne4 (11...Be6?? 12 Qxc6+ +–) 12 Qa5 (12 Bxe7 Nxc3 13 Bxf8+ Ne2+ –+) 12...Nxg5 13 Rxe7+ Bxe7 –+. With two pieces and a rook for the queen, Black wins easily.
Puzzle 65: Black to play
Black found a way to win the game. Can you?
Solution 65: Black to play
Rakshitta – V.Rajesh
Mumbai 2018/19
If Black takes on b3 with his pawn, it will soon be rounded up by White: 28...cxb3? 29 Qxb6 axb6 30 Rb4 Nc5 and now 31 Bd5! = safely corrals the dangerous b3-pawn, while 28...Qxd4+? 29 Rxd4 even gives White winning chances. On the other hand, after 28...Nc5! 29 Re5 Nxb3 30 Qxb6 axb6 –+ (as played in the game) the c4-pawn survives and will soon advance with decisive effect; e.g., 31 Bd5 Rc8 32 Re7 Nd4 33 Rxf7 Kh8 with an easy win.
Puzzle 66: White to play
Black has just attacked the rook. How should White react?
Solution 66: White to play
Elgabry – Soham
Mumbai 2018/19
White must stand firm, and exploit Black’s targets on the a2-g8 diagonal: 40 Bc4! (as played in the game; meekly moving the rook aside is hopeless: 40 Rg3? e3 41 Qe1 Nf4 –+) 40...Re7 (40...Nf4 can be answered by 41 Bf1 or 41 Bxf7+, with equal play in both cases) 41 Bxd5 with an equal position.
Puzzle 67: White to play
White can take on d5 or move his rook. Which is better?
Solution 67: White to play
Varshini – Nguyen Van Huy
Mumbai 2018/19
35 Rf4! (35 cxd5? Qxd5 =) 35...d4 36 Qf3 and Black loses the far more important pawn on f6: 36...Qc2 37 Rxf6+ Kg8 38 Ree6 +– with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 68: Black to play
Black appears to be in a quandary. How might he defend?
Solution 68: Black to play
Šafranska – Nepal (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
The light-squared bishop is a key defensive piece, so Black should preserve it.
26...Bg8!
Not 26...Nbc6? 27 Bc3 (or 27 Bxd5!? Nxd5 28 Bc3 +–) 27...Nd4 28 Bxd4 exd4 29 Bxd5 Nxd5 30 Qb5 +– with a decisive advantage for White.
27 Bxb4 Rxd1 28 Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29 Qxd1 axb4 +=
White is only a little better. 30 Qd7 is well met by 30...Qc8!.
Puzzle 69: Black to play
Where should Black put his king?
Solution 69: Black to play
N.Kumar – Y.Liou (variation)
Burlingame 2019
The key point is that if the king goes to d6, it can come under check from f8. 41...Kc7 (avoiding 41...Ke7? 42 Nc6+ Kd7 43 Ne5+ +– and 41...Kd6? 42 Qf8+ Kc7 {42...Ke5 43 Nc6+ +–} 43 Na6+ Kd7 44 Nc5+ +–) 42 Rc1+ (42 Na6+ Kd7 with a roughly equal position) 42...Rc4 and Black is OK as long as he is careful where he puts his king: 43 Qe5+ (43 Na6+ Kd7 =) 43...Kb7 =.
Puzzle 70: Black to play
Black now played 12...Ng3+. Was this a good decision?
Solution 70: Black to play
D.Mackenzie – Sarvadh
Burlingame 2019
No. After 12...Ng3+? (12...a6 =) 13 Qxg3! fxg3 14 Bxh6 gxh6 (as played in the game), 15 Rxa7 +/– gives White an extra pawn and good chances to win.
Puzzle 71: White to play
An exchange and two pawns down, White must find a way to develop his initiative.
Solution 71: White to play
Elgabry – Subhayan
Mumbai 2018/19
White can activate his rook, while also winning a pawn back.
24 Rc1!
Not 24 Ng6? Rd8 (played in the game) 25 Rc1 Bd7 26 Qb1 c5 –+.
24...a6
24...Qb2 25 Qxb2 Bxb2 26 Rxc7 and with such a strong rook, White can be no worse: 26...Kh8 27 Ng6+ Kg8 28 Ne7+ =.
25 Qb1 Qa5 26 gxf5
Or even 26 Be4!?, also with unclear play.
26...Bf6 27 Bd4
with a completely unclear position.
2: Checkmate
The difficulty level in this short chapter of 30 puzzles is similar to the previous one, or maybe a little lower. In each position there is a checkmate idea. To make it more of a challenge for yourself, try to work it out all the way to mate in each case, rather than just identifying the correct move in the diagram position. Only the last two puzzles in the chapter rise to level 3 in difficulty, as the mating lines are rather longer, and there are some false paths to avoid.
Puzzle 72: White to play
White mates in two moves.
Solution 72: White to play
R.Berzinš – Ungurs (variation)
Latvian Ch, Riga 2019
46 Rd5+ Be5 47 Rxe5#
Puzzle 73: Black to play
How does Black force mate?
Solution 73: Black to play
Dzjuba – Levchenkov
Latvian Ch, Riga 2019
After 38...Ra1+ White resigned in view of 39 Kd2 Qd5+! 40 Ke2 (or 40 Rd3 Qxd3#) 40...Qd1#.
Puzzle 74: Black to play
How does Black win?
Solution 74: Black to play
Auyeung – O.Pollack (based on)
London 2019
52...Kb3! with mate on the back rank: 53 e8Q Rg1+ 54 Qe1 Rxe1#.
Puzzle 75: Black to play
In the endgame you are meant to activate your king, but here White has gone too far.
Solution 75: Black to play
Y.Rahman – R.Patel (based on)
London 2019
After 53...Bd5! there’s no defence against mate: 54 Rc2 dxc2 55 h4 Rc4#.
Puzzle 76: Black to play
Black forces mate in short order.
Solution 76: Black to play
Marn – Bistrić
Sarajevo 2019
27...Rh4+ 28 Qh3 (the game ended 28 Kg1 Rh1#) 28...Rxh3+ 29 Kxh3 Qg5 (29...Rf4!? 30 Rxf3 Qh4+ 31 Kg2 Rg4+, mating) 30 Rxf3 Rg8, with mate in two moves.
Puzzle 77: Black to play
Black mates in three moves.
Solution 77: Black to play
Stasans – Stepins (variation)
Latvian Ch, Riga 2019
60...Bg4+ 61 Kf2 (61 Ke1 Rd1+ 62 Kf2 Bg3#) 61...Bg3+ 62 Kf1 Rd1#.
Puzzle 78: Black to play
Black mates in three moves.
Solution 78: Black to play
I.Berzinš – Mustaps
Latvian Ch, Riga 2019
33...Qg4+! caused White to resign. It’s mate after 34 Kf2 Re2+ 35 Kf1 Qxg2#.
Puzzle 79: White to play
White mates in four moves.
Solution 79: White to play
Navaratnam – De Seroux
Iraklion 2019
24 Qb8+! Bd8 (in the game Black resigned after 24...Rf8 25 Bc4+ in view of 25...Kh8 26 Qxf8#) 25 Qxd8+ Rf8 26 Bc4+ Kh8 27 Qxf8#.
Puzzle 80: White to play
How does White force mate?
Solution 80: White to play
Zymberi – Bujupi (variation)
Kosovo Team Ch, Prishtina 2019
After 48 Be6! there’s no defence against mate: 48...Ne7 (or 48...Qd1+ 49 Kh2 with mate in a couple of moves) 49 Qf8+ Ng8 50 Qxg8#.
Puzzle 81: Black to play
How does Black hunt down the white king?
Solution 81: Black to play
Takahashi – Yamada (based on)
Japanese Ch, Tokyo 2019
34...a5! with mate in three more moves: 35 b4 (35 b3 Bb4+ 36 Nxb4+ axb4#) 35...Bxb4+ 36 Nxb4+ cxb4+ 37 Rxb4 Ra2#.
Puzzle 82: White to play
How should White finish off the game?
Solution 82: White to play
Kardashevsky – Antonenko
Russian Team Ch, Sochi 2019
After 20 Bf7! Black resigned as it’s mate next move: 20...Qxc3 21 Re8#.
Puzzle 83: White to play
White mates in five moves.
Solution 83: White to play
Nomin-Erdene – Martić
Novi Sad 2019
30 Qh8+ Kf7 31 Ne5+! and Black resigned in view of 31...Ke7 32 Qxg7+ Ke8 (32...Kd6 33 Qd7#) 33 Rh8+ Rf8 34 Rxf8#.
Puzzle 84: White to play
How does White continue his attack?
Solution 84: White to play
Kraus – Kislinsky
Czech Ch, Ostrava 2019
White needs to remove the strong defensive rook from e7. He played 26 Rae1! (not 26 Ne6? Bb7 –+), when it is mate in at most four moves: 26...Ne5 27 Rf8#, 26...Rxe1 27 Qxh7# or 26...Qa5 27 Rxe7 Qc5+ 28 Kh1, mating.
Puzzle 85: White to play
How does White force mate?
Solution 85: White to play
Nigmatov – Pourramezanali (variation)
Nakhchivan 2019
30 Rc8+ Ke7 31 Bd6+ (31 Rc7+ Kd8 32 Rc8+ merely repeats moves) 31...Ke6 32 Re8+ Ne7 33 Rxe7#.
Puzzle 86: Black to play
How does Black bring the game to a successful conclusion?
Solution 86: Black to play
Bureš – Roubalik (variation)
Czech Ch, Ostrava 2019
44...Qh3+! (after 44...h1Q+? 45 Kxh1 Qh3+ 46 Kg1 Bh2+ 47 Kh1 = there’s no mate) 45 Kxh3 h1Q+ 46 Kg4 Qh5#.
Puzzle 87: White to play
White is threatened with mate. What should he do?
Solution 87: White to play
Mammadzada – Meškovs (variation)
Nakhchivan 2019
He gives a mate of his own: 41 Qf7+! Rxf7 42 exf7+ Kf8 43 Ra8+ Ke7 44 f8Q+ Kd7 45 Qd8#.
Puzzle 88: White to play
How did White finish off the game?
Solution 88: White to play
N.Petrov – Mislaurov
Maikop rapid 2019
28 Ne5+! Kh6 29 h4 (or 29 f4!? g6 30 Bg5#) 29...Rhf8 30 Bg5# (1 0).
Puzzle 89: White to play
How does White get to grips with the black king?
Solution 89: White to play
Savanović – Sabić
Sarajevo 2019
27 Rxf7+! Kxf7 28 Qxg6+ Ke7 (or 28...Kf8 29 Rf1+ with mate in a few moves) 29 Qg7+ 1-0. 29...Ke8 30 Bg6#.
Puzzle 90: Black to play
Black is well on top, but how can he deliver a quick mate?
Solution 90: Black to play
Worek – T.Nguyen
Czech Ch, Ostrava 2019
After 18...Qa3? 19 c4 White can still hope for a miracle save, but 18...Ba2+! caused White to resign due to 19 Kxa2 Qa3+ 20 Kb1 Qa1#.
Puzzle 91: White to play
How does White bring the game to an end?
Solution 91: White to play
Training position
White is losing unless he finds the forced mate: 1 Qf7+! Nxf7 2 Rxe8+ Qf8 3 Rxf8#.
Puzzle 92: White to play
Can you see White’s mating idea?
Solution 92: White to play
V.Danielyan – Mehar
Novi Sad 2019
After 66 Bg6+! Black resigned, seeing 66...Kxg6 67 Qf5#.
Puzzle 93: Black to play
How can Black finish off the game?
Solution 93: Black to play
Vdovin – Savitsky
Russian Team Ch, Sochi 2019
By giving mate in three moves: 47...Qc3+! (47...Qe2+? fails due to 48 Kb4) 48 Kd5 Qe5+ 0-1. 49 Kc4 Qb5#.
Puzzle 94: White to play
How does White wrap things up?
Solution 94: White to play
Jukes – Gamal (variation)
London 2019
With a neat forced mate: 23 f6+! Bxf6 (23...Kf8 24 fxe7++ Ke8 25 Qh5+ and mate next move) 24 Qh7+ Kf8 25 Qxe7#.
Puzzle 95: White to play
Can White finish off his opponent right away?
Solution 95: White to play
Gusain – Yadav (variation)
Pune 2019
White delivers mate in three moves: 36 Rxf7+! Kxf7 37 Rh7+! Kf8 38 Nxg6# (or 38 Ne6#).
Puzzle 96: Black to play
How does Black force mate?
Solution 96: Black to play
Kayonde – S.Miguel
Antananarivo Zonal 2019
19...Bb6+ 20 Rf2 (20 Qf2 Bxf3 changes nothing) 20...Bxf3! with mate in three more moves: 21 Be3 Bxe3 22 Bxf7+ Rxf7 23 Qe2 Qg2# (0-1).
Puzzle 97: White to play
Black has just taken a bishop on d3. How should White respond?
Solution 97: White to play
Sonis – Dappiano (based on)
Italian Team Ch 2019
29 Qxh7+! forces mate: 29...Kxh7 30 Rh3+ Kg8 31 Rh8#.
Puzzle 98: Black to play
How can Black finish off the game?
Solution 98: Black to play
G.Köhler – G.Schmidt (based on)
German Seniors Ch, Radebeul 2019
53...Rxh2+ 54 Bxh2 Qh3#
Puzzle 99: White to play
How can White force mate in a few moves?
Solution 99: White to play
Bloomer – Ippolito
Denver 2019
20 g6! (exchanges on g6 will leave the black king defenceless) 20...fxg6 (20...Rd8 21 gxf7, mating, or 20...Kg8 21 gxh7++ 1-0, as in the game) 21 Nxg6+ hxg6 22 Qxg6 with inevitable mate.
Puzzle 100: Black to play
Can Black launch a mating attack?
Solution 100: Black to play
Mohite – Laxman
Mumbai 2018/19
42...Qa1+!
42...Qd1+? fails because after 43 Kh2 Bd4 44 Be3! the black queen does not control f6, and 44...Bxe3 45 Qf6+ leaves the game unclear.
43 Kh2 Bd4 44 Ng5+
Now 44 Be3 Bxe3 45 Qf6+ Qxf6 46 Nxf6 Kxf6 is an easy win for Black.
44...Ke8 45 Qh7
The game featured 45 Bc1 Qxc1, when White couldn’t avoid mate for long.
45...Qg1+ 46 Kg3 Bf2#
Puzzle 101: White to play
White mates in five moves.
Solution 101: White to play
Maisuradze – Afraoui (based on)
French Team Ch 2019
47 Qf8+! (after 47 Qe5+? Kh6 = White has blown the win) 47...Kf6 48 Qh8+ Kf5 49 Qe5+ (an active queen is an obvious asset in a king-hunt; less effective is 49 Re5+?! Kg4, though White can still win) 49...Kg4 50 Qg5+ Kf3 51 Ng1#.
3: Your Choice
This is the first of two chapters where you are asked to choose between two moves. This is not such an unnatural situation at all: often at the board we can narrow our task down to two logical options, but deciding between them is often where we slip up. Sometimes we can eliminate one of the moves by seeing a reason it fails; then we just need to check that there isn’t anything equally bad about our other option. For that reason, even though the difficulty level in this chapter only ranges from 1 up to 3, I have been able to include some positions that would have been much harder without any hint. That’s because some of your work has already been done for you, and you don’t necessarily need to assess the correct move with such accuracy as normal. This is our largest chapter so far, with 75 puzzles in total.
Puzzle 102: White to play
Choose between 40 Rf7+ and 40 Rd4+.
Solution 102: White to play
Gorshtein – Unuk
Stockholm 2018/19
In the game, White went wrong with 40 Rf7+? Rf6 –+, when he was forced to exchange on f6 (to avoid 41...Rh6#), with a hopeless pawn ending. Instead 40 Rd4+! Ke5 41 Rd7 keeps the game level.
Puzzle 103: White to play
Choose between 72 Rf4 and 72 Kf4.
Solution 103: White to play
Gurtovoi – Deriabin (variation)
Russian Team Ch, Sochi 2019
The rook move allows mate (72 Rf4?? Qh5#), so White must settle for a draw by 72 Kf4 Qf7+ 73 Ke3 Qe6+, etc.
Puzzle 104: White to play
Choose between 28 Kh1 and 28 Kf1.
Solution 104: White to play
Moreno Ruiz – Kravtsiv
Madrid 2012
White must be alert to mating ideas on his back rank. 28 Kf1 (not 28 Kh1?? Qe1+ 29 Rxe1 Rxe1#) 28...Qe2+ 29 Kg1 Qe3+ 30 Kf1 Qe2+ ½-½.
Puzzle 105: White to play
Choose between 35 Qb5 and 35 Qb3.
Solution 105: White to play
Sipos – Kravtsiv
Pardubice rapid 2012
The wrong choice here costs White his bishop. 35 Qb3 (the game featured 35 Qb5? Rc5 –+) 35...Rc2 36 Bc3 c5 37 Bf1 =+ with just a slight advantage for Black.
Puzzle 106: Black to play
Choose between 74...Ke4 and 74...Kg5.
Solution 106: Black to play
Narciso Dublan – Kravtsiv
Madrid 2012
Black can win by first protecting and then queening his pawn: 74...Ke4! (Black shouldn’t settle for a simple draw with 74...Kg5? 75 Kb3 =) 75 h6 Kd3 76 h7 Kd2 0-1.
Puzzle 107: White to play
Choose between 25 Qxh6+ and 25 Qxf6+.
Solution 107: White to play
Malakhov – Kravtsiv
Pardubice rapid 2012
25 Qxh6+
White takes on h6 first because after 25 Qxf6+? Qg7 the queen defends the h6-pawn, and 26 Qxc6 Rg8 is winning for Black.
25...Qh7 26 Qxf6+ Qg7 27 Qxg7+!?
Black will have just a minimal advantage in the endgame. This is better than 27 Qxc6?! (as played in the game) 27...Qg5 –/+.
Puzzle 108: Black to play
Choose between 42...Rxa6 and 42...Ra3.
Solution 108: Black to play
Kravtsiv – Mithil
Chennai 2012
The immediate capture on a6 costs Black the exchange, so the right move is 42...Ra3! (the game featured 42...Rxa6? 43 Nec5 Ra7 44 Nxa4 +– with a decisive advantage) 43 Nb4+ (43 Ndc5 d3 and 43 Nec5 Rc3 are both unclear) 43...Bxb4 44 R8xb4 R3xa6 and Black should hold the draw without much difficulty.
Puzzle 109: Black to play
Choose between 15...Bxc5 and 15...Nxc5.
Solution 109: Black to play
Stella – Kravtsiv
Livigno 2012
Black should take with the knight so that the bishop can come to f6 to attack the a1-rook when White plays b4: 15...Nxc5 (after 15...Bxc5? 16 b4 +– Black loses a piece) 16 b4 Bf6 17 Nc3 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 110: Black to play
Choose between 42...Kh6 and 42...Kh5.
Solution 110: Black to play
Kravtsiv – Zakhartsov
Pardubice rapid 2012
If the king goes to h5, it soon falls victim to a knight fork: 42...Kh5? 43 Ne6 (43 Ne4!? +–) 43...Rdd5 44 Ng7+ +–. After the correct 42...Kh6 43 Re6 (as played in the game) 43...Kh5 44 Rxc6 Rd4 += Black should hold the position with some care.
Puzzle 111: Black to play
Choose between 17...Nxd3 and 17...exd3.
Solution 111: Black to play
Kravtsiv – C.Toth (variation)
Chennai 2012
Black should give up the exchange rather than drop his knight into a deadly pin: 17...exd3 (after 17...Nxd3? 18 Bxe4 c4 both 19 Ng4!? + and 19 Bxh6 +– give White a decisive advantage) 18 Bxa8 Qxa8 19 f4 (19 Bxh6 N7g6 is unclear) 19...Nc4 with fair compensation for the exchange. Maybe Black is objectively a little worse, but his game is very playable.
Puzzle 112: White to play
Choose between 14 Ne2 and 14 Nf3.
Solution 112: White to play
D.Mackenzie – T.Coleman
Burlingame 2019
In the game White played 14 Nf3?? and resigned without waiting for 14...gxf3!, when instead of winning, White loses: 15 Qxh4 (15 Qf5+ Be6 –+) 15...fxg2+ –+. Instead 14 Ne2 Rae8 15 Qf5+ Be6 16 Qf2 gives White a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 113: Black to play
Choose between 33...Kh7 and 33...Bf1.
Solution 113: Black to play
Lavendelis – Kravtsiv
Al Ain tt 2012
33...Bf1? is wrong because it allows perpetual check: 34 Qe8+ (or 34 Qe6+ Kf8 35 Qc8+ =) 34...Kh7 35 Qg6+ =. Black can win with 33...Kh7 34 Ke5 Bf1 –+.
Puzzle 114: White to play
Choose between 19 Bb5 and 19 Bc6.
Solution 114: White to play
Bruziks – Kravtsiv
Altenkirchen 2012
White needs to spot Black’s threat to take on b2. In the game, 19 Bc6? Rxb2 20 Qd1 Qb8 gave Black a decisive advantage, as White’s pieces are badly placed and he has a weak pawn on d3. After 19 Bb5 c6 20 b4! he has a playable and roughly equal position.
Puzzle 115: White to play
Choose between 45 Re1 and 45 Rxe5.
Solution 115: White to play
Kravtsiv – Lalić
Pardubice rapid 2012
White needs to spot that his second rank is vulnerable, and act accordingly. 45 Re1? loses to 45...Rexd5! and then 46 Re7 (as played in the game) 46...Qxa5 –+ or 46 cxd5 Rc2 –+. The correct 45 Rxe5 Qxe5 46 Qxe5 leaves White much better.
Puzzle 116: Black to play
Choose between 24...Kf8 and 24...Kh8.
Solution 116: Black to play
Kravtsiv – Sharma (variation)
Livigno 2012
The main thing is to avoid the pin: 24...Kf8 (not 24...Kh8? 25 Qe5 Qe7 26 Rf1 Kg7 27 Rd3 +–) 25 Qh4 Ne4! with an unclear position.
Puzzle 117: White to play
Choose between 59 Re3+ and 59 Rxg4.
Solution 117: White to play
Stella – Kravtsiv
Livigno 2012
A little calculation shows that White must avoid the pawn ending, so the answer would be clear even if the rook ending were less clearly tenable.
59 Re3+
After 59 Rxg4? Rxg4 60 hxg4 Kc4! White cannot promote his g pawn, so he loses: 61 Kf3 a4 –+.
59...Kb2 60 Re2+ Kb3 61 Re3+ ½-½
The position is drawn.
Puzzle 118: Black to play
Choose between 22...Rae8 and 22...Nxe4.
Solution 118: Black to play
Moreno Ruiz – Kravtsiv
Madrid 2012
If Black takes right away on e4, he loses since 22...Nxe4? 23 Qd4! costs Black the knight or the exchange: 23...Qxd4 24 exd4 Nxc3 25 dxe5 +–. Instead 22...Rae8 23 Qd4 Qe6 leads to a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 119: Black to play
Choose between 48...h2 and 48...Kc7.
Solution 119: Black to play
T.Brown – G.Moore
Hastings 2018/19
48...h2! After 48...Kc7? 49 d6+! (not 49 a7? Kb7 =, which occurred in the game) Black lacks the time to promote his own pawn, as White is operating with checks: 49...Kxd6 (49...Kb6 50 d7 +–) 50 a7 +–.
49 a7 h1Q 50 a8Q Qd1+ =
with perpetual check.
Puzzle 120: Black to play
Choose between 1...Nd6 and 1...Nd2.
Solution 120: Black to play
Training position
1...Nd6!
After 1...Nd2? White is not obliged to walk into a fork by taking the knight on f6 right away. 2 Kg2! Nde4 3 g5 Kh7 4 h4 +–.
2 Rxf6
2 Rg5+? Kf8 –+.
2...Ne4+ 3 Rxe4 Kxf6
White is a little better, but the position is drawish.
Puzzle 121: White to play
Choose between 27 e7 and 27 Bxf4.
Solution 121: White to play
Buchenau – Ramondino
Stockholm 2018/19
27 e7!
After 27 Bxf4? Bxf4 28 Qf3 Bxg3+ 29 Qxg3 (29 Kg1 Re5!? and the e-pawn will fall) 29...Rh5+ 30 Qh3 Rxh3+ = White will have no chance to advance his e-pawn because of his exposed king.
27...Rh4+ 28 Kg1 Bxe7
The game featured 28...Re5 29 Qf3 +– (the simplest, although 29 Qxe5 would also have won).
29 Qxe7
Black has no chance of salvation. For example, 29...Qxg3 30 Qe6+ Kh7 31 Qxd5 +–.
Puzzle 122: White to play
Choose between 17 Qc2 and 17 Qb3.
Solution 122: White to play
Grochal – Kravtsiv
Roosendaal 2012
White must keep control of d3. 17 Qc2
In the game 17 Qb3? f4! 18 Bd4 (18 Bxf4 Nd3+ –+; 18 Bd2 f3 –+) 18...Nd3+?! (18...f3! 19 Bxe5 fxg2 –+ wins cleanly) 19 Kf1?! (19 Kd2! keeps the best practical survival chances) 19...Bxd4 20 Bxd3 Qh4 + gave Black a decisive advantage because the white king was too weak.
17...Ng6 18 g3
with a playable position.
Puzzle 123: Black to play
Choose between 40...a3 and 40...b5.
Solution 123: Black to play
Akshayraj – Kravtsiv
Chennai 2012
There is no time to lose, as White’s pawns are about to queen: 40...a3! (40...b5? 41 e7 a3 42 d6 a2 43 Rc1 +– and White promotes first) 41 Rxb7 Re5 42 e7 a2 43 Ra7 Rxe7 with an easy draw. For example, 44 Rxa2 Rd7 45 Rd2 Kg6 46 Kg3 Kf5 =.
Puzzle 124: Black to play
Choose between 35...b6 and 35...Qc3.
Solution 124: Black to play
S.Wagner – Ganaus
Stockholm 2018/19
The attempt to undermine the d6-knight by attacking the c5-pawn is unsuccessful: 35...b6? 36 Ne8 (36 Qc4+!? Qxc4 37 Nxc4 is also good) 36...Rf7 37 cxb6 with a decisive advantage for White. 37...Qxb6 is well met by 38 Nd6 +–, as played in the game. Therefore Black should choose 35...Qc3! 36 Qxc3 dxc3 37 Rc4 Ne6 38 Rxc3 Nxc5 = with an equal position.
Puzzle 125: Black to play
Choose between 58...Kb6 and 58...Bxc4.
Solution 125: Black to play
Yan Tianqi – Chen Fan
Tianjin 2018/19
The problem with 58...Bxc4? is that after 59 Rxc5 Bxe2 White doesn’t immediately take the bishop on e2, but secures a won endgame by 60 Rxe5! Rd7 61 Kxe2 +– (since the black king is cut off from the kingside). The game featured the correct 58...Kb6, when 59 Rb5+ Kc6 = leads to an equal position.
Puzzle 126: White to play
Choose between 40 Be2 and 40 Nb3.
Solution 126: White to play
Yu Zhuoming – Wang Zideng
Tianjin 2018/19
White should retreat his knight from c5, as Black is threatening to remove its defender by taking the a5-pawn.
40 Nb3
Not 40 Be2? Nxa5! 41 Nxa6 (41 bxa5 Bxc5 –+) 41...Nc6 (as played in the game) 42 Nac5 Nxb4+ 43 Nxb4 Bxc5 with an extra pawn and a decisive advantage for Black.
40...Ne3+ 41 Kd2 Nc4+
with an equal position.
Puzzle 127: Black to play
Choose between 32...Rb8 and 32...Rd7.
Solution 127: Black to play
Bates – Cherniaev
Hastings 2018/19
The rook needs to maintain its defence of the e7-pawn: 32...Rd7 (32...Rb8? 33 f6 +– is an easy win for White after 33...exf6 34 Nxf6 +– or 33...Rg8 34 fxe7 +–) 33 f6 Rg8 34 Rf4 (the game featured 34 fxe7 Rxe7 =+) 34...exf6 35 Nxf6 Rg7 36 Nxd7 Nxd7 with an unclear position.
Puzzle 128: Black to play
Choose between 34...Qa1+ and 34...Qxb3.
Solution 128: Black to play
Gukesh – Senthil
Mumbai 2018/19
Black needs to attack, as otherwise White’s own mating threats will quickly decide the game: 34...Qa1+ (the game featured 34...Qxb3? 35 Qh8 Nc6 36 Qa8 +– with a mating attack) 35 Kg2 Bxf2! 36 Kxf2 Qd4+ with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 129: Black to play
Choose between 40...Nf5+ and 40...Ne2++.
Solution 129: Black to play
Anuj – Rakshitta (based on)
Mumbai 2018/19
Black can win by exploiting the pin on the d-file: 40...Nf5+ (the double check 40...Ne2++? is tempting but wrong because after 41 Kf2 the attack on the knight denies Black time to win material and after 41...Nf4 42 Rg3 = White is OK) 41 Rg2 (41 Kf1 Rd5 42 Rbd2 Rgd8 –+) 41...Rxg2+ 42 Kxg2 Rd5 –+ with an easy win.
Puzzle 130: Black to play
Choose between 34...Rxa5 and 34...Nxa5.
Solution 130: Black to play
Commercon – Kravtsiv (based on)
Altenkirchen 2012
Taking with the rook is wrong because then Black can’t support the a4-pawn. 34...Nxa5 (after 34...Rxa5? 35 Rxa5 Nxa5 36 Rc7+ Kf6 37 Ra7! the pawn falls, with a roughly equal position) 35 Rc7+ (35 Ng5 Ra7 –+) 35...Kg8 –+ with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 131: Black to play
Choose between 28...hxg4 and 28...Qc1.
Solution 131: Black to play
Movsziszian – Praveen Kumar
Mumbai 2018/19
28...Qc1!
Not 28...hxg4? 29 fxg4 Bxg4 (29...Qh6 30 Nf2 +–) 30 Qg3 +–, when Black loses his bishop due to the pin.
29 Qe3
After 29 Qd7 (as played in the game), 29...g6 is unclear.
29...Qc2
Black is fine. He need not fear 30 Nf2 Qb1+ 31 Bd1 hxg4.
Puzzle 132: Black to play
Choose between 24...Ne6 and 24...Kg7.
Solution 132: Black to play
Sundararajan – Praveen Kumar
Mumbai 2018/19
The king move loses quickly: 24...Kg7? (24...Ne6 gives Black a playable position) 25 Nd6 Qd7 26 Re7+ (or 26 Nf5+, winning after 26...Kh8 27 Re7 +– or 26...Kf7 27 Re7+ +–, as in the game) 26...Qxe7 27 Nf5+ +–.
Puzzle 133: White to play
Choose between 31 Ne6 and 31 Qf6.
Solution 133: White to play
Kravtsiv – C.Toth
Chennai 2012
31 Qf6! (the attack on the d8-rook keeps White’s knights safe; after 31 Ne6? Rxe6 32 Qxc3 Rd1 33 Ng2 Re2 = the pin costs White his knight on g2) 31...Ne4 32 Qc6! c3 33 Nec2 with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 134: Black to play
Choose between 48...Ba1 and 48...Kf7.
Solution 134: Black to play
Calzetta Ruiz – Crevatin
Stockholm 2018/19
48...Ba1
After 48...Kf7? 49 Nc5! Black loses his e5-pawn: 49...Kf6 (49...Ke7 50 Nd3 +–) 50 Nd7+ Kg5 51 Ke4 +– (as played in the game).
49 Ke6 Bb2
With the king on e6, White can’t win. For example: 50 Nc5 Kg5 51 Nd3 Ba1 (51...e4!? 52 fxe4 Bc3 =) 52 Nxe5 Kf4 =.
Puzzle 135: Black to play
Choose between 30...c2 and 30...Re2.
Solution 135: Black to play
Deshpande – Elgabry
Mumbai 2018/19
First of all, Black must deal with the threat of 31 Re8.
30...Re2
After 30...c2? 31 Nxc2 Rxc2 32 Re8 +– Black will be the exchange down. In the game Black chose 30...Rd2?!, which should hold, but with substantially more difficulty than the text-move.
31 Re8 c2 32 Nxc2 Rdxe8 33 dxe8Q Rxe8
with an equal position.
Puzzle 136: White to play
Choose between 38 Kg1 and 38 Kxg3.
Solution 136: White to play
A.Abdullayev – Mammadova
Manisa 2019
38 Kxg3! (the game ended 38 Kg1?? Nxh3+! 39 Bxh3 Rd1+ 0-1, as White is mated) 38...Ne4+ 39 Kh2 +– with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 137: White to play
Choose between 53 f4 and 53 Kxh4.
Solution 137: White to play
Moreno Tejera – Kravtsiv
Madrid 2012
At the board it is tempting to push passed pawns as quickly as possible. But here the king must lead: 53 Kxh4! (the game featured 53 f4? Kc4! 54 Kxh4 Kd5 55 Kh5 Ke4 –+ with an easy win for Black) 53...Kc4 (53...c5 54 f4 c4 55 f5 =) 54 Kh5 Kd4 55 Kxh6 c5 (55...Ke4 56 Kg5 Kf3 57 Kf5 =) 56 f4 Ke4 (Black brings his king closer and will queen with check, but it is still not enough to win against the f-pawn) 57 Kg5 c4 58 f5 c3 59 f6 c2 60 f7 c1Q+ 61 Kg6 = and White is holding on.
Puzzle 138: White to play
Choose between 37 Qc7 and 37 Qe7.
Solution 138: White to play
An.Larsen – O.Willson
Hastings 2018/19
White has a winning position, but he needs to be alert.
37 Qc7!
Not 37 Qe7? (as played in the game) 37...Rxg2+! 38 Kxg2 Qg4+ with perpetual check: 39 Kh2 Qf4+ 40 Kg1 Qg4+ 41 Kf1 Qd1+ =.
37...Kxh4
37...Qg6 38 g3 +–.
38 f3 Qb1+
Or: 38...Kh5 39 g4+ +–; 38...Ra8 39 Qg7 with mate in a few moves.
39 Kh2
with irresistible threats. For example, 39...Qg6 40 Qf4+ Kh5 41 g4+ +–.
Puzzle 139: Black to play
Choose between 31...Nxd3 and 31...Qxc5.
Solution 139: Black to play
Arutinian – Kravtsiv
Pardubice rapid 2012
Black’s king is in danger, so he needs to exchange queens.
31...Qxc5
31...Nxd3? fails because 32 Qa7! threatens a deadly check on f6:
a) The game ended 32...Kh8 33 Nef6 1-0 (even better is 33 Nd6 +–).
b) 32...Rf8 33 Nef6+ gxf6 34 Qg7#.
32 Nxc5 Nxa2
with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 140: White to play
Choose between 56 Qf5 and 56 Qd6.
Solution 140: White to play
F.Rayner – G.Moore
Hastings 2018/19
When attacking, you should not forget about your own king.
56 Qf5!
Not 56 Qd6? h3+ 57 Kh2 Qf3 –+. The problem for White is that after the exchange of queens, Black will have a passed d-pawn: 58 Qg3 (the game featured 58 Qe7+ Kg6 59 Qe8+ Kg7 60 Qe7+ Kh6 –+) 58...Qxg3+ 59 Kxg3 Nxc5 60 dxc5 d4 –+.
56...Ng5
56...Qd3 57 Qxd5 =.
57 Qd7+ Kg6
with an equal position.
Puzzle 141: Black to play
Choose between 43...Qf6 and 43...Qf7.
Solution 141: Black to play
B.Stoyanov – Kearsley
Hastings 2018/19
It is vital that Black supports his f4-pawn by playing ...g5, and only one of the queen moves makes sure of this.
43...Qf6!
43...Qf7? lets White play 44 h4!, when ...g5 is no longer possible. Then 44...Qg6+ (44...Qf6 45 h5 =) 45 Kh3 = was played in the game.
44 Kf2 g5 –+
Black’s powerful pawn-phalanx gives him a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 142: White to play
Choose between 23 bxa5 and 23 b5.
Solution 142: White to play
Swapnil – Kravtsiv
New Delhi 2012
White’s reluctance to give away his b-pawn is understandable, but this was his best option.
23 b5!
After 23 bxa5? Qxa5 –+ White is caught in a deadly pin. The game then continued 24 Bh3 Nc5 25 Bxc8 Rxc8 26 Ra1 Bxa1 27 Rxa1 Ra8 –+.
23...Bxb5 24 Nc3 =+
with good chances to resist.
Puzzle 143: White to play
Choose between 36 Re7+ and 36 Bb4.
Solution 143: White to play
Sundin – Sari
Stockholm 2018/19
36 Bb4!
After 36 Re7+? Rd7! White is forced to exchange rooks, when he will not be able to hold back the swathe of black pawns. 37 Rxd7+ (37 Re8 d3 –+) 37...Kxd7 and then:
a) 38 Kd5 a5 39 Bb2 a4 40 Kc4 (40 Bc1 h5 –+) 40...Ke6 –+.
b) The game proceeded 38 Bb4 Ke6 39 g4 g6 –+ with an easy win.
36...Rb8 37 Bc5
with an unclear position.
Puzzle 144: White to play
Choose between 35 Qb6 and 35 Qd4.
Solution 144: White to play
Koykka – Schekachikhin
Stockholm 2018/19
Even in a completely won position, one mistake can ruin everything.
35 Qd4!
After 35 Qb6? Rc1+ 36 Kh2 Qc7! White must exchange queens, when he has nothing. It doesn’t help to play 37 Be5 Qxb6 38 Rd7+ due to 38...Rf7!? (38...Kg8 =) 39 Rxf7+ Kg8 40 Rg7+ Kf8 41 Rf7+ with perpetual check (this was played in the game).
The text-move gives White irresistible threats. For example: 35...Rc1+ (35...e3 36 Bg6+ Kg8 37 Qh8#; 35...Qg7 36 Qxg7+ Rxg7 37 Bxg7 Kxg7 38 Rd7+ +–) 36 Kh2 Rxa1 37 Rd7 +–.
Puzzle 145: White to play
Choose between 49 Rf7 and 49 Ra7.
Solution 145: White to play
Sagar – Kravtsiv (variation)
Chennai 2012
The obvious move, putting the rook behind the a-pawn, is correct. The more ambitious move to f7 allows Black to win with a beautiful endgame tactic.
49 Ra7
49 Rf7? and then:
a) 49...a3? gives Black nothing: 50 Ra7! Rb3 and now 51 Ra6 = or 51 Ra8 =.
b) 49...f5+! and whichever way White takes on f5, his rook will prove unable to halt the a-pawn: 50 Kg3 Rb5 –+, 50 Rxf5 a3 51 Rf8 Ra4 + or 50 Kxf5 a3 51 Ra7 Rb5+ 52 Kg4 Ra5 –+.
49...b5 50 Ra6 Kg7 51 Ra7+
with an equal position.
Puzzle 146: White to play
Choose between 20 Nxd3 and 20 Bxe4.
Solution 146: White to play
Kravtsiv – C.Toth
Chennai 2012
The wrong move leads to defeat here: 20 Nxd3 (20 Bxe4? was played in the game, but it loses to 20...Bd4+! 21 cxd4 Qxd4+ –+) 20...exd3 21 Bxa8 (21 Ng4!? is also unclear) 21...Qxa8 22 Rxd3 Nxb2 with an unclear position.
Puzzle 147: White to play
Choose between 35 Qa4 and 35 Rba4.
Solution 147: White to play
Åkesson – A.Dimitrova
Stockholm 2018/19
35 Qa4! (not 35 Rba4? Rc1+ 36 Ka2 Qc2! =, when suddenly Black is no worse; this occurred in the game) 35...Rc1+ 36 Ka2 Qc6 (36...Qc2 37 Ra8+ Kc7 38 Qa5+ +– with mate in a few moves) 37 Ra8+ Kc7 38 Qa5+ (38 Qa7!? Qd5+ 39 Rb3 +–) 38...b6 39 Rxb6!? (also good is 39 Qa6 Qd5+ 40 Rb3 +–) 39...Qxb6 40 Rc8+ Kxc8 41 Qxb6 and Black has no chance of surviving.
Puzzle 148: Black to play
Choose between 24...Nc7 and 24...Nf4.
Solution 148: Black to play
Padmini – Nie Xinyang
Tianjin 2018/19
Black needs to take care of his king. Once he has done so, it is White who must be careful.
24...Nc7!
Black played 24...Nf4? but after 25 Rxf4! exf4 26 Qa5 +/– he had a difficult position.
25 Qa5
Also after 25 a4 Nh2! 26 Qa5 Na6 White can stay afloat with precise play: 27 Bf2! (27 b5? Rxg3 –+) 27...Nxf1 28 Rxf1 (not 28 Bxf1? Qh4–+) with compensation.
25...Na6 26 Bc5 Qg5
with an unclear position, where White should be able to defend.
Puzzle 149: White to play
Choose between 26 Rbd1 and 26 Rxe6.
Solution 149: White to play
Babikov – Gueci
Stockholm 2018/19
Sometimes a careful strengthening of the position is better than a hasty strike.
26 Rbd1!
The game continued 26 Rxe6? but instead of taking the rook (26...Kxe6? 27 Re1+ Kf7 28 Qb3+ Kf6 29 Re6+ Kg5 30 Be7+ +–), Black replied 26...Re8!, securing her king: 27 Rd6 (27 Rxe8 Qxe8 28 Qd5+ Qe6 is unclear) 27...Qg5+ 28 Kh1, and now 28...Kg8 would have given a roughly equal position.
26...Qg5+ 27 Kf1
Also possible is 27 Kh1 +–.
27...Rhe8
Or 27...Rhd8 28 Rd7+ Kg8 29 Be7 +–.
28 Rxe6!
With the loose rook on e8, Black’s king can’t be evacuated, so White has a decisive attack: 28...Rxe6 (28...Rcd8 29 Rd7+ +–) 29 Qd7+ Re7 30 Bxe7 +– and Black can resign.
Puzzle 150: Black to play
Choose between 29...Qc2 and 29...Qe5.
Solution 150: Black to play
Zhao Jun – Fier
Tianjin 2018/19
It is very important to be able to drive the white king into the corner, and for that purpose a check on d4 is ideal.
29...Qe5!
After 29...Qc2? 30 a7 d2 31 Nxd2 Qxd2 32 a8Q, as played in the game, the checks will soon be over: 32...Qd4+ 33 Kf1 Qd1+ 34 Kf2 Qd4+ 35 Ke2 +–.
30 a7
White can preserve some hopes of victory with 30 Qxd3!, but after 30...Qxb2 31 Ne3 (31 g4 Qa1 is unclear) 31...Qa1+ 32 Kf2 h5 += his advantage is small.
30...Qd4+! 31 Kh1 d2 32 Nxd2 Qxd2
Now Black is completely fine, thanks to the mate threat: 33 Qxc5 (33 h3 Qd1+ 34 Kh2 Qd6+ =) 33...Nd7 (33...Qd8!?) 34 Qg1 Qd5 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 151: Black to play
Choose between 47...Kxh4 and 47...Kxf4.
Solution 151: Black to play
Yan Tianqi – Huang Renjie
Tianjin 2018/19
Usually it makes sense to keep the king closer to the centre, and avoid getting it trapped on the edge of the board in particular. However, that is not the case here.
47...Kxh4!
Not 47...Kxf4? 48 b6 Rb2+, when White must avoid 49 Kg1? (the game was agreed drawn here) 49...Kf3 50 h5 Rb1+ 51 Kh2 Rb2+ 52 Kh3 Rb1 = with a repetition of moves, and play 49 Kf1! Kf3 50 Ke1, when Black loses since he can’t stop the h-pawn: 50...Ke3 51 Re6+ Kf4 52 h5 +–.
48 b6 Kh5
with an easy draw: 49 Rg5+ (49 Rf6 Kg4 =) 49...Kh6 =.
Puzzle 152: Black to play
Choose between 30...Nd3 and 30...d4.
Solution 152: Black to play
Hu Yu – Gu Tianlu (based on)
Tianjin 2018/19
Black appears to have an enticing choice of knight moves, but it is vital to consider all options. My question here guided you to look at the stronger pawn advance, but at the board you would need to find it completely on your own!
30...d4!
This pawn advance brings White to the brink of defeat, as his pieces are too passive. Not:
a) 30...Nd3? is met by 31 Nf5+! Kf7 (31...gxf5? 32 Qg3+ +/–) 32 Nh6+ Kg7 33 Nf5+ = with a repetition of moves.
b) 30...Nc4? 31 Re2 Rxe2 32 Nxe2 Nxb2 33 Qd4 Qxd4 34 Rxd4 = with a roughly level endgame.
31 Qd2
31 Ne4 d3 32 Qd2 Rd4 –+ and 31 Rc1 d3 32 Qd2 (32 Nf1 h5!? 33 Nd2 Rd4 34 Qg3 h4 –+) 32...Bc6 33 Nf1 Qb7 –+ are also lost for White.
31...d3 32 Re3 Qc6 33 f3 Qc5 34 Kh1 Qd4
with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 153: White to play
Choose between 56 e6 and 56 Re3.
Solution 153: White to play
Narciso Dublan – Kravtsiv
Madrid 2012
The key point to see is that White cannot draw by directly taking the pawn on e2. In fact, both suggested moves are objectively good enough to draw with the right follow-up, but one is clearly preferable from a practical viewpoint.
56 e6!
56 Re3?! (as played in the game) 56...Kg8 and now 57 Rxe2? loses to 57...c3! –+ since after 58 Kd1 Rxb4 White will be two pawns down. Instead White can hang on with 57 e6! Kf8 58 Rxe2!, meeting 58...c3 with 59 Kd1!, though further accurate defence in a R+P vs R+2P ending will be needed.
56...Kg8
56...Rxb4 57 Re3 Rb8 and now both 58 h5!? = and 58 Kxe2 = draw.
57 e7 Kf7 58 Rxg7+ Ke8
with an equal position.
Puzzle 154: White to play
Choose between 32 Rxd4 and 32 Bxd6.
Solution 154: White to play
Mrudul – Gajek
Mumbai 2018/19
The loose knight on c3 obliges White to play very precisely: 32 Bxd6! (not 32 Rxd4? Bxa3! 33 Rxd7 Qxd7 –+, as played in the game, when Black has an extra pawn and a decisive advantage) 32...Rxd6 (32...Nc2 33 Qf4 =+) 33 Rxd4 =+ and Black is a little better, but the worst is behind White.
Puzzle 155: Black to play
Choose between 27...Rab8 and 27...Rd7.
Solution 155: Black to play
Srihari – Rakshitta
Mumbai 2018/19
27...Rab8 (27...Rd7? deprives the bishop of a vital retreat-square, and loses after 28 Ra1! Bb3 29 Ra3 Be6 30 d5 +–, as played in the game) 28 d5 (28 Ra1 Be6 =) 28...Kf8 and Black is close to equality. He need not fear 29 Ra1 b6.
Puzzle 156: Black to play
Choose between 52...Qh2 and 52...Qh4.
Solution 156: Black to play
Ziatdinov – Deshpande
Mumbai 2018/19
The main thing is not to miss White’s potential ideas with Nxe6+.
52...Qh4!
After 52...Qh2? 53 Nxe6+! a draw was agreed in the game due to 53...fxe6 (not 53...Kh7? 54 Qxh2+ Rxh2 55 Nxd4 +–) 54 Qg5+ Kh7 55 Qe7+ = with perpetual check.
53 Qf4 Qe1+! 54 Kxd4 Rf1 –+
with an easy win. 55 Nf3 is well met by 55...Qf2+.
Puzzle 157: Black to play
Choose between 37...Qd7 and 37...Qe7.
Solution 157: Black to play
Thapa – Ghelani
Mumbai 2018/19
There’s an understandable reluctance to walk into a pin, but it is vital for Black to control the c8-square.
37...Qd7!
37...Qe7? fails due to 38 Rc6! (38 Qb3?!, as played in the game, is met by 38...Ra6) 38...Nf5 39 Qb3 +–, when Black has nothing better than giving up his rook on g2.
38 Qb3 Ra6 +=
While Black is a little worse, he has no major problems.
Puzzle 158: White to play
Choose between 40 Rd2 and 40 Rxd6.
Solution 158: White to play
Šafranska – Nayem
Mumbai 2018/19
Before making any move, you need to check for any surprising and powerful replies the opponent might have.
40 Rd2
40 Rxd6? is tempting, but fails to consider the opponent’s ideas. After 40...Qe2!, instead of winning, White loses: 41 Qc4+ (41 Rd1 Qxe3+ –+) 41...Kh8 42 Bc1 (played in the game) 42...Nxd6 –+.
40...Qc4 41 Qxc4 Nxc4 42 R2d3
with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 159: Black to play
Choose between 24...Kh8 and 24...Kf7.
Solution 159: Black to play
Jimenez Martinez – Schmidek
Stockholm 2018/19
To find the right move here you need to think carefully how White will react.
24...Kh8!
24...Kf7? 25 Ng6! (but not 25 Rf1? Kxe7 26 Rxf3 Nxf3+ –+, as played in the game) 25...Nxd3+ 26 Qxd3 Qxd3 27 Ne5+ +/– with an extra knight.
25 Qc3
Not 25 Ng6+? Nxg6 26 Bxg6 Rcd8 –+.
25...Qxd3 26 Ng6+
26 Qxe5? Qb1+ 27 Kd2 Rcd8+ –+.
26...Qxg6 27 Rxg6 Nxg6
Black has an advantage and chances to win.
Puzzle 160: White to play
Choose between 26 Bxd5 and 26 Bd3.
Solution 160: White to play
Narciso Dublan – Kravtsiv
Madrid 2012
White should preserve his light-squared bishop, which is his king’s main bodyguard and can cover the important c4-square.
26 Bd3!
26 Bxd5? Nxd5 –/+ leaves White in a difficult position without this key bishop. For example: 27 Nxd4 Ne3 28 Bxe3 (28 Kc3 Rd5 –/+) 28...fxe3+ 29 Kc3 Rd7 (29...Rd5!? –/+) 30 Rad1 e2 31 Rd2 Ba6 –/+ (as played in the game) leaves White in big trouble as he can’t round up the e2-pawn.
26...Nd7
White need not fear 26...Ne3 27 Nxf4 =.
27 Nxd4 Ne5
with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 161: Black to play
Choose between 26...Qd3 and 26...Qxc3.
Solution 161: Black to play
M.Tan – Kravtsiv
Roosendaal 2012
Taking on c3 is wrong because it costs Black a vital tempo in a position where the initiative is far more important.
26...Qd3!
26...Qxc3? 27 Kd1! Bd3 (slightly better is 27...Qe3!? 28 Rb3 Qe2+, keeping some chances of victory) 28 Rc1 Qd4 29 Qxf8 Qg1+ 30 Nf1 is unclear since Black has plenty of checks, but no mate.
27 Kd1 Qe2+ 28 Kc1 Bd3!
Black wins easily. 29 Qxf8 is met by 29...Qe1+ 30 Kb2 Qxd2+ 31 Ka3 Qxc3+ –+ with mate in a few moves.
Puzzle 162: Black to play
Choose between 21...Nxd5 and 21...g4.
Solution 162: Black to play
Anuj – Rakshitta
Mumbai 2018/19
Black needs to spot White’s counter-tactic to see that he needs to insert an exchange on d5 before playing ...g4.
21...Nxd5!
The problem with 21...g4? is the reply 22 Nxd4! (22 Nh2?, as played in the game, loses to 22...Nxd5 –+) 22...Nxd5 (the key point is 22...Qxd4? 23 Be3 +–, trapping the queen; 22...exd4 23 Bxh6 gives White an attack) 23 Nxf5 with an unclear position.
22 cxd5
22 hxg5 Nc3 23 gxf6 Nxb1 24 Qxb1 Qxf6 –+.
22...g4 23 Nd2
Now 23 Nxd4 Qxd4 –+ is no problem for Black as the queen has an easy exit.
23...Qd6
Black is close to victory.
Puzzle 163: White to play
Choose between 49 Rh8+ and 49 Ke4.
Solution 163: White to play
Shyam – Aditya
Mumbai 2018/19
49 Rh8+!
The immediate 49 Ke4? allows Black the excellent defensive resource 49...h4 50 d5 Rf7!, after which he is OK. For example: 51 Rh8+ (51 Rh5 exd5+ 52 Kxd5 c3 53 Bc1 Rg7 is unclear) 51...Rf8 (played in the game) 52 Rxf8+ Bxf8 53 dxe6 h3 54 Kf3 Bh6 =.
49...Kd7
49...Kf7 50 Rc8 +–.
50 Ke4 h4 51 d5
with a decisive advantage. Black is not saved by 51...Rf8 due to 52 dxe6+ (or 52 Rh7 +–) 52...Kxe6 53 Rh6+ Kd7 54 f5 +–.
Puzzle 164: White to play
Choose between 42 Bd1 and 42 Bd3.
Solution 164: White to play
Kravtsiv – D.Ballesteros
Madrid 2012
As well as covering the c2-square, White needs to protect his loose queen, for reasons we shall soon see.
42 Bd3!
After 42 Bd1? (as played in the game) 42...Qb6 43 Be3 (43 Ba4+ Kd8 –+) 43...Rc3! White will lose a pawn on d4 or b2: 44 Ba4+ Kd8 45 Qe1 Qxb2 –+.
42...Rc4!
42...Qb6?! 43 Be3 +–.
43 Bxc4 dxc4 +/
With accurate play White will have good winning chances, and in any case is certainly no longer in any danger.
Puzzle 165: Black to play
Choose between 46...Re2+ and 46...Re4.
Solution 165: Black to play
Ali Marandi – Santarius
Burlingame 2019
Black needs to drive the white king to the g-file so that the g4-pawn will fall with check.
46...Re2+!
Not 46...Re4? 47 Ne7! with irresistible threats: 47...Kg7 (47...Rxg4 48 Ng8+ Kxh5 49 Nf6+ +–) 48 Nd5+ Kh6 49 Nf6 (not 49 Nxc3? Re2+ =, but 49 Rb6+ Kg7 50 Nxc3 +– is also good) 49...Re2+ 50 Kg1 Re1+ 51 Kg2 Re2+ 52 Kf1 +– (as played in the game) and it is time for Black to resign.
47 Kg3
47 Kg1? loses to 47...Re4 –+.
47...Re3+ 48 Kf2 Nd1+ 49 Kg2
After the weaker 49 Kf1?! Re4 50 Ne7 Ne3+ Black will take on g4 with check.
49...Re4 50 Kg3 Re3+ =
with a repetition of moves.
Puzzle 166: White to play
Choose between 41 Kh2 and 41 Kf1.
Solution 166: White to play
Banerjee – Lama
Mumbai 2018/19
With his king on h2, White would not have time to pick up the a5 pawn, so f1 is the right choice.
41 Kf1!
After 41 Kh2? Rg7! White loses one of his pawns and the position becomes a draw. For example: 42 Kh3 Rxb2 43 g4 Rxa2 (as played in the game) 44 Qe8+ Kh7 45 Qe4+ Kh8 46 f5 Rb2 =.
41...Rg7 42 Qa8+ Kh7 43 Qxa5 Rgxg2
43...Rdxg2 44 Qf5+ Kh8 45 Qe5 +–.
44 Qf5+
White will soon engineer a check on b7 that will force Black to remove his rook from g2: 44...Kg7 45 Qe5+ Kf7 46 Qc7+ Kg8 47 Qc8+ Kh7 48 Qb7+ Rg7 49 Qe4+ and White should win.
Puzzle 167: White to play
Choose between 75 Kb4 and 75 Rb4.
Solution 167: White to play
Anuj – Subrota
Mumbai 2018/19
75 Kb4 (75 Rb4? Ra6 {played in the game} 76 Kc4 Kd7 77 Kb5 Ra8 = is drawn because White can’t pick up the a4-pawn) 75...Ra6 (75...Rh4+ 76 Ka5 Kd8 77 Rb4 +–) 76 Rb8+! (White drives the enemy king to its second rank in order to force an exchange of rooks) 76...Kd7 77 Kb5 Ra7 (77...Rg6 78 Kxa4 +–) 78 Kb6 Rc7 79 Rb7 +–.
Puzzle 168: White to play
Choose between 18 Nxd4 and 18 Bh6+.
Solution 168: White to play
Spanton – L.Butt
Hastings 2018/19
Sometimes preventing the opponent from bringing pieces into play is much more important than winning an exchange.
18 Nxd4!
In the game 18 Bh6+? Ke7 19 Nxg8+ Rxg8 20 Nxd4 Rxg2 gave Black compensation for the pawn.
18...Rh8
18...Rg6? loses to 19 Nxh5 +–.
19 Rd1
Black lacks the time to complete his development and has big problems. 19...Be7 is well met by 20 Nxe6+ fxe6 21 Rd7 +/–.
Puzzle 169: Black to play
Choose between 26...N8e6 and 26...Bc2.
Solution 169: Black to play
Kravtsiv – K.Berg
Cappelle-la-Grande 2013
After both moves, the critical continuation you needed to look at was 27 h4.
26...N8e6
Not 26...Bc2? 27 h4! Nxg2 (27...Bxh4 28 Qxf4 Ng6 29 Qg4 +– was played in the game) 28 Qxg2 Bxh4 29 Rf1 (29 Rg1!? +/–) 29...Bxd1 30 Rxd1 +/–.
27 h4
27 g3?! Nh3 gives Black the initiative.
27...Bxh4!
Not 27...Be7? 28 g3 Nh3 29 Kh2 +–.
28 g3 Qe7
with complex play and chances for both sides. For example, 29 Re3 Be2 30 Rxe2 Bxg3!.
Puzzle 170: White to play
Choose between 22 Qxf2 and 22 Bxf4.
Solution 170: White to play
Sarvadh – Banik
Burlingame 2019
One of these moves leads to defeat.
22 Qxf2!
In the game 22 Bxf4? Nxh3+! 23 gxh3 Bxh3 24 Qg3 Bxf1 25 Kxf1 Qf5 gave White a hopeless position because he couldn’t finish his development. After 26 Qf2 (26 Nc3 g5 –+) 26...Qh3+ 27 Kg1 Qg4+ White soon resigned.
22...Bxe3 23 Qxe3 Bxd5 24 Qf4
with a playable and roughly equal position.
Puzzle 171: Black to play
Choose between 17...Nac4 and 17...Ndc4.
Solution 171: Black to play
Divya – Triton
Mumbai 2018/19
Black wants to exchange queens, but must bear in mind White’s threat of Bh6.
17...Nac4!
The correct knight. 17...Ndc4? wrongly moves the knight away from d6, which leaves Black poorly placed to answer the Bh6 idea: 18 Bf4! Qa7 (18...Qd8 19 fxe6 fxe6 20 Nxe6 Qb6+ 21 Nd4 +–) 19 Bh6 Bf6 (after 19...g6, as played in the game, White can win in several ways, such as 20 b4!? +–) 20 Bxg7 Bxg7 21 f6 +–.
18 Bc1
18 Bh6 Bf6 19 Bxg7 Bxg7 20 f6 Ne8 =+.
18...Bf6
and Black has a pleasant game.
Puzzle 172: White to play
Choose between 49 Rd6 and 49 Ne4.
Solution 172: White to play
Mahindrakar – Srija
Mumbai 2018/19
The wrong choice here has miserable consequences for White.
49 Rd6!
Not 49 Ne4? Re1:
a) 50 Kf4 loses right away: 50...Ng6+ 51 Kf5 Ne7+ (51...Nh4+!? –+ was played in the game) 52 Kf4 Nd5+ 53 Kf5 Rxe4 54 Kxe4 d2 –+.
b) 50 Nc3 loses time, which is fatal here: 50...c4 51 bxc4 (51 Rd6 Rc1 –+) 51...d2 52 Rd6 Nxc4 –+.
c) 50 Nf2 Ke7!? 51 Nxd3! Nxd3 52 Kxg4 with some practical chances of surviving, but Black should probably win.
49...Ke7
Now 50 Nb5 (or 50 Rd5!?) is roughly equal. 50...Rd1 is met by 51 Kf4 d2 52 Ke3.
Puzzle 173: White to play
Choose between 39 Nd5+ and 39 a3.
Solution 173: White to play
A.Hong – Stukopin
Burlingame 2019
The knight needs to drop back while there is still a way to do so.
39 Nd5+
After 39 a3? Rd8! White’s knight is stuck on e7, and his position is hopeless. Black then wants to exchange queens:
a) 40 f6 Qd3+ –+.
b) 40 Ka1 Rd7!? (this wins in just a few moves, though 40...Qc5 –+ is also good enough) 41 f6 Qxf6 42 Nd5+ Rxd5 43 Qxd5 Qf1+ 44 Ka2 Qc4+ –+.
c) 40 Ka2 Qc5 41 Kb1 Qc4 gives Black a decisive plus. For instance, 42 Qh1 (as played in the game; or 42 Qe5+ Kb7 –+) 42...Rd6 43 f6 Qd3+ 44 Ka2 Kd7 45 Qb7+ Ke6 –+.
39...Kc6
39...Kd7 40 f6 is unclear too.
40 Nb4++ Kb6 41 a3
White is keeping the game unclear.
Puzzle 174: Black to play
Choose between 74...h5 and 74...Kxf3.
Solution 174: Black to play
Deviatkin – Nguyen Van Huy
Mumbai 2018/19
Black should take on f3 immediately since if the rook then takes on f5, White loses time.
74...Kxf3!
74...h5? 75 Ke6 g6 (now 75...Kxf3 can be met by 76 Kxf5! +–) 76 Kf6 Kxf3 (76...h4 77 Kxg6 Kxf3 78 Kxf5 +– was played in the game) 77 Rc4! (White stops the pawns and wins; 77 Kg5!? +– has the same idea and also works, but not 77 Kxg6? Kg4! 78 Rxf5 h4 =) 77...f4 78 Kg5 +–.
75 Ke6
75 Rxf5+ Kg4 76 Rf1 (76 Ke6 h5 is also a draw) 76...h5 77 Ke6 h4 =.
75...f4
Or 75...Kg4!? 76 Rxf5 h5 =.
76 Kf5 g5
76...g6+!? =.
77 Rc3+ Kg2
White does not have time to pick up the h6-pawn, and the position is a draw: 78 Ke4 (78 Kg4 f3 79 Rxf3 h5+ =) 78...Kf2 79 Ra3 Kg2 =.
Puzzle 175: Black to play
Choose between 37...Nc2 and 37...Nd5.
Solution 175: Black to play
Pranav – Mahindrakar
Mumbai 2018/19
If Black puts his knight on c2, it will get in the way of the black rooks’ counterplay against the white king, and allow White to pick up the pawn on b7.
37...Nd5!
The game featured 37...Nc2? 38 Nc4 Rxa4 39 Ne5 Rga6 40 Rxb7 +– with a decisive advantage for White.
38 Nc4 Rxa4 39 Ne5 Rga6 40 Nxg4
Not 40 Rxb7? Ra1+ 41 Kf2 R6a2+, mating.
40...Ra2
with an unclear position.
Puzzle 176: Black to play
Choose between 45...Nb4 and 45...Rf8.
Solution 176: Black to play
J.Watson – A.Katz (variation)
Burlingame 2019
To make the right choice, it is sufficient to calculate 45...Nb4? and to see why it fails.
45...Rf8!
Not 45...Nb4? 46 Nd6!, when a little analysis shows that a few checks won’t save Black from defeat: 46...Rc2+ 47 Ke3 R8c3+ 48 Ke4! (48 Kf4? is wrong because it allows a knight check, after which Black can safely put a rook on c7: 48...Nd3+ 49 Kg5 Rc7 =) 48...Re2+ 49 Kf4 Nd3+ 50 Kg5 with a decisive advantage: 50...Ne5 51 Kh6 +–.
46 a5 Nb4 47 Nd6
After 47 a6 Rc2+ 48 Kf1 Rc1+ 49 Kg2 Rc2+ 50 Kh3 Nd3! White cannot avoid perpetual check: 51 a7 Nf2+ 52 Kg2 Nd3+ =.
47...Rc2+ 48 Kg1 Nd3
The position is objectively drawn, although Black still needs to play well.
4: Getting Tricky
In this chapter we have 51 puzzles, all of difficulty level 3 – nothing trivial, but nothing excessively hard either. Theme-wise, there is a bit of everything here, with the exception of endgames – see the next chapter for that. Each diagram comes with a hint or question that may help point you in the right direction. At any rate, it is never intended to confuse you!
Puzzle 177: Black to play
Black can win, but it’s not as easy as it might appear.
Solution 177: Black to play
Talyansky – Ezra (variation)
Burlingame 2019
I am sure you saw that the pinned white knight cannot escape, but the tricky point was how to handle White’s a-pawn.
26...a6 27 a5 Qb8!
Not 27...Qxb5? 28 Qxb5 axb5 29 a6, when White will regain the piece: 29...Nd7 30 Rd1 (30 a7!? Nb6 31 Rb1) 30...Bf6 31 a7 Nb6 32 Rxd8+ Bxd8 33 a8Q with a drawn position.
28 Rb1 axb5 29 a6
After 29 Qxb5 Qxb5 30 Rxb5 Rd2 Black can stop the pawn getting to a7: 31 a6 Ra2 –+.
29...Ne8 30 Qxb5 Qc7
Black has a decisive advantage. On 31 Qb7 there follows 31...Bd4 +.
Puzzle 178: White to play
How can White strengthen his position?
Solution 178: White to play
Kavinda – Balasubramaniam
Mumbai 2018/19
Transferring the knight to c5 gives Black serious problems: 22 Na4! Bf8 (22...Re7 23 Bb2!? {23 Nc5 +/–} 23...Bf7 24 Nc5 +/–) 23 Nc5! Bxd6 24 Rxd6 Rad8! (the only way to fight on, though it is unlikely to save Black; after 24...Kf7?, as played in the game, 25 Nd3 + gives White a decisive plus, while 24...e4? loses to 25 Be2 Rad8 26 Rxd8 Rxd8 27 Nxe6 since the knight can escape to the f4-square thanks to Black having played ...e4) 25 Rxd8 Rxd8 26 Nxe6 Rd6 27 Nc5 b6 28 Na4 with a large advantage and excellent winning chances.
Puzzle 179: Black to play
Can Black take the e5-pawn? If so, with which piece?
Solution 179: Black to play
Mohota – Vantika Agrawal
Mumbai 2018/19
Yes, though some calculation is needed to see which way is safer: 12...Nxe5!? (weaker is 12...Bxe5?! 13 Nxe5 Nxe5 14 Bg5 +/–) 13 Nxe5 Bxe5 14 Rxe5 Qxe5 15 Bf4 Rb4! (thanks to this move, Black is fine) 16 cxb4 (16 Qxb4 cxb4 17 Bxe5 bxa3 =) 16...Qxf4 with an unclear position.
Puzzle 180: White to play
White only managed to draw this game. Could he have won?
Solution 180: White to play
Senthil – Mahindrakar
Mumbai 2018/19
Removing the c5-knight means that Black can’t meet Nh5 with ...f6: 34 Rxc5! bxc5 35 Nh5 Kf8 36 Qxg7+ (now White has a decisive advantage, and can win in a number of ways) 36...Ke7 (36...Ke8 37 Nf6+ Ke7 38 Qxh6 +–) 37 f4 (37 Qxh6!? +–) 37...c4 38 Qf6+ Kd7 39 f5 +–.
Puzzle 181: Black to play
Which way should Black take on d5 to avoid ending up a pawn behind?
Solution 181: Black to play
Shetty – Somalwar
Burlingame 2019
18...Nfxd5!
Not:
a) 18...Nbxd5?! 19 Bxf6 gxf6 20 e4 +/–.
b) 18...Bxd5?! 19 Bxf6 Bxb3 (19...Qxf6 20 Bxd5 +/–) 20 Rxd8 Bxc2 21 Rxe8 Rxe8 and now 22 Bxg7! wins a pawn: 22...Bxg7 23 Rxc2 +/– (as played in the game).
19 e4 Qd7!? 20 exd5 Bxd5
Black is OK. The game is close to equal.
Puzzle 182: Black to play
Black must be careful here: in the game he blundered it all away with his next move. What should he play?
Solution 182: Black to play
Dushyant – R.Prajesh
Mumbai 2018/19
Black needs to open a path for his light-squared bishop right away.
21...e5!
After 21...Bd6? 22 Rf3 +– Black does not have time to develop his pieces, and White’s kingside attack quickly becomes decisive:
a) 22...Nd8 23 Nf4 Qc4 (23...Bd7 24 Ng6 +–) 24 Nd3 (simpler is 24 Qxc4!? dxc4 25 Bxd8 +–) 24...Bd7 25 Bg3! +–.
b) The game continued 22...Bd7 23 Rf7 Nd8 (23...Rf8 24 Rxf8+ Bxf8 25 Qf7+ +–) 24 Rxg7+ Kxg7 25 Qf6+ with mate in a few moves.
22 dxe5 Be6 =+
Black has an excellent position. The transfer of the white rook to the f-file is no longer very scary for Black.
Puzzle 183: Black to play
Black has a development advantage. How can he seize the initiative?
Solution 183: Black to play
Nepal – Tarun
Mumbai 2018/19
13...g5! 14 Bg3 h5 15 Qd3
White’s bishop is short of squares, and he can’t even move his h pawn to save it: 15 h3?! Rxe3 16 fxe3 Nxg3+ –+.
15...Qd7 16 Ne2 h4 17 Bxc7 Rac8 –+
Black wins a piece.
Puzzle 184: Black to play
White has just exchanged bishops on e7 and grabbed a pawn on h5. What should Black do?
Solution 184: Black to play
Kravtsiv – Saptarshi (variation)
New Delhi 2012
After 30...Re1! (there’s no time to move the rook from h8: 30...Rf8? 31 Qa8+ Qd8 32 Qc6+ with mate in a few moves) 31 Rxh8+ Ke7 White has no more than perpetual check: 32 Qg5+ (not 32 Qd2? Rd1 –+) 32...Qf6 33 Qc5+ Qd6 34 Qg5+ Qf6 =.
Puzzle 185: Black to play
The e4-pawn can’t be supported. So what should Black do?
Solution 185: Black to play
Wang Zideng – Wang Xiaoyan
Tianjin 2018/19
23...Ne5!
In the game Black played 23...f4? but after 24 g4! +– he was in deep trouble.
24 f4
Now the game is roughly equal. The main point is that the thematic pawn sacrifice 24 fxe4? f4 –/+ gives Black a dangerous attack. For example: 25 Rf1 fxg3+ 26 Kxg3?! Qg5+ 27 Kh2 Qh6 –+.
24...Nd3
24...Nf3+!? is not bad either, but after 25 Kg2 Black needs to deal with the threat of Nxe4.
25 Rd2
25 Rxd3 exd3 26 Qxd3 b6 is unclear.
25...Qg7 26 Nd1 Bd7 =
Puzzle 186: White to play
White found the best move and secured a big advantage. What did he play?
Solution 186: White to play
H.Hesse – Gjestemoen-VonHirsch
Stockholm 2018/19
White needs to transfer the knight from c3 to d4.
19 Ne2!
19 Re5? Bc8 and Black is fine.
19...b6
After 19...Nc8 20 Nd4 Rxe1 21 Rxe1 Black loses a pawn due to the threat of 22 N(either)e6+; e.g., 21...Re8 22 Rxe8 Nxe8 23 Nxd7 +–.
20 Nxd7 Nxd7
20...Rxd7 21 Nd4 +–.
21 Nd4 Nf8 22 Re5 g6
Now 23 b4!? +– is good, while after 23 Kc2 +– (as played in the game) Black cannot break the pin without losing pawns: 23...a6 is met by 24 b4.
Puzzle 187: White to play
White has active pieces, but how should he keep the advantage?
Solution 187: White to play
Mi Tenglong – Lu Miaoyi
Tianjin 2018/19
The priority for White is to maintain a powerful knight on g5.
20 Ndf3!
20 Qd3? is no good because 20...Bxg5 leaves White nothing better than 21 hxg5 Rfc8 = since after 21 Rc7? Qb8 (as played in the game) 22 hxg5 Black wins with 22...Nc5!.
20...g6
Other moves lose on the spot: 20...Bxg5? 21 Rc7! Qb8 22 Nxg5 +–; 20...Re8? 21 Rc7 Bxc7 22 Qxd7 +–; 20...a6? 21 Qd3 g6 22 Nxe6 +–.
21 Qb4 +
With these two accurate moves, White has solved his logistical problem and has a strategically won game: 21...Re8 (21...Bxg5 22 Nxg5 Rac8 23 Qd6 +– with a decisive invasion of the seventh rank) 22 Qd2 (there’s a more complex solution in 22 Nxf7!? Kxf7 23 Qd6 +– with the deadly threat of 24 Rc7) 22...Nf8 23 g4! gives White a decisive attack. 23...hxg4 fails due to 24 Nh2.
Puzzle 188: Black to play
Black is a piece down, but with an accurate move here he can fight for victory.
Solution 188: Black to play
Guan Runpei – Mi Tenglong
Tianjin 2018/19
The priority is to pave the way for the c-pawn’s advance.
21...Bb2!
Now White must give up the exchange or allow the pawn to move forward. Instead 21...Bc3?! is too slow: 22 Nc2 += (or 22 Nd1) and now 22...Bb2?! can be met by 23 Nxa3!.
22 Rcd1?!
Not 22 Nc4? Bxc1 23 Rxc1 Nxc4 24 Rxc4 (played in the game) 24...a5 –+, but White should try 22 Rc4!? Bf6 23 h4 Nxc4 24 Nxc4 a5 =+.
22...c4
Black has an advantage and good winning chances, as his queenside pawns are extremely dangerous.
Puzzle 189: White to play
At first glance White’s game seems hopeless, but he has a way to draw.
Solution 189: White to play
Royal – Eames
Hastings 2018/19
Far-advanced pawns sometimes prove a match for a whole rook! 33 Rxc1! Bxc1 34 c5 Kf7 35 c6 Rc8 36 c7 (36 Bd5!? =) 36...Be3 37 Bd5 and now Black will have to give up his rook, which will lead to a drawn position. For example: 37...Bb6 (37...Ke8 38 Bb7 was agreed drawn in the game in view of 38...Rxc7+ 39 dxc7 Nxc7 40 Bb4 Nxb5+ 41 Kc4 =) 38 Bb7 Rxc7+ 39 dxc7 Nxc7 40 Bd8!? (40 Bh4 Nxb5+ =+) 40...Nxb5+ 41 Kb4 Bxd8 42 Kxb5 =.
Puzzle 190: White to play
White won comfortably. How?
Solution 190: White to play
Kobalia – Santos Ruiz
Stockholm 2018/19
White plays a number of moves with tempo, enabling him to win the black knight.
25 Qd7! Rf8
Other moves lose immediately: 25...Ra8 26 Be3 Qa6 27 Bd2 +–; 25...Rb8 26 Be3 Qb4 (26...Qa6 27 Qc7 +–) 27 Bd2 +–.
26 Be3 Qa6 27 Bc5
Also good is 27 b4!? Bxa1 28 b5 Qb6 29 Bxb6 axb6 30 Qd6! +–.
27...Bxb2
27...Ra8 loses to 28 Qc7 +–, while the game featured 27...Qxe2 28 Bf1 Qxb2 29 Rxa5 +–.
28 Bxf8 Bxa1 29 Bh6
Black will be mated.
Puzzle 191: Black to play
White has just played 13 Rb1-b5?. How did Black punish this error?
Solution 191: Black to play
Mendonca – Ertan
Stockholm 2018/19
Black has a powerful piece sacrifice based on the d1-rook’s lack of flight-squares.
13...Bxf2+! 14 Kxf2 Neg4+
Not 14...Nfg4+? 15 Kg1 +=.
15 Kf3
Forced because 15 Kg1 allows 15...Ne3 –+, but with the king so exposed, Black has more than one way to win.
15...Bd7
Even stronger is 15...Nxh2+!? 16 Kf4 Bd7 17 Ra5 (17 Rxb7 Ba4 –+) 17...e5+! 18 Kxe5 (18 Rxe5 Ba4 –+) 18...Nhg4+ 19 Kf4 Nf2 –+ with an easy win.
16 Rb4
16 Ra5 Nxh2+ and Black wins after 17 Kf2 Nhg4+ 18 Kf3 Bc6+ 19 e4 Nxe4 –+ or 17 Kf4 e5+ 18 Kxe5 (18 Rxe5 Ba4 –+) 18...Nhg4+ 19 Kf4 Nf2 –+.
16...Nxh2+ 17 Kf2
17 Kf4 e5+ 18 Kxe5 Nhg4+ 19 Kf4 Nf2 –+.
17...Nhg4+ 18 Kf3 Bc6+ 19 e4 Nxe4! 20 Rxe4 f5 21 Kf4
The game featured 21 Ke2 fxe4 –+.
21...Nf2 22 Rxe6 Bxg2 23 Nxg2 Nxd1 –+
with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 192: White to play
White found the best move and won the game. What was it?
Solution 192: White to play
Krishna Teja – Ertan
Stockholm 2018/19
The bishop on d6 is a key piece in Black’s attack, so the correct move takes aim at it while also preparing a discovered attack on the black queen.
19 Be1!
Not 19 hxg4? Rxe3! (19...Rh5? 20 f4 +–) 20 f4 Rh3! 21 gxh3 Qg3+ = with perpetual check, while 19 e4?! Rc5 leaves White better, though a fight lies ahead.
19...Re6
Or: 19...Nf6 20 f4 +–; 19...Rh5 20 Rd4 (20 f3? Nxe3 =+) 20...f5 21 f3 +–.
20 Rxd6
The simplest path to victory. 20 Rd4!? was played in the game. Then:
a) 20...Bh2+ 21 Kh1 Be5 22 Qe4 +– (but not 22 Rxg4? Qxg4, when 23 hxg4?! Rh6+ is a draw).
b) 20...h5, as chosen in the game, is best met by 21 Qb1! +– and next move White will play 22 f3 and take the knight.
20...Rxd6
20...cxd6 21 hxg4 +–.
21 Qe4 +
with a decisive material advantage.
Puzzle 193: Black to play
White’s pieces are a long way from their king. How can this be exploited?
Solution 193: Black to play
Buchenau – Hø.Nielsen
Stockholm 2018/19
At first sight Black’s position looks hopeless, but the poorly protected white king allows him to win with a beautiful combination. The game continued 36...Ra1+ 37 Kh2 Nf3+! 38 gxf3 Qg5! 39 Ng3 (or 39 h4 Qg1+ 40 Kh3 Qxf2 –+ with a mating attack) 39...fxg3+ 40 Kg2 Qd2–+. Then White’s last chance is 41 Rb8+ with the point 41...Bxb8? 42 Qc8+ Kh7 43 Qf5+ =, but after 41...Kh7!, he would have been forced to resign.
Puzzle 194: White to play
How should White strengthen his position?
Solution 194: White to play
Luukkonen – Hammarström (variation)
Stockholm 2018/19
His only piece that isn’t playing a major role is the knight on f3, so it must be brought into the action: 27 Nd2! (both 27 Bxc5? Nxc5 28 Qc6 e4 29 Nd4 Qe5! and 27 Bd6? Rd8 are OK for Black) 27...Ra5 (27...Rb8 28 Bd6 +–) 28 Nc4 (better than 28 Bxc5 Nxc5 29 Nc4 Rxb5 30 Rxf7, when White’s advantage is of a more modest nature) 28...Rxb5 29 Qc6! Nf6 (29...Rb3 30 Bxc5 +–) 30 Bxf6 Qxc6 31 Rxc6 gxf6 32 Rxf6 and White is close to victory.
Puzzle 195: Black to play
White’s a-pawn looks dangerous. Can Black eliminate it right away?
Solution 195: Black to play
An.Nielsen – Pantzar
Stockholm 2018/19
Yes, after 27...Nxa4! the tactics work for Black. 28 Qxa4 (after 28 Bxe6 Nc3! 29 Bxc8 Nxd1 30 Ba6 {30 Qd2 Nxe3 is unclear} 30...Nxe3 White will not have time to advance his c-pawn, so Black will have a good position; e.g., 31 c4 Rd8 =+ or 31 Qd2 Nf5 32 Kf1 Ra8) 28...Ra8 29 Qb3 (29 Qe4 Rxa2 leaves Black no worse) 29...Rfb8 30 Qc4 Rc8 31 Qb3 Rcb8 = with a repetition of moves.
It is possible that Black can also survive after 27...Na6?! (as played in the game) 28 Qb6 Nc5 (28...Rxc2? 29 Bb1 +–) 29 Bb3 Nxb3, but this is far less clear-cut. If you see a chance to eliminate all danger, it is best to take it!
Puzzle 196: White to play
White won quickly. How?
Solution 196: White to play
B.Lindberg – Calzetta Ruiz
Stockholm 2018/19
After 21 Qa4! (21 b5?! Nd4 gives Black more chances to hang on, though he remains worse) White threatens to take the d7-pawn, and there is no good defence. For example: 21...Rd8 (21...cxb4 22 Rxd7 Qxd7 23 Bc6 +–) 22 Rad1! 0-0 (22...cxb4 23 Rxd7 Rxd7 24 Rxd7 +–) 23 Bxf5 exf5 24 Rxd7 +– and Black resigned a few moves later.
Puzzle 197: White to play
Does White have a way to exploit the pin on the d-file?
Solution 197: White to play
Blomqvist – Gajewski
Stockholm 2018/19
After 18 Bf5! (in the game 18 Nxe5? Re8 gave Black a large advantage) 18...Ng5 (or 18...Nf6 19 Qxe5 Nfe8 20 Qxc5 +–, while 18...Nc3 19 Qxe5 Nxd1 20 Rxd1 Nxc4 21 Rxd8 Nxe5 22 Rxf8+ also gives White a decisive plus) 19 Nxg5 Qxg5 20 Bxh7+ Kxh7 21 Rxd6 +/– White will end up a pawn ahead with good chances of victory. 21...Rac8 is well met by 22 Qe4+.
Puzzle 198: Black to play
Black won the game in just a few moves. How?
Solution 198: Black to play
Debashis – Urkedal
Stockholm 2018/19
21...Bc8!
Not 21...Re7? 22 Rxe7 Qxe7 23 e6 +–.
22 Bxf7+
22 Rfd1 changes nothing: 22...Bxe5 23 Bxe5 Bxd7 and White resigned here in view of 24 Rxd7 Rxe5 –+.
22...Kh8 23 Rfd1 Bxd7
23...Bxe5 has the same idea, even though the move-order looks a little strange: 24 Bxe5 Rxe5 25 Qxe5 Bxd7 –+. Not 23...Re7? 24 Bg6!, with unclear play as Black must avoid 24...Rxf5?? 25 Rd8+ +–.
24 Rxd7 Bxe5!
Without this move, White would be fine. But now he loses.
25 Bxe5 Rxe5 26 Qxe5 Qxg4+ –+
Puzzle 199: White to play
White’s next move in the game allowed perpetual check. Show how he could have avoided that and won.
Solution 199: White to play
Zhang Xiao – Nie Xinyang
Tianjin 2018/19
White must first secure his king, and only then think about pushing his a6-pawn.
35 Bb4!
After 35 Bc6? Nxf4 36 Bxa8 Nxh3+ the game ends with perpetual check: 37 Kf1 Qd3+ 38 Ke1 Qg3+ = or 37 Kh1 Nef2+ 38 Rxf2 Nxf2+ (the game was agreed drawn here) 39 Kg1 Nh3+ = (or 39...h3 40 Qc8+ Kh7 41 Qf5+ =).
35...Nxf4 36 Be1 Nxh3+
36...Qg5 37 Qe3 +–.
37 Kf1
Black’s attack is over, and next move White will take the knight. Not 37 Kh1? Nef2+ –+.
37...Qh2 38 gxh3 Qxh3+
38...Qh1+ 39 Ke2 +–.
39 Kg1 +–
Puzzle 200: White to play
White has a very promising position, but there’s only one way to win right away.
Solution 200: White to play
Lu Miaoyi – Li Haoyu (variation)
Tianjin 2018/19
45 Be2!
45 Bf3? Nf5 is unclear, while after 45 Qf3+?! Kg7 46 Qc3+ Kf7 White has a large advantage, but Black retains chances to hold the position.
45...Qxd5+
Or 45...Nxd5 46 Bf3 Nb4 47 Bxb7 Nxd3 48 Bxa6 +–. After 45...Nf5 46 Qxa6 Qxd5+ 47 Bf3 Qa2 48 h4 +– Black’s threats are over, as he gains nothing from 48...Ne3+ 49 Kg1 Qa1+ 50 Kh2.
46 Qxd5 Nxd5 47 Bxa6
Material is equal, but White has a decisive advantage because of his passed a-pawn. For example: 47...Nc7 48 Bb7 Ke7 49 a6 Nb5 50 Bc6 Na7 51 Bd5 +–.
Puzzle 201: White to play
White would clearly like to remove the black knight from b4. But think carefully about how to do so.
Solution 201: White to play
Lyrberg – Murzin
Stockholm 2018/19
24 Qxb4! (24 Nxb4? is wrong because before recapturing, Black can drive the white queen away with 24...Ra8! 25 Qb2 Qxb4 =+) 24...Qxb4 25 Nxb4 cxb4 26 c5 (as played in the game) gives Black a hopeless position because the g7-bishop is out of the game. For example: 26...dxc5 27 Bxc5 Ra8 28 Bxb4 +–.
Puzzle 202: White to play
Black has just landed a blow on the kingside. Your task is to find an accurate defence for White.
Solution 202: White to play
Pranav – A.Liang
Stockholm 2018/19
The first step is to reduce Black’s attacking potential, and the knight is the obvious target.
34 Rxe4!
34 hxg3? loses to 34...Qxg3+ 35 Kf1 d3! 36 Qg2 d2 (as played in the game) 37 Rd1 Qe3 –+ and White has no good defence against the knight check on g3.
34...dxe4 35 hxg3
Now the position is close to a draw. For example: 35...Qxg3+ (35...d3 36 Qf2 d2 37 Nc3 =) 36 Kf1 (36 Qg2 Qe5 37 b4! = also secures a draw) 36...Qf3+ (36...d3 37 Qf2 =; 36...e3 37 Nc5 =) 37 Qf2 Qh1+ 38 Ke2 Qh5+ 39 Kf1 = and the game will end with perpetual check.
Puzzle 203: Black to play
White’s king is still in the centre. Can Black take advantage of this?
Solution 203: Black to play
Ruiz Castillo – Taghizadeh
Burlingame 2019
After 20...Rxa4! 21 Rxa4 Qc2 (as played in the game) Black will win one of White’s rooks, and the game: 22 Rb4 (22 0-0 Qxa4 –+) 22...Qb1+ 23 Kf2 Qxh1 –+.
Puzzle 204: Black to play
How can Black secure a big advantage?
Solution 204: Black to play
P.Almagro – Kravtsiv
Madrid 2012
25...Rd7! (next move Black will attack the d6-knight, which has nowhere to go) 26 Bf3 Rbd8 27 e5 Bxf3 28 Kxf3 (the game ended 28 Ne8+? Rxe8 29 Rxd7 Bc6 0-1) 28...fxe5 29 Ne8+ Kf8 –/+ with an extra pawn and good chances to win.
Puzzle 205: Black to play
It looks like Black must lose an exchange. But maybe it’s not so bad?
Solution 205: Black to play
Javakhadze – Eswaran
Burlingame 2019
Black can clearly get the white e5-pawn for the exchange, but must also hold on to the c5-pawn.
23...Rac8!
After 23...Nxe5? 24 Bxc5! Rac8 (24...Bf8!?) 25 Bxa7 +– (as played in the game) White’s b-pawn is too strong.
24 Bb7
Or 24 f4!? Bf8 25 Bb7 Bxd6 26 Bxc8 Bxe5!, with unclear play.
24...Nxe5 25 Bxc8
25 Bxe5 Bxe5 26 Bxc8 Rxc8 =.
25...Rxd6
with a playable game, and near-equality.
Puzzle 206: White to play
How should White press home his advantage?
Solution 206: White to play
Training position
Rather than taking the black queen, the priority is to neutralize the dangerous pawn on c2.
1 Qb3+!
After 1 Qc4+? Kd6! (1...Kd7? 2 Qxc2 +–) 2 Qxd4+ Kc7 Black achieves a draw thanks to his strong passed pawn: 3 Qc3 Qxc5! 4 Qxc5+ Rc6 =.
1...Kd6 2 Rxc2 +–
Puzzle 207: Black to play
It seems necessary to retreat the knight from e5. But to where?
Solution 207: Black to play
Røyset – J.Trevelyan
Hastings 2018/19
37...Ng6!
The more natural 37...Nd7? is a mistake due to 38 e5 Be7 (38...Bd8 39 Nxf7 +–) 39 Nf5 +–, as played in the game.
38 e5
38 Bxf6 gxf6 is unclear.
38...Be7
Other squares for the bishop are less fortunate: 38...Bd8? 39 f5 Nf4 40 Nc4! Qc7 41 Qg4 +– or 38...Bh4?! 39 f5 Nf4 40 a3! with an attack; e.g., 40...Qf2 (40...Nd5 41 f6 +/–) 41 Nxf7.
39 f5 Nf4!
39...Nf8?! 40 Nc8 Qc7 41 Nxe7+ +/– gives White a large advantage.
40 Nc8
40 Nc4?! Qf2 –/+.
40...Qc7
with an unclear position. Next the knight will go to d5.
Puzzle 208: White to play
How can White strengthen his position?
Solution 208: White to play
A.Barton – M.Chapman
Hastings 2018/19
46 Nh2!
On g4 the knight will create serious problems for Black. 46 Ng3? (as played in the game) should have been answered with 46...f6!, denying the white queen the g5-square, and so leaving the knight uselessly placed on g3.
46...f6 47 Ng4 Kf7
47...g5?! 48 Qe1! Bb3 49 Qh1 +–.
48 a6!
with a large advantage. While Black is dealing with the a-pawn, White will bring his queen into the attack on the other flank. For example: 48...Ke6 (48...g5?! 49 a7 Bb3 50 Qb2 +–) 49 Kg3 c5 50 Qh6 Qxa6 51 Qxg6 +/–.
Puzzle 209: White to play
Find the best move and carefully calculate the variations that follow.
Solution 209: White to play
C.Murphy – Leenhouts
Hastings 2018/19
16 Bc3!
Only this move is good enough; otherwise White loses. 16 c3? bxc3 17 Bxc3 Qxd1+ –+.
16...Qxd1+ 17 Qxd1 Nxd1 18 fxg7
18 Be5? Nf2 –+.
18...Bxg7
18...Rg8? 19 gxf8Q+ Kxf8 20 Bd4 +–.
19 Bxg7 Nf2!
19...Rg8? 20 Bd4! (20 Be5? Nf2) 20...Bb7 21 Rg1 +–.
20 Bxh8 Nxh1 21 Be5 +=
White has a slight advantage thanks to the bad knight on h1.
Puzzle 210: White to play
Black is trying to create counterplay. How should White react?
Solution 210: White to play
Kalavannan – A.Taylor
Hastings 2018/19
34 f5!
In the game 34 Kf2? hxg3+ 35 hxg3 Qh5 –/+ gave Black a dangerous attack.
34...Qxf5 35 Qf4
An exchange of queens will kill Black’s attack, leaving the a5-pawn as a decisive advantage.
35...Rf6 36 Qxf5 Rxf5 37 Rf4 Rxf4 38 Bxf4 +
Thanks for reading! Fell free to ask any questions, share your friends, and stay tuned for part 4 coming soon!
