600 Chess Puzzles: From Beginner to Master (Part6)
Hello everyone! Welcome to Part 4 of the “600 Chess Puzzles: From Beginner to Master” series. In this section, you’ll find another 30 puzzles designed to sharpen your tactical awareness and improve your calculation step by step. Try to solve each position before checking the solution — let’s get started!
Puzzle 541: White to play
Solution 541: White to play
L.Butt – J.Song
Hastings 2018/19
57 Rb2! After 57 Rc6? g4 58 b6, as played in the game, Black can win with 58...g3! 59 b7 Ba7 60 Ra6 Bb8 61 Ra8 g2 –+. 57...Bb6 57...g4 58 b6 Bxb6 59 Rxb6 g3 60 Rg6 =. 58 Ra2! White must deny the bishop the a7square. Not 58 Rc2? g4 59 Rc6 Be3, which transposes to the 57 Rc6? line. 58...g4 59 Ra6 Be3 60 b6 Bxb6 Not 60...g3? 61 b7 +–. 61 Rxb6 g3 62 Rg6 with a drawn position.
Puzzle 542: Black to play
Solution 542: Black to play
Gopal – A.Donchenko
Stockholm 2018/19
Black must urgently go on the counterattack. 38...Qa4! 38...gxh4? 39 Qh5 Kg7 40 Qxh4 Re8 41 Qe1 +– gives White a decisive advantage, while after 38...Qf7? 39 hxg5+ hxg5 the quickest way to win is 40 g4! fxg4 41 Qxg4 +–. 39 hxg5+ 39 Re6+ Kf7 40 Ke5 Qa1+! =. 39...hxg5 40 Re6+ Kf7 41 Ke5 Or 41 Re7+ Kf8 42 Qe6 Qa1+ 43 Kd3 Qd1+ =. 41...Qa1+! 42 Kxf5 Qb1+ 43 Ke5 Qa1+ 44 Kf5 Qb1+ ½-½ It’s perpetual check.
Puzzle 543: Black to play
Solution 543: Black to play
L.Butt – Royal (variation)
Hastings 2018/19
Because White’s bishop has limited mobility, Black is able to promote one of his pawns on the queenside. 44...c3! 45 Qxc3 45 bxc3 b2 –+. 45...Qc2+ 46 Be2 Qxc3 47 bxc3 Be6! It was not too late to go astray and let White escape his fate: 47...b2? 48 Bd3 Be6 49 Bb1! Bf5 50 Ba2 = and White will draw thanks to his passed apawn. 48 Bd1 48 Ke3 b2 49 Bd3 Bf5 –+. 48...b2 49 Bc2 Bf5 –+
Puzzle 544: White to play
Solution 544: White to play
Pranav – Snehal
Mumbai 2018/19
If White proceeds in straightforward fashion and promotes his pawn directly, Black will give up the rook and achieve a draw thanks to his kingside pawnmass. A little subtlety is required. 40 Rh8! 40 e6+? Bxe6 41 Nxe6 Kxe6 42 c8Q+ Rxc8 43 Rxc8 Kf5 =. 40...Bg4 41 Rh7+ 41 e6+? Bxe6 42 Rh7+ Ke8! 43 Nxe6 Kd7 44 Nf8+ Kxc7 45 Nxg6 Kd6 with a drawn position. 41...Ke8 41...Kf8 42 e6 Rxc5 43 Kxc5 Bxe6 44 Rh8+ +– gives White two extra tempi compared to the 40 e6+? line. 42 Rg7!? This is the easiest way to pick up the g6pawn, after which Black’s position is hopeless. Not 42 e6? Bxe6 43 Nxe6 Kd7, which transposes to the 41 e6+? line. In the game White played 42 Kb5?!, but this makes no progress after 42...Bd7+, as White must retrace his steps with 43 Kb4. 42...Rb1+ Or: 42...Bf5 43 Rxg6 +–; 42...h4 43 Rxg6 Bf5 44 e6 +–. 43 Kc4 Rc1+ 44 Kd4 Rd1+ 45 Ke3 Rc1 46 e6 Bxe6 47 Nxe6 Kd7 48 Rg8 + Now that his king is close to Black’s kingside pawns, the rook vs pawns ending will be a trivial win for White.
Puzzle 545: Black to play
Solution 545: Black to play
E.Li – Betaneli (variation)
Burlingame 2019
Black needs to cover the c5square without delay. 42...Nb3! After 42...Ne6? 43 f4 Black can’t win because of the constant threat of an f5 advance: 43...Kf6 44 g4 g6 45 Ke3 with a drawn position, since 45...Ke7 is well met by 46 Nc5. 43 f4 Or 43 Ke3 Ke6, and then: a) 44 Nc5+ Nxc5 45 bxc5 and now not 45...g5? 46 f4! =, but 45...Kf5! 46 f4 d4+! –+. b) 44 f4 Kd6 45 g4 (45 f5 c5 –+) 45...c5 (or 45...d4+!? 46 Ke4 c5 –+) 46 bxc5+ Kc6!? (46...Nxc5 47 Nc1 –/+) 47 f5 Nxa5 and Black should win. 43...Ke6 44 g4 d4! Not 44...Kd6? 45 f5 c5 46 Nxc5 with a drawn pawn ending: 46...Nxc5 47 bxc5+ Kxc5 48 g5 Kd6 49 g6! hxg6 50 fxg6 =. 45 f5+ Kd5 46 g5 c5 47 Nxc5 47 bxc5 Nxa5 –+. 47...Nxc5 48 bxc5 Ke5! –+ and Black wins.
Puzzle 546: White to play
Solution 546: White to play
Sagar Shah – Kravtsiv
Chennai 2012
The only plan for White to save himself is to transfer his king to the queenside. 57 h6! After 57 Kg5?, 57...Kf7? was played in the game, when 58 Kf5 = draws. The correct reply is 57...b5! since then the white king will not intercept the bpawn in time, and his own pawn will not promote: 58 Kg6 (58 h6 Kf7 –+) 58...b4 59 h6 b3 60 h7 Ra8 61 f5+ Ke5 –+. 57...Kf6 58 h7 Kg7 59 Kf5! Black does not have time to push the pawn to b3, so White easily achieves a draw: 59...Kxh7 60 Ke6 (60 Ke5!? =) 60...Kg7 61 f5 b5 (61...Ra3 62 f6+ Kf8 63 Kd5 Kf7 64 Kc6 =) 62 f6+ Kf8 63 Kd5 (now the game is obviously drawn) 63...Kf7 64 Kc5 b4 65 Kc4 =.
Puzzle 547: Black to play
Solution 547: Black to play
Czebe – Mohota
Mumbai 2018/19
Black needs to attack the white knight, as it is all that is holding up the cpawn. 41...Ke5! 41...Nxa3? loses to 42 Rc1 Kf7 43 h5 +–, while after 41...Rb2? (as played in the game) 42 Kg6!? Ke5 43 h5 Ke4 44 h6! the fact that the king has had time to leave g5 makes a vital difference: White will be able to give a queen check on h6 and take the black queen on c1. 44...Kxe3 45 h7 c2 (45...Rh2 46 Rxb1 +–) 46 h8Q c1Q 47 Qh6+ +–. 42 h5 42 Ra2 Ke4 (42...Nd2!? is unclear too) 43 Nd1 Nxa3 44 Re2+ Kd4 with unclear play. 42...Ke4 43 Nc2 Not 43 h6? Kxe3 44 h7 c2 –+. 43...Kd3 44 Ne1+ 44 h6? loses to 44...Kxc2 45 h7 Kb2 –+. 44...Kd2 44...Ke2 45 Nc2 Kd3 46 Ne1+ =. 45 Nf3+ No better is 45 h6 Kxe1 46 Ra2 Rb2. 45...Ke3 46 Ne1 Kd2 = with a repetition of moves.
Puzzle 548: Black to play
Solution 548: Black to play
Czebe – Mohota
Mumbai 2018/19
Since almost all the pawn endgames are lost, Black needs to find some sort of trick. 51...c2 51...Rxh6? 52 Rxh6 Kxh6 53 Kxc3 +–. 52 h7 Rh6! 52...Rc8? 53 Kd2 +– was played in the game. 53 Rxh6 c1Q 54 h8Q Qc4+! The king can’t escape the checks. Not 54...Qxa3+? 55 Qc3 Qxc3+ 56 Kxc3 Kxh6 57 Kd4 +–. 55 Ke3 Or 55 Kd2 Qf4+ =. 55...Qf4+ 56 Ke2 Qe4+ 57 Kd2 Qf4+ 58 Kc2 Qe4+ =
Puzzle 549: White to play
Solution 549: White to play
A.Mishra – Tarjan
Burlingame 2019
Evidently, any normal continuation will result in victory for Black. 62 b3!! 62 Ra1? was played in the game, though then 62...Nb3 63 Rh1 (63 Rf1 Nd4+ –+) 63...Nd4+ 64 Kb1 Rb4 –+ gives Black a decisive advantage. 62...Nxb3 62...cxb3+ 63 Kb2 Ke5 64 g3 =. 63 Rcxc4 63 Raxc4? loses to 63...Nd4+ 64 Kd3 Ne6 –+. 63...Nc5 64 Rab4 Rxb4 64...Ne6 65 Rxb5+ axb5 66 Rb4 =. 65 Rxb4 Ke5 66 g3! The knight is tied to defending the b7pawn, so Black is forced to take on g3: 66...fxg3 67 Rxg4 Ne4 68 Rg7 (not 68 Rg8? Kd4 –+) 68...b5 69 Kd3 and now White can hold the game in a number of ways.
Puzzle 550: White to play
Solution 550: White to play
Keinanen – Mendonca
Stockholm 2018/19
The first move that comes to mind is 49 Rf1. But I hope you considered it long enough to see that it doesn’t help White, and sought a better path. 49 d7! Not: a) 49 Rd1? Kc8 50 d7+ Kd8 51 Rd6 Rxe4 52 Rxf6 (52 Rxb6 Rf4 53 Rd6 h5 –+) 52...h5 53 Rxb6 Kxd7 –+. b) After 49 Rf1? Rxe4 50 Rxf6 (as played in the game) 50...h5! 51 d7 Kc7 52 Rd6 Kd8 53 Rxb6 Kxd7 –+ Black wins easily thanks to his outside passed hpawn. 49...Kc7 Or 49...Rd3 50 Kf2 Rxd7 51 Ke3! Kc6 52 Rh1 Rh7 53 Kf4 =. 50 Rb1 Definitely best. 50 Rf1? Rxe4 51 Rxf6 h5 transposes to the 49 Rf1? line, while after 50 Ra6?! Rd3 51 Kf2 Rxd7 52 Ke3 h5 53 Ra8! –/+ White has chances to resist because Black can’t put his rook on h7, although he still has a lot of problems. 50...Rd3 Or: 50...Rxc3 51 Rxb6 Rxc4 52 Rxf6 =; 50...Rxe4 51 Rxb6 Rxc4 52 Rxf6 =; 50...Rg3+?! 51 Kf2 Rd3 52 Ke2 Rxd7 53 Rf1 Rf7 54 Rf5 +=. 51 Rf1! Now Black cannot take the e4pawn and White is saved. 51...Rxd7 51...Kxd7 52 Rxf6 Kc7 transposes. 52 Rxf6 Rd3 52...Rd6 53 Rf7+ =. 53 Rxh6 53 Rf7+ Kc6 54 Rf6+ Kb7 comes to the same thing. 53...Rxc3 54 Rh7+! It is very important to drive the king away to a6. Not 54 Kf2? Rxc4 55 Ke3 Rd4 –+. 54...Kc6 55 Rh6+ Kb7 56 Rh7+ Ka6 57 Kf2 Rxc4 58 Ke3 White achieves a draw thanks to the fact that the black king is a long way from the epawn.
Puzzle 551: White to play
Solution 551: White to play
Varshini – T.Ravi (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
There’s no obvious way to force the b7pawn through to promotion, but White finds a clever way to produce a second passed pawn! 38 Qc3! 38 Qc1? Qd7! = is equal, while after 38 Qb4?! Qb5!? 39 Qxb5 axb5 40 Rxb5 Kf7 Black will most likely achieve a draw. 38...Qd7 39 d5! Rxb7 After 39...exd5?! 40 Qe5! White wins immediately: 40...Qd8 (40...Rxb7 41 Rxb7 Qxb7 42 Qe8#) 41 Qe6+ Kh8 42 Rc1 +–. 40 Rxb7 Qxb7 41 Qc6!? 41 d6?! e3! makes things far trickier for White, though after the precise 42 fxe3 f4 43 Qc7 Qb3 44 d7! (44 exf4? Qe3+ 45 Kh1 Qxf4 =) 44...Qxe3+ 45 Kf1 Qd3+ 46 Ke1 +– he should be able to evade the many checks and still win. 41...Qb5 41...Qb8 42 d6 +–; 41...Qb1+ 42 Kh2 Qb8+ 43 d6 +–. 42 Qxe6+ + with a decisive advantage. White can win in a number of ways.
Puzzle 552: Black to play
Solution 552: Black to play
Sethuraman – Xu Yinglun
Tianjin 2018/19
With a few precise moves, Black gets a decisive advantage. 53...Nc2! 53...Ra8? 54 b6 Ra5 is unclear. 54 Nd5 54 Bxb8 Nb4+ 55 Kb7 Nxd3 –+. 54...Rxb5! 55 Nf4+ Kf5! 55...exf4? 56 Kxb5 is unclear since Black loses one of his pawns. 56 Kxb5 Kxf4 –+ White will lose because of his weak pawns and passive rook. For example: 57 Rd2 (57 Kc4 Ne3+ –+) 57...Na3+ 58 Kc6 Ke3! (not 58...Kxf3?, as played in the game, since 59 Bxe5! Nc4 60 Rd3+ Ke2 61 Rxd4 Nxe5+ 62 Kd5 is unclear) 59 Rd1 d3 –+ and White can’t stop the dpawn.
Puzzle 553: Black to play
Solution 553: Black to play
Sandipan – Sammed Jaykumar
Mumbai 2018/19
If White puts his bishop on d4, he will be winning. So Black must prevent this. 60...Rh2! 60...Re7+? 61 Kd2 Re4 (61...Kb4 62 Rxg6 +– was played in the game) 62 Be3 Re6 63 Bd4 +–. 61 Rxg6 After 61 Kf1 Rh4 62 Be3 c3 63 Rxg6 Kc4 Black achieves a draw; e.g., 64 Ke2 Rh2+ 65 Kf3 Rh3+. 61...c3 62 Rg8 62 Rb6+ Kc4 63 Rc6+ Kb3 changes little, while 62 Ke3!? c2 63 Rg1 Kc4 64 Rf1! Kc3 65 Be1+ Kb3 66 Bd2 Rh8 should be drawn. 62...Kc4 63 Rc8+ 63 Kf3 c2 64 Be3 (64 Rc8+ Kd3 65 Rd8+ Kc4 =) 64...Rh3+ 65 Rg3 Rh1 =. 63...Kb3 64 Kf1 Rh3! The only way for Black to hold the position. After 64...c2? 65 Be3 + White can win by giving up his bishop for the pawn. 65 Be1 Or 65 Kg2 Rd3 =. White also gains nothing from 65 Ke2 Rh2 66 Kf1 Rh3. 65...Rf3+ 66 Ke2 Rxf4 with a drawn position.
Puzzle 554: White to play
Solution 554: White to play
Lu Shanglei – Liu Guanchu
Tianjin 2018/19
White can win in a rather unexpected way. 46 Bb5! 46 Bc2? was played in the game, when 46...h3! 47 gxh3 Kc6 48 Bf5 Kb7 = would have held. 46...c3 47 Ba4! + Zugzwang! If it were Black’s move, the game would be a draw, but as it stands he must move his rook from g8, which releases the white king. Not 47 Bd3?? Kc6 –+. After 47 Ke2? the game should end in a draw after some studylike sequences that are worth recording: 47...e4! (47...Rxg2+? loses to 48 Kd1! +–, but 47...c2 48 Kd2 e4! 49 Bc4 Re8! is also good enough to draw) 48 fxe4 f3+ 49 gxf3 c2! 50 Kd2 h3 51 e5+! Kxe5 52 b7 c1Q+ (52...Rg2+ 53 Be2! Rxe2+ 54 Kxe2 c1Q 55 c8Q Qb2+ is also a draw as long as Black chooses his checks precisely) 53 Kxc1 h2 54 c8Q h1Q+ 55 Kd2! Rg2+ 56 Be2 Qh6+! = (etc.!). 47...Rh8 48 Ke2 Rg8 Now White can win in a number of ways: 49 Kd3 (perhaps 49 Bb3!? c2 50 Kd2 +– is simpler, while there is also 49 Kd1!? e4 50 Bb3 +–) 49...c2 50 Kxc2 Rxg2+ 51 Kd3 Rg8 52 Bb3 Rh8 53 Be6 +– and the pawn will promote.
Puzzle 555: White to play
Solution 555: White to play
M.Payne – A.Taylor
Hastings 2018/19
It is far from intuitively obvious what will happen after an exchange of rooks, so accurate calculation is essential here. 47 Rg4! Both 47 Kf2? d4 (the game was agreed drawn here) 48 Rg8 Bd3 and 47 Rg8? d4+ 48 Kf2 Bd3 are unclear. 47...Rxg4 47...Bc4 48 Rxc3 +–. 48 fxg4 e5 After 48...Ke5 49 h6 d4+ 50 Kf2 Bd3 51 Rc1 Black’s counterplay does not arrive in time because his epawn is too far back: 51...Kf6 52 Rh1 Bh7 53 a4 +–. 49 Rh2! 49 h6? d4+ 50 Ke4 d3! 51 h7 dxc2 52 h8Q =. 49...d4+ 50 Ke4! It is important not to let the black bishop reach the b1h7 diagonal. After 50 Kf3? Bd3! Black is no worse. 50...d3 50...Bb7+ 51 Kd3 Ba6+ 52 Kc2 +–. 51 Ke3 d2 52 Rh1 52 Rxd2+?? cxd2 53 Kxd2 fails completely because 53...Bc4! is even winning for Black: 54 a3 (54 h6 Bg8) 54...Be6! 55 h6 (55 g5 Bg4) 55...Bg8. 52...Bb7 53 Rg1 + It turns out that Black is one move behind in the race, and therefore loses. For example: 53...Ke6 (53...Bf3 54 h6 +–) 54 g5 Kf7 55 g6+ Kg7 (55...Kg8 56 h6 Bf3 57 Rb1 +–) 56 Kd3 (clearer than 56 h6+!? Kxh6 57 g7 Bd5 58 Ke2! +–) 56...Bf3 57 h6+ Kxh6 58 g7 +–.
Puzzle 556: White to play
Solution 556: White to play
A.Taylor – Willow
Hastings 2018/19
Mate is threatened, and White’s defence is very difficult. 46 Kh1! Not: a) After 46 Kf1? Re4! 47 Bg1 (as played in the game; 47 Kg1 Rxd4 +) 47...Nd3+ 48 Kg2 Ne1+ –+ the king will not escape. b) 46 Bf6? Nh3+ 47 Kh1 Nf2+ 48 Kg1 Ne4 –+ and Black should win, although accurate play is still required. 49 Qd1 Re3 50 Be5 Nf2 51 Qa1 (51 Qd4 Nh3+ –+) 51...Nd3 –+ offers White no chance of salvation given his passive queen on a1. 46...Nh3 Or: 46...Nh5 47 Kg1 Nf4 48 Kh1 =; 46...Re1+ 47 Kh2 Re2+ 48 Kh1 =. 47 Bg1! At first glance it seems that White is losing the bishop for nothing, but the sacrifice is justified. 47...Re1 47...Nf2+ 48 Bxf2 Rfxf2 49 Kg1 =. 48 Kg2 48 h5 Rxg1+ 49 Kh2 = also saves White’s skin. 48...Nxg1 48...Nf4+ 49 Kh2 Re2+ 50 Kh1 =. 49 h5! White opens up the enemy king and will start checking: 49...gxh5 (49...Rg7 50 Kf2 Rb1 51 hxg6+ Rxg6 52 Qe7+ =) 50 Qd3+ Kg8 51 Qd8+ Kg7 52 Qd4+ Rf6 53 Qd7+ = and the game will end with perpetual check.
Puzzle 557: Black to play
Solution 557: Black to play
Sandipan – Sammed Jaykumar
Mumbai 2018/19
White’s passed pawns are so powerful that Black will have to sacrifice a rook for them, so it makes no sense for the rook to flee from d7. 44...Bc5! 44...Rb7? 45 e6+ Kg8 (45...Rxe6 46 dxe6+ +– is now insufficient with the rook poorly placed on b7) 46 Bf6 Bg7 47 Be5 +–. 45 Rb1!? 45 e6+ Rxe6 46 dxe6+ Kxe6 (played in the game) 47 Bf2 Rd3 +=. 45...Bxa3! 45...Bxe3? loses to 46 e6+ Rxe6 47 dxe6+ Kxe6 48 Re1 +– since Black can’t eliminate both the c3 and a3pawns. 46 e6+ 46 hxg6+ hxg6 47 Rg1 Bb2 48 e6+ Rxe6 += is similar to the main line, while after 46 Rxb5 Ra7! the passed apawn gives Black counterplay. For example, 47 d6 Bxd6!? 48 exd6 a3 is unclear. 46...Rxe6 47 dxe6+ Kxe6 48 Rxb5 Rd3 += Soon Black should be able to exchange the remaining white pawns and achieve a draw.
11: Nightmare!
You surely knew it was coming... Our final 43 puzzles are all difficulty level 4 or 5. There are some deep and beautiful ideas to be found here, in addition to lots of calculating practice.
Puzzle 558: Black to play
Solution 558: Black to play
Soysal – Külaots
Stockholm 2018/19
Black’s only chance lies in an attack on the hfile. 34...Qh5! 34...g4? loses to 35 fxg4 +– (as played in the game), and not 35 hxg4? Qd8 36 Ra7 Qh4 –+. 35 Qa7 White must avoid 35 Bxa6? Bxh3 –+ and 35 Ra7? Bxh3 36 gxh3 Rxa7 37 Qxa7 Qxf3 –+. 35 Rc6 is a bit of a strange move, but it does not lose: 35...Bxc6 (or 35...g4!? 36 fxg4 Bxg4 37 Rxd6 Bxh3 38 gxh3 g2 with unclear play) 36 dxc6 Qf7 is unclear. 35...Bxh3 Not 35...Nxh3+? 36 gxh3 Qxf3 37 Bg2 Qd3 38 Kh1 +–. 36 Rxg7 Bd7! Once White’s rook is gone, Black will no longer be in danger of being mated as all White will have are queen checks. Not 36...Bf5? 37 Bxa6 +–. 37 Bxa6 37 Rh7+ Kxh7 38 Qxd7+ Kh8 =. 37...Qh2+ 38 Kf1 Qxg2+ 39 Ke1 Kxg7 40 Qxd7+ and the game will end with perpetual check: 40...Kg6 41 Qe8+ (41 Qxd6+ Kh5 42 Qd7 Qf2+ 43 Kd1 g2 =) 41...Kg7 42 Qd7+ Kg6 =.
Puzzle 559: White to play
Solution 559: White to play
Peek – O.Willson
Hastings 2018/19
18 Qf5! White brings his queen into the attack and at the same time deprives Black of the defensive idea 18...f5. After 18 Ke2? f5 (as played in the game; 18...dxe3!? is unclear too), 19 Rh1 dxe3 20 Rxh5+ Kg8 leads to unclear play. The same goes for 18 000? dxe3 19 fxe3 Nd7 (19...f5!?) 20 Qf5 Rae8 (here White has not managed to bring his d2knight into the attack) 21 Rh1 Kg7 22 Rxh5 Rh8. 18...Qe7 Or: 18...dxe3 19 Ne4! f6 20 g6 +–; 18...Nd7 19 Ne4 (19 Nxd4!?) 19...dxe3 (19...Rae8 20 Nxd6 +–) 20 Nf6 Nxf6 21 gxf6 +–, mating. 19 Nxd4 + With the pawn blocked in on f7, Black cannot be saved. For example: 19...Nd7 20 Ke2 (20 000 +–) 20...Rg8 21 Ne4! (the quickest path to victory) 21...Rae8 22 Rh1 Qxe4 (22...Kg7 23 Nf6!? Nxf6 24 gxf6+ Qxf6 25 Rg1+ +–) 23 Rxh5+ Kg7 24 Rh7+, mating.
Puzzle 560: Black to play
Solution 560: Black to play
Zhang Xiao – Yan Tianqi
Tianjin 2018/19
Sometimes a retreat can prove an effective attacking move. 17...Nb4! (in the game 17...Nxc1? 18 Raxc1 left White close to equality, while 17...Qe5? 18 g3 Nb4 19 Rxd8+ Bxd8 20 Qb3 =+ also offers Black little) 18 Qb3 (18 Rxd8+ Rxd8 19 Qb3 leads to the same position) 18...Rxd1+ 19 Qxd1 Rd8 20 Qb3 (20 Qf1 Nc2 21 Rb1 Qe5 22 g3 Qxf5 –+) 20...Nfd5 –+ and White does not have time to finish his development. 21 Bf1 is well met by 21...Qe1!, while 21 Nxd5 loses to 21...Qxe2 22 Bg5 Rxd5 since White can’t take on b4 due to the backrank mate.
Puzzle 561: White to play
Solution 561: White to play
J.Anderson – T.Villiers
Hastings 2018/19
If White can escape the checks, he will win, but this is easier said than done. 59 Ke3! 59 Kd3? Qd1+ = and 59 Rc4? Qd1+ = offer White nothing. 59...f4+!? 59...Qa3+ 60 Kf4 Qa4+ 61 Kg5!? (it is useful to lure the rook to g6) 61...Rg6+ 62 Kxf5 Qd7+ 63 Ke4 +– and White will simply bring his king to the cfile and shut the black queen out: 63...Qa4+ 64 Ke3 (64 Kd3? Qd1+ =) 64...Qa3+ 65 Ke2 Qa2+ 66 Kd3 Qa3+ 67 Kc2 Qa4+ 68 Qb3 +–. 60 Ke2! It is important not to let the black queen onto the dfile. That’s why 60 Kf2? offers nothing: 60...Qd4+ 61 Kg2 Qd2+ 62 Kh3 Rh6+ 63 Kg4 Rg6+ 64 Kf5 Qd3+ 65 Kxf4 Qd4+ =. In the game White went astray with 60 gxf4? Qa3+ 61 Ke4 Qa4+ 62 Kf5 Qd7+ =. 60...Qa2+ 61 Kf1! Qa1+ 62 Kg2 Qa2+ 63 Kh3 Rh6+ 64 Kg4 Rg6+ 65 Kf5 65 Kxf4? Qd2+ =. 65...Qe6+ 66 Kxf4 + The checks are over and it’s time for Black to resign.
Puzzle 562: White to play
Solution 562: White to play
T.Villiers – Midhun
Hastings 2018/19
A precise move puts Black in zugzwang. 40 Bd7!! Now any legal move by Black decisively worsens his position. White has no particular threat, though if it were his turn to play again in this position, he could still win with the waiting move 41 Qe2! (actually the only move to preserve the win!). Other moves fail as follows: 40 Qd5+? Ka7 (played in the game) 41 Rc7+ Rb7 =; 40 Bc6+? Ka7 41 Bd5 Rb5 is unclear; 40 Rc3? Qb1+ and with the queens gone, Black is OK. 40...Ka7 Or: 40...Qa5 41 Rc3 +–; 40...Rd8 41 Bc6+ Ka7 42 Qe3+ Kb8 43 Rc3 Qb1+ 44 Kg2 +–. 41 Rc7+ Rb7 42 Qe3+ Ka6 43 Bc8 +
Puzzle 563: Black to play
Solution 563: Black to play
N.Mohammad – Tran Tuan Minh
Mumbai 2018/19
With so many white pieces on the queenside, Black has the chance for a lightning strike against the white king. 20...Rxc1 21 Rxc1 Nxe3! 22 fxe3 22 Bf3 Nxg2! (22...Bxf3!? –/+) 23 Bxb7 Nf4 24 Bf3 Qh4 –+ was played in the game, after which White soon resigned. 22...Qg5 23 Kf2 Qxg2+ 24 Ke1 e5! The last really precise move that Black needs to find. In the following play, he will have several good options. Not 24...Qe4?! 25 Rc7 e5 26 Rxb7 with chances of a draw, while after 24...Qg5? 25 Rc7! Qxe3 26 Rxb7 Qg1+ 27 Bf1 Rxd4 28 Qe8+ Kh7 29 Rxf7 White is saved as one side or the other will give perpetual check. 25 Nf5 Qg1+ 26 Bf1 Bg2 27 Ng3 27 Qc4 Bh3 –+. 27...Qxe3+ 27...Qxh2!? is also good. 28 Ne2 Bxf1 29 Kxf1 Qf3+ 30 Ke1 Qh1+ and Black will win since he has so many pawns for the knight.
Puzzle 564: White to play
Solution 564: White to play
Ziatdinov – Deshpande
Mumbai 2018/19
Hopefully you spotted that White can’t take on g5 yet. 47 Rh2! White parries the counter tactic against f3, and now there is no good way to defend the g5pawn. In the game White carelessly played 47 Nxg5?? Bxf3+ 48 Kxf3 Rxh1 –+ and was left with a lost position. Instead both 47 Kg3? f5 and 47 Qxd4? Qxc2+ 48 Kg3 Qe2 49 Qc3 a5! (e.g., 50 bxa5 Rb8) are unclear. 47...f6 47...Rh4 48 Kg3 f6 49 exf6+ +–. 48 exf6+ Qxf6 48...Kxf6 49 Qxd4+ e5 50 Qc5 +–. 49 Qxg5+ Qxg5 50 Nxg5 White has an extra pawn and good chances to win.
Puzzle 565: Black to play
Solution 565: Black to play
K.Trisha – Kurbonboeva
Mumbai 2018/19
White has a lot of pieces on the b1h7 diagonal, and Black can take advantage of that. 27...e4! After 27...Qg3?! 28 Bc3 e4 29 Bf1 exf3 30 Bxg7 White has good chances to resist. 28 fxe4 fxe4 Not 28...Bd4+? 29 Kh1 fxe4 30 Rxe4, when 30...Bf5?? no longer works in view of 31 Rg4 +–. 29 Bxe4 29 Rxe4 Bxh3 (29...Bf5!? –+) 30 Bc3 Bf5 31 Rxe8 Bxd3 32 Rxf8+ Bxf8 –+. 29...Rxe4! White loses because of the loose rook on b1: 30 Rxe4 (30 Qxe4 Bf5–+) 30...Bxh3 (30...Bd4+!? 31 Kh1 Bf5 –+ was played in the game) 31 Bc3 Bf5 32 Rbe1 Bxe4 33 Rxe4 Bxc3 –+ with an extra piece.
Puzzle 566: Black to play
Solution 566: Black to play
Salmons – F.Rayner
Hastings 2018/19
To have any hope of survival, Black must look for some type of trick. 34...f4! 34...Nxf3? 35 Qxf3 Qb1 36 Qe2 +– and 34...Nd3+? 35 Ke2 Ne5 36 Qd8+ +– (as played in the game) are no use to Black. 35 Bxf4 35 gxf4 Nd3+ 36 Ke2 Nxf4+ =. 35...Bc5+ Not 35...Nd3+? 36 Kf1 Nxf4 37 gxf4 +/–. 35...Nxf3 36 Qxf3 Bc5+ is a less accurate moveorder as it gives White the extra possibility of 37 Be3. 36 Kg2 Nxf3! 37 Qxf3 Qc2+ Black will either give perpetual check or pocket two pawns: 38 Kf1 Qb1+ 39 Ke2 Qxa2+ 40 Bd2 Bb4 41 Qd3 Bxd2 42 Qxd2 Qxb3 =.
Puzzle 567: White to play
Solution 567: White to play
Djurić – Røyset
Hastings 2018/19
White could have won with the help of a beautiful idea. 35 Nf5!! In the game White missed his chance with 35 h3? and only won after blunders by both sides. 35...gxf5 35...Qa8 36 Re7 gxf5 37 Rxc7 Rxc7 38 Qxf6 +– also gives White a decisive advantage. 36 Qd2! Suddenly it becomes clear that Black does not have time to defend himself: 36...Ne4 (36...Rc8 37 Qg5+ Kf8 38 Qxf6 +–) 37 Rxe4 Qxe4 (37...f6 38 Qd8+ Kg7 39 Re8 +–) 38 Qg5+ +–.
Puzzle 568: White to play
Solution 568: White to play
Tran Tuan Minh – Puranik
Mumbai 2018/19
Moving the rook loses a pawn, so White needs to look hard for another option. 29 Ne4! The game featured 29 Re2?! Qh5 30 g4 Qxc5 31 Ne4 (31 Qxb7 Nxg2 –/+) 31...Qd4 –/+, and Black was able to win with his extra pawn. 29...Nxe1 29...Nxg2 30 Nf6+ Kf8 31 Nd7+ Kg8 32 Nf6+ =. 30 Nf6+ Kf8 30...Kh8 31 Nh5+ Kg8 32 Nf6+ =. 31 Nd7+! Rxd7 Or 31...Ke8 32 Nf6+ Kf8 33 Nd7+ =, but not 31...Ke7? 32 Qf6+ Kxd7 33 Qxf7+ Kc8 34 Qxb7#. 32 Qh8+ Ke7 33 Qe5+ with perpetual check.
Puzzle 569: Black to play
Solution 569: Black to play
Mont Reynaud – Y.Liou
Burlingame 2019
24...Qc6! Now White must forget about any ideas of picking up the d5pawn, and instead tend to his vulnerable king. After 24...Bb7?!, as played in the game, 25 h4 Bg7 26 g5 is unclear. 24...Rcxc7?! 25 Bxd5 Rxd5 26 Qxd5 Qxd5 (26...Rc2 27 Qa8+ is unclear) 27 Rxd5 Rc2 28 Ba1 =+ gives Black the initiative, but no more than a small advantage. 25 Bf1 25 Bxd5?! Qc2 26 Bxf7+ Kf8 –+. 25...Bxf1 26 Kxf1 e6 Black has won a pawn and should win the game too: 27 Kg2 Rdxc7–+.
Puzzle 570: White to play
Solution 570: White to play
V.Karthik – Bick (variation)
Burlingame 2019 29
Qh4! White threatens to take the knight and bring the queen to h7. And there’s nothing Black can do about it. 29...Rad8!? 29...a5 loses to 30 Rac1 +–, while 29...Rab8 can be met by 30 Rac1 +– or 30 Rxf6 Bxf6 31 Qh7+ Kf8 32 Rc1 +–. 30 Rxf6! Not 30 Rac1? Rd4 31 Bxd4 exd4 +=. 30...Bxf6 31 Qh7+ Kf8 32 Rf1 With an irresistible attack: 32...Rd6 33 Ne4 +–.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to ask any questions, share your friends, and stay tuned for part 7 coming soon!
