600 Chess Puzzles: From Beginner to Master (Part7)
Hello everyone! Welcome to Part 7, the final part of the “600 Chess Puzzles: From Beginner to Master” series. This last section contains 30 final puzzles, completing the full 600-puzzle journey from beginner to master level. Thank you for following the series, take your time, enjoy these final challenges, and finish strong.
Puzzle 571: Black to play
Solution 571: Black to play
Ni Hua – Kravtsiv
Dubai 2012
Black’s back rank is weak, so it is worth making some luft. 23...h6! This is far better than: 23...exd5?! 24 Nxd5 Nxd5 25 exd5 +/–; 23...g6? 24 dxe6 fxe6 25 Qg5 +/–; 23...Qxb6? 24 dxe6 Rf8 25 Qxb6 Rxb6 26 e7 Re8 27 Rd8 +–. 24 Rc3 White should avoid 24 dxe6? fxe6 25 Nc4 Nd3 –/+, while 24 f4!? Qxb6 25 dxe6 Rxd1 is equal after 26 Qxb6 Rxb6 27 e7 Rxc1 = or 26 exf7+ Kxf7 27 Qf5+ =. 24...exd5 24...f6!? is slightly preferable, with unclear play. 25 Nxd5 Nxd5 26 Rxd5 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 572: White to play
Solution 572: White to play
Wang Zijian – Gu Tianlu
Tianjin 2018/19
It is very important to exchange rooks to reduce Black’s attacking potential. 29 Rxd5! Not: a) 29 Nf1? d4 –+. b) 29 Qd4+?! Ne5 (29...Kh7?! 30 Rxe4 +/–) 30 cxd5 cxd5 31 Rxe4 dxe4 32 Qxd8 Qxd8 33 Rxd8 Rxg3 and Black can resist thanks to his powerful epawn. c) 29 cxd5? Qxg3 30 Qxa7+ was played in the game. Then 30...Kh8 31 Qf2 (or 31 Qd4+ Ne5 32 Qf2 Qxf2+ 33 Kxf2 cxd5 with counterplay) 31...Qxf2+ 32 Kxf2 cxd5 leaves the position unclear because of Black’s play against the exposed king on f2. 29...Rdxd5 29...Qxg3 30 Qxa7+ Kf6 31 Rf1+ +–. 30 cxd5 Qxg3 30...Rxd5 31 Qf2 Qb6 32 Ng4 and White should win. 31 Qxa7+ Kg8 32 Qf2 cxd5 32...Qxc3 33 Rxe4 +–. 33 Rf1 33 a5!?. 33...Qxf2+ 34 Kxf2 + White has an extra pawn and a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 573: White to play
Solution 573: White to play
Samant – Vatsal
Mumbai 2018/19
White needs to watch out for sacrifices on e4, and he can’t take on b5 as it would leave the g2square undefended. 25 Rbc1! Not: a) 25 Bxb5? Bxe4 (or 25...Nxe4!? 26 fxe4 Bxe4 –+) 26 fxe4 Nxe4 27 Qc1 Nc3 –+ was played in the game. b) 25 Nc3? Bb6! –+ and Black will soon sacrifice on e4: 26 Qe2 (26 Be2 Bxe4 27 fxe4 Nxe4 28 Nxe4 Qxe4 –+) 26...Bxe4 (26...Nxf3+!? +) 27 fxe4 Rxc3 28 Rxc3 Nxe4 –+. 25...Qxa4 25...Bd8 26 Bxb5 Rxc2 27 Qxc2 is unclear, while 25...Nc4 leads to equality: 26 Bxc4 bxc4 27 Rxc4 Qxa4 28 Rxc7 =. 26 Rxc7 Qxa3 27 Qc3 with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 574: White to play
Solution 574: White to play
Rakshitta – Kl.Varga
Mumbai 2018/19
White wants to attack the e6pawn, but should first exchange queens. 16 Qb5! Not 16 Qxh5? Nf5 17 Qe2 Rdg8 =+. After 16 Rfe1?! e5! (16...Rde8? 17 Qb5 +– was played in the game) 17 dxe5 fxe5 18 Bxe5 Rde8 19 f4 White is somewhat better, but the main struggle lies ahead. 16...Ka7 16...Qxb5 17 axb5 Nb8 18 Rfe1 +–. 17 Qxd7 Rxd7 18 Rfe1 White wins the pawn, and with it the game: 18...Re7 19 Bxd6 cxd6 20 Nf4 +–.
Puzzle 575: Black to play
Solution 575: Black to play
J.Watson – A.Grabinsky
Burlingame 2019
Usually it is unprofitable to make exchanges that bring the enemy pieces into play, but that is not the case here. 23...Bxd3! After 23...Qf6?! (as played in the game) 24 Rb1 Rxb1 25 Bxb1 White has good play. 24 Qxd3 Qf6 Having shifted the queen from d1, Black wins a vital tempo. 25 Qd1 Even worse is 25 Qe2?! Nf4 26 Qa6 Rb3 –+. 25...Bf4 26 Qe2 Rb3 27 Nd1 a4 –/+ Black has a large advantage thanks to his active pieces. 28 Kf1?! is met by 28...Qf5.
Puzzle 576: Black to play
Solution 576: Black to play
Tran Tuan Minh – Raghunandan
Mumbai 2018/19
It’s generally a bad idea to box your own queen in. But every rule has its exceptions... 26...Rb3! This is better than: a) In the game, 26...Qc4? 27 Rxd3 Rxe4 28 b3 gave White reasonable compensation for the exchange. b) After 26...d2? 27 Qxd2 Bh6 28 Nc3 Bxe3 29 fxe3 (29 Qxe3!? also offers compensation) Black will have to return one of his extra exchanges. Then 29...Qa1+?! 30 Kh2 looks suspicious for Black. 27 Rxd3 27 Nc5 is well met by 27...Rxa3! 28 bxa3 Bd4 –+, but 27 d6!? may be a better try: 27...Bd4 28 Rxd3 (28 Rf3 Rd8 29 Rxd3 Rxd3 30 Qxd3 Qa1+ 31 Qf1 Qxf1+ 32 Kxf1 Be5 –+) 28...Rxd3 29 Qxd3 Qa1+ (29...Rxe4! –+ is powerful but hard to see) 30 Qf1 Qxf1+ 31 Kxf1 Rxe4 and Black should win. 27...Rxd3 28 Qxd3 Qa1+ 29 Kh2 29 Qf1 Qxf1+ 30 Kxf1 Rxe4 –+. 29...Qe1! –+ Black wins one of the pawns and should gradually exploit his extra exchange.
Puzzle 577: White to play
Solution 577: White to play
J.Watson – A.Grabinsky (variation)
Burlingame 2019
The black knight on f5 has only one retreatsquare, and White can exploit this fact. 16 Qa4! After 16 00?! d5 17 Nc3 Nf6 White is only a little better. 16...Bd7 Or: a) 16...Nge7 17 g4 d5 18 Nc3 +/– and Black loses a knight. b) 16...dxc5 17 Ba3 (17 Qxc6+?! Bd7 18 Qxc5 Nge7 allows Black compensation; 17 dxc5!? +/–) 17...Nge7 18 dxc5 00 19 Rd1 +/– and Black must either lose the c6pawn or let the knight into d6. 17 cxd6 Nxd6 18 Nc5 Nf6 18...Nb5?! 19 Ne5 Bxe5 20 dxe5 +–. 19 Nxd7 Nxd7 20 Qxc6 +/ with an extra pawn and a big advantage.
Puzzle 578: White to play
Solution 578: White to play
M.Popov – Yan Tianqi
Tianjin 2018/19
If White is to survive, it is vital that he keeps the black pieces bottled up. 33 Qh8+! In the game White opted for 33 Rd1?. Then: a) Black replied with 33...Qxb4?, when White could have played 34 Qh8+ Qf8 35 Qf6 =. b) 33...Qf8! 34 h5 (34 Qh5 Qg7 35 Qf3 Qg4 –+) 34...Ke7 (34...c3!? +) 35 Bxf5 Qh8 –+ gives Black a decisive advantage. 33...Qf8 34 Qf6 Rd8 Or: 34...Qxb4 35 Rd1 c3 36 h5 Qe7 37 Qh8+ Qf8 38 Qf6 =; 34...Kd7 35 Rd1+ Kc7 36 h5 is unclear. 35 h5 White is no worse. The game could end with a repetition after 35...Qe7 (35...Qg8 36 Rd1 is unclear) 36 Qh8+ Qf8 37 Qf6.
Puzzle 579: Black to play
Solution 579: Black to play
Ynojosa – Javakhadze (based on)
Burlingame 2019
If Black can drive away the white queen, the king will be left defenceless. 32...Be2! Not 32...Rxb2? 33 Bxb2 =+, while 32...Rxc1? 33 Qxd5+ Kh7 34 Qxd6 is unclear. 33 Qxd5+ Or 33 Qxe2 Rxe2 34 Rxe2 Qg3+ 35 Kf1 Qf3 –+. 33...Kh7 33...Kh8 is also good. 34 Qxd6 Bf1+! Rather than 34...Bf3+? 35 Kxf3 Qxf2+ 36 Ke4 =, when the king has broken free from its prison. 35 Kh1 Qxf2 36 Rxc2 Qxc2 –+ Black has an extra piece.
Puzzle 580: White to play
Solution 580: White to play
C.Wheeler – Polgar-Shutzman
Burlingame 2019
Given Black’s material advantage, White’s only hope is an attack on the king. 25 Nh6+! Not 25 Ne5? Nb3 –+, or 25 Qg3? fxg4 26 Bxb8 Nb3 –+ (as played in the game). 25...gxh6 Or 25...Kh8, and then: a) 26 Be5!? Rd8! (26...Nb3? allows 27 Rd7 Bxd7 28 Qg3, mating) 27 Rxa1 =+. b) With 26 Qh4 White brings his queen into the attack, threatening 27 Qe7. Then 26...Bg6 (26...Nb3? 27 Qe7 +–; 26...Rb7? 27 Rd8 +–) 27 Bxb8 Qxb8 28 Bxc6 is unclear. 26 Qg3+ Bg6 Not 26...Kf7? 27 Bxb8 (27 Bxh6!? +–) 27...Rg8 (27...Nc2 28 Bf3 +–) 28 Qe5 +–. 27 Rd6! White is no worse since Black can’t prevent a sacrifice on g6. For example: 27...Rf7 (no better is 27...Rb7 28 Bxc6 Rg7 29 Bd5+ Bf7 30 Bxf7+ +=) 28 Rxc6 (or 28 Rxg6+!? hxg6 29 Qxg6+ Rg7 30 Qe6+ with perpetual check) 28...Qd8 29 Bxb8 Qd1+ 30 Bf1 Qg4 with a playable and roughly equal position.
Puzzle 581: Black to play
Solution 581: Black to play
Akash – Subhayan (variation)
Mumbai 2018/19
The first move is not so hard to find, but the followup needs to be worked out carefully. 45...Rxf4! After 45...Bd3? 46 Qf2 White is OK. Black gains nothing from 46...Rxf4!? 47 gxf4 Qg4+ 48 Kh1 Qxf4 49 h4, with unclear play. 46 gxf4 Qg4+ 47 Kf2 47 Kf1 Bd3+ 48 Kf2 Qg2+ 49 Ke3 Qxd2+ –+. 47...Qg2+ 48 Ke3 Qf1! The sole route to victory. Black wants to play 49...f2 and deliver mate on d3. After 48...Qg1+ 49 Qf2 Qc1+ 50 Qd2 Black can return to the right path with 50...Qf1!. 49 Rb8+ Or: 49 Rb2 f2 –+; 49 f5 Qg1+ 50 Kf4 f2 –+. 49...Kf7 50 Rb7+ Ke8 51 Rb8+ Kd7 –+ It’s time for White to resign.
Puzzle 582: White to play
Solution 582: White to play
Kochavi – K.Larsen
Stockholm 2018/19
At first glance the position seems equal, but accurate play would have brought White close to victory. 29 Nf5! Nd2 Other moves are worse: 29...h5?! 30 Rd1!? d5 31 Bxe4 dxe4 32 Nd6 +–; 29...d5? 30 Bxe4 Rxe4 31 Qc3 f6 32 Nd6 +–. 30 Qg4 30 Qh4? Nxb1 is unclear. 30...Rxf5 31 Rxf5! White needed to see this idea before putting the knight on f5. Not 31 Qxf5? Nxf1 =. 31...Nxb1 32 Qe2! Soon White will take the b1knight. The most Black can get for it is one pawn. 32 Rf2?! Nd3 33 Rc2 g5! is less clear. 32...Qe4 33 Rf4 Qd3 34 Qxd3 Nxd3 35 Rf1 +/ White has a large advantage, although Black can still hope to fight for a draw.
Puzzle 583: Black to play
Solution 583: Black to play
Nepal – Triton
Mumbai 2018/19
Black must open the b8h2 diagonal to bring his queen into the attack. 30...e4! After 30...Nxh4+? 31 Kf2 (as played in the game) the position is completely unclear. For example, 31...Qf7 (not 31...e4? 32 Bf4 +–) 32 f4!? exf4 33 Bxc5. 31 fxe4 31 Rh1!? may offer more practical hope of survival, although Black will win back the knight and have an attack ‘for free’. 31...exd3 32 Bxd3 (32 Rxc5 Qf7 and now 33 Bxd3 Rxf3 –+ or 33 Qxd3 Bd7 –+) 32...Nf4+ 33 Bxf4 Rxf4 and with no material to compensate for his weak king, White is losing. 34 Raa1 Bg4! –+. 31...Nxh4+ 32 Kh1 Qg3 33 Ne1 33 Bf1 Rxf1+! 34 Rxf1 Bg4 with irresistible threats: 35 Raa1 Bf3+ (or 35...Nf3 –+) 36 Rxf3 Nxf3 –+. 33...Rb2! 34 Qxb2 34 exf5 Rxd2 (or even 34...Bxf5 –+) 35 Bxd2 Bxf5 –+. 34...Qh3+ 35 Kg1 Qxe3+ –+ with mate in a few moves.
Puzzle 584: White to play
Solution 584: White to play
Training position
White has some false paths to sidestep, so you needed to calculate well. 22 Qh6+ (avoiding 22 Rh7+? Kxh7 23 Qxf7+ Kh6 24 g5+ {24 Rh1+? Kg5 –+} 24...Kxg5 25 Qxe7+ Kf5 = and 22 c3? Rxc3+!? 23 bxc3 Rxc3+ 24 Kb2 Qe3, which is unclear) 22...Kf6 23 g5+ (after 23 Qh4+ Kg7 White should transpose to the main line with 24 Qh7+ {not 24 g5?? Qe3+ 25 Kb1 bxc2+ 26 Ka2 Qe5! –+} 24...Kf6 25 g5+ Kxg5 26 Rdg1+) 23...Kf5 (23...Ke5? loses to 24 f4+) 24 Qh3+ Kxg5 25 Rdg1+! (after 25 Qh4+? Kf5 26 Rd4?! {26 Qe4+ Kf6 =} 26...Rxc2+ 27 Kb1 Qxd4 28 Qxd4 R2c4 Black is even better, as 29 Qg7 is well met by 29...Kf4 30 Qh6+ Ke5 31 Qe3+ Kf6 32 Qxb3 Rd4) 25...Qxg1+! (the only way to keep fighting, as 25...Kf6? 26 Qh4+ is hopeless for Black: 26...Ke5 {26...Kg7 27 Rxg6+! fxg6 28 Qxe7+ Kg8 29 Qh7+, mating} 27 Qxe7+ and now 27...Kxd5 28 Rd1+ or 27...Be6 28 Rg5+) 26 Rxg1+ Kf6 27 Qh4+ Kg7 28 c3 +/– and White is much better, but Black retains some drawing chances.
Puzzle 585: White to play
Solution 585: White to play
Rathnakaran – Nikhil
Mumbai 2018/19
An unconventional sacrifice leads to a comfortable victory for White. 40 Nxd6! In the game White missed this chance, but won anyway after Black failed to fortify d6. Not 40 Bxa5?! Nxa5 41 Nxa5 Qxb5 42 Nc4 +=. 40...Nxd6 41 Qe6! Black’s basic problem is that his king is blocked by his rooks: 41...Nxb5 (or: 41...Kg8 42 Bxe5 Nf5 43 exf5 +–; 41...Qxe6 42 dxe6 Rb7 43 Bxe5+ +–; 41...Nf5 42 Bxe5+ Kg8 43 exf5 +–) 42 Bxe5+ Kg8 43 Qxg6+ (43 Rxh7 +–) 43...hxg6 44 Rh8#.
Puzzle 586: Black to play
Solution 586: Black to play
K.Chan – Krishna Teja
Stockholm 2018/19
The clump of pieces in the centre initially looks confusing, but the decision should not have been too difficult. 34...Qh4! 35 Qc5 Rd4! Now White will lose his queen or be mated. In the game Black played 35...Rd5?, when 36 Qa7! would have left matters unclear. 36 Qxd4 Or: 36 Be3 Qg4 –+; 36 Ng3 Bxg3 (or 36...Bxd2 –+) 37 hxg3 Qe4 –+. 36...Bxh2+ 37 Nxh2 Qxd4 –+
Puzzle 587: Black to play
Solution 587: Black to play
Saksham – Prraneeth
Mumbai 2018/19
Black needs to drive the king to h2 before defending against White’s mate threat. This will enable him to give perpetual check in the critical line. 33...Qb1+! 33...Qd5? loses to 34 Nc6 +–, while after 33...Qf5? (as played in the game) 34 Qh8+ Ke7 35 Nc6+ White wins easily: 35...Kd7 (35...Ke6 36 Na7+ +–; 35...Rxc6 36 Rxa8 +–) 36 Qd4+ Ke8 (36...Kc7 37 Qb6+ +–) 37 Rxa8 Rxa8 38 Qh8+ +–. 34 Kh2 Qf5 35 Qh8+ Ke7 36 Nc6+ Rxc6! Now it becomes obvious why it was important to give the check on b1. It’s a draw after 37 Rxa8 Qf4+ 38 Kg1 Qc1+ =.
Puzzle 588: Black to play
Solution 588: Black to play
Spanton – S.White
Hastings 2018/19
Black must remove the f4bishop to break through to the white king. 13...Rxf4! Black loses after 13...e5? 14 Bg5 Qd6 (this was played in the game; 14...Qb6 15 Qd2 Be6 16 h3 +–) 15 Be4! d4 16 Qd3 +–. 14 Kxf4 h5! Even with a free move, White will have no way to safeguard his king. Not 14...e5+? 15 Kg3 +–. 15 Qd2 It is important that after 15 Kg3?! Qd6+ 16 Kh4 Black has 16...Ne3! 17 Rxe3 Qf4+ 18 Kxh5 Bd7!, when White must seek a way to survive, such as 19 Bg6! Qh6+ 20 Kg4 Qxg6+ 21 Kh4 Qh6+ =+. 15...Qd6+ Or 15...Qc7+ 16 Kg5 Qd8+ =. 16 Kg5 Qe7+ 17 Kf4 Qd6+ = with a repetition of moves.
Puzzle 589: Black to play
Solution 589: Black to play
Bates – B.Derakhshani
Hastings 2018/19
Passive defence is no help to Black; he must find some sort of trick. 35...Ra8! Not: 35...Qc7? 36 Qc3! Qb6 37 h4 +–; 35...Qd4? (as played in the game) 36 Qb6 Kh8 37 Qe6 f5 38 Ng5 Qf6 39 Qe3 +–. 36 Qxc5 With the queens gone after 36 Qc3 Qxc3 37 Nxc3 f5, Black is no worse since the white pieces lack space: 38 Kg2 Rfb8 39 Nb5 Kg7. 36...Ra2! Black has counterplay, since the threat of 37...f5 will cost White one of his knights. 37 Qe3 37 Qb4 Rb8 38 Qc5 f5 is unclear, while 37 f4 Qb2 also leads to unclear play after 38 Qxe7 Qd4+ 39 Kh1 Rxd2 or 38 d6 exd6 39 Qxd6 f5. 37...f5 38 f4 Qb2 39 Nc3 Qxd2 40 Qe6+ Rf7 41 Nxa2 Qxa2 White is no worse thanks to his strong cpawn, but he will not be able to advance it very far. 42 c5 can be met by 42...Qa3.
Puzzle 590: White to play
Solution 590: White to play
B.Thipsay – Surendran (based on)
Mumbai 2018/19
White can win because the black king is pinned down on its back rank due to the h6pawn. 50 bxc5! (not 50 Qb5? Rb8 51 R6xc5 dxc5 52 Qxe8+ Rxe8 –/+) 50...Rb8 51 Qxb8 Qxb8+ 52 Rb6 (not 52 Rb3? Qf8!, when White cannot advance his pawn, while exchanges on d6 leave Black with enough control of the critical square b8, so the white rooks can’t cause havoc on Black’s back rank) 52...Qc7 (or 52...Qe8 53 c6 +–) 53 Rcb3! (after 53 Rxd6? Rxd6 54 cxd6 Qb6+ 55 Ka2 Qa5+ 56 Ra3 Qd5+ 57 Kb1 {57 c4 Qxc4+ =} 57...Kf8 = Black succeeds in evacuating his king) 53...dxc5 54 Rb7! Qa5 55 R3b5 +–. Black loses his queen or is mated.
Puzzle 591: Black to play
Solution 591: Black to play
Chen Fan – Sethuraman
Tianjin 2018/19
Before taking the e5pawn, Black should force the white bishop to retreat from e3 so that it cannot occupy the d4square. 15...Qg5! Other moves are worse: a) 15...fxe3? 16 Bd3 exf2+ 17 Kf1 +–. b) The game featured 15...Bxe5?! 16 Bd4 Qg5 17 Qf3 with unclear play. c) After 15...dxe5?! 16 Bc1 Qe7 17 b4 the knight will not reach c5 so White is OK: 17...Nf6 18 Qf5. 16 Bd3 There’s nothing better. After the bishop leaves e3, Black will take on e5 and play ...Rae8: 16 Bd2 Ncxe5 17 Bf1 Rae8 with a decisive advantage, or 16 Bc1 Ncxe5 –/+. 16...Qh6 17 Bd2 17 Bc1 Nc5 –/+. 17...Nc5 Or 17...Ncxe5!? –/+. 18 Qe2 Nxd3 19 Qxd3 Nxe5 –/+ Black has a big advantage thanks to the halfopen gfile. A good reply to 20 Qf1 is 20...Rf7 and putting the other rook on g8.
Puzzle 592: Black to play
Solution 592: Black to play
R.Prajesh – R.Shah
Mumbai 2018/19
If Black exchanges queens or moves his queen aside, then he will lose a pawn. 23...Ne5! 23...Qxg3? 24 Nxg3 +/– was played in the game, while 23...Qd5? 24 Rxb4 +/– is no improvement. 24 Rc5 f6! It is a rare case where the opponent cannot make any real use of such a pin. 25 g5 Or 25 Nc1 Re6 =, while after 25 Rhc1 Rd7 White must avoid 26 dxe5? Qd3+ –/+. 25...Rd7! 26 Nf4 26 gxf6 Nd3 is unclear, while White can keep just a slight plus with 26 Nc1!? Nf3. 26...Nd3 27 Nxd3 Qxg3 28 fxg3 exd3 29 gxf6 29 Rd1 fxg5 with unclear play. 29...Re8! with a roughly equal position.
Puzzle 593: White to play
Solution 593: White to play
Praveen Kumar – Vatsal
Mumbai 2018/19
White wins with the help of a beautiful combination. 45 Reg5! This better than: a) 45 Rh4?! (as played in the game) should be met by 45...Na4, when 46 Reh5? Kf8 is unclear, but 46 Kf1! Nxc3 47 Reh5!, while messy, may still offer White some winning chances. b) 45 Rhg5?! Qh6 46 Rxg7+! Kxg7 47 Rh5 Qc6 48 Qg4+ Kf8 49 Qg5! (49 Qh4?! Rd1+ 50 Bf1 Rc8 is unclear) 49...Rd1+ 50 Bf1 Ke8 and White can pick up the rook on b8, but Black retains good drawing chances. 45...Qd6 Or: 45...Qf6 46 e5 +–; 45...Qc6 46 Qg4 (46 e5!? +–) 46...g6 47 Qh4 Rd1+ 48 Bf1 +–. 46 Rxg7+! Kxg7 47 Qg4+ Kf8 48 Qh4! Now Black’s king cannot escape, so he must give up his queen. Not 48 Rh8+? Ke7 49 Qg5+ Qf6 50 Qc5+ Qd6 =, or 48 Qg5? Qd1+ 49 Bf1 Ke8 =, when there is no rook check on e5. 48...Qd1+ 49 Bf1 Qxh5 49...Ke8 50 Re5+ +–. 50 Qxh5 + White’s powerful central pawns render Black’s game completely hopeless.
Puzzle 594: White to play
Solution 594: White to play
Divya – Pranav
Mumbai 2018/19
Rather than worrying about the d5pawn, White should start vigorous kingside play. 22 h4! In the game White chose the tempting 22 b4?! but after 22...Qa3! (and not 22...Qxd5? 23 Bxf4 +–) the position would have been completely unclear. 22 Ng4?! Bxg4 23 Qxg4 Qxd5 is also unclear, while White should definitely avoid 22 c4? Qb6 –/+. 22...h6 22...gxh4 23 Rxf4 +–. 23 Ng4! Bxg4 24 Qxg4 Unlike the line after the immediate 22 Ng4?!, here White threatens h5. 24...Qxd5 25 h5 Nh4 26 Bxf4 + with a decisive advantage.
Puzzle 595: Black to play
Solution 595: Black to play
Pranesh – Prraneeth
Mumbai 2018/19
To defend successfully, Black must make several precise moves. 23...Bf8! The game featured 23...f6? 24 Rh3 Bf8 25 Qxg6 Qg7 (25...fxe5 26 Bg5 +–) 26 Qxf6 +–. 24 exd6 Bxd6 Rather than 24...Rxd6? 25 Be5+ Kg8 26 Qf4 Qd8 27 Nd4 +/–. 25 Bg5 Kg8! Black needs to appreciate that his powerful bishops will provide good compensation for the exchange. After 25...Bf8? 26 Qh4 Black does not have time to move his rook because of the threats on the hfile, viz. 26...Rd5 27 Rh3 h5 28 g4 +–. And giving up the exchange now will let the white knight occupy d4: 26...Kg8 27 Rh3 f5 28 Bxd8 Rxd8 29 Nd4 +–. 26 Bxd8 After 26 Rh3 f5 (26...f6!?) 27 Bxd8 Rxd8 Black has compensation, while 26 Bf6 Bf8 27 Qh4 Bg7 is unclear. 26...Rxd8 27 Rh3 f5 Now the rook serves no purpose on h3, and it isn’t clear that White has any advantage at all.
Puzzle 596: White to play
Solution 596: White to play
Harmon-Vellotti – D.Johnston
Burlingame 2019
A few accurate moves enable White to win. 20 Ne7+! After 20 Ng5? Qe5 21 Ne7+ Kh8 (as played in the game) 22 Rae1 Bf6! 23 Qg4 Ng7 24 Qh4 h5 White retains some attacking chances, but the game is unclear. 20...Kh8 21 Rad1! Black’s queen is in great danger on e4, and there’s no defence against all of White’s threats: a) 21...Nxb3 22 Ng5 +–. b) 21...f5 22 Rd4!? (22 Ng5 +–) 22...Bxd4 23 Bxd4+ Ng7 24 Qb2 +–. c) After 21...Qg4 White has several ways to win, including the attractive 22 h3 (22 Qe1!? +–) 22...Qg3 (22...Qh5 23 b4 Nc6 24 Nxc6 bxc6 25 Bc5 +–) 23 Ng5 Nf6 24 Rxf6! Bxf6 25 Ne4 +–. d) 21...h6 22 Rd4! Bxd4 23 Bxd4+ +– and White wins.
Puzzle 597: White to play
Solution 597: White to play
Praveen Kumar – A.Gandhi
Mumbai 2018/19
In this calmlooking position, White can suddenly trap a piece. 16 f4! In the game White missed his chance, playing 16 Nd5?. 16...Bh6 Or 16...Nd7?! 17 g4 Be6 18 f5 +–. 17 g4 17 Bf2?! Nd7 18 b4 +/– is unpleasant for Black, but he hasn’t lost any material. 17...Bxg4 17...Nxg4 18 hxg4 Bxg4 19 Nd5 +–. 18 Nd5! The immediate capture on g4 is wrong because it leaves the e3 bishop as a problem: 18 hxg4? Nxg4 19 Nd5 e6 is unclear. 18...Be6 18...e6 19 fxe5 +–. 19 Bb6!? The most accurate move, although taking on e5 is probably also good enough: 19 fxe5 Bxe3+ 20 Nxe3 Nxe5 +/–. 19...Qd7 20 Kh2 with a decisive advantage. There’s no rush to take the knight, and 20...Bg7 is well met by 21 Qb3!?.
Puzzle 598: White to play
Solution 598: White to play
Kravtsiv – Usmanov
Pardubice 2012
Tempogaining moves prevent Black from finishing his development. 22 Be3! 22 Bb5+? Kf8 23 Bc7 Bxe1 24 Qa3+ Kg8 25 Bxb6 exd5 is unclear. 22...Bxe1 23 Qxe1 Qc7 23...00 is ruled out by 24 Rxf5 Qc6 25 Rf4 +–. 24 Rc5! Qb8 25 Rxc8+ Qxc8 26 Qb4 Qc7 27 Bxa7 Black’s king is stuck in the centre, and his position is hopeless. 27...Kd7 27...Be4 28 Bb5+ Bc6 29 Bb6 Qd7 30 Qa3 +–. 28 Bb6 Qf4+ 29 Kb1 Qe5 30 Bb5+ Kc8 31 Qa5 Qd6 31...Be4 32 Bd7+ +–. 32 Qa8+ Qb8 33 Qa4 Qd6 34 Bd7+ 1-0
Puzzle 599: Black to play
Solution 599: Black to play
Kravtsiv – T.Coleman
Pardubice rapid 2012
The right idea is easy enough to find, but you needed to calculate the variations well. 32...Rxa3! The game featured 32...Qxf4? 33 Qxa7 Qxf3 34 Qd4 and White soon won. 33 bxa3 Nxa3+ 33...b2? lets White keep the game unclear with 34 Qxb2 Rb8 35 Na4 Rxb2+ 36 Nxb2 Nxa3+ 37 Ka2. 34 Kb2 34 Ka1 is met by 34...Qa5 35 Kb2 Nc4+ –+. 34...Nc4+ 35 Kb1 Or 35 Kxb3 Rb8+ 36 Kc2 Rb2+ –+. 35...b2! Black need not settle for perpetual check and can play for the win. 36 Qxb2 After 36 Rc2 Rb8 –+ White can’t defend against the check on a3. Useless is 37 Nb5 Bxb5. 36...Rb8! 36...Nxb2? 37 Nd5 is unclear. 37 Na4 37 Qxb8 Qxb8+ 38 Kc2 Ne3+ –+. 37...Bxa4 38 Rxc4 Rxb2+ 39 Kxb2 Qb8+! Black will take the d1rook and win: 40 Kc1 Bxd1 –+.
Puzzle 600: Black to play
Solution 600: Black to play
Calzetta Ruiz – J.Wallace
Stockholm 2018/19
Black would like to activate his lightsquared bishop by playing ...c5, but this idea needs to be prepared. 33...b4!! The immediate 33...c5? runs into 34 dxc6 Bxc6 35 f6! since this pawn is so powerful that White can give up his queen: a) 35...Rg2+ 36 Rxg2 Rxg2+ 37 Qxg2 Bxg2 38 Rg4! is unclear. b) 35...Rg1 36 Qd3+ Kh8 37 Re4! keeps the game balanced. c) 35...Rg3 36 Qe2 is unclear since unlike the line following 33...b4!! 34 Rxb4!?, here the black bishop isn’t blocking access to e7, so 36...Bd7? fails to 37 Rd3 +–. In the game Black played 33...Qh5??, losing to 34 Re4!. 34 Bxb4 34 Rxb4!? Bxd5 35 f6 is trickier, and Black must reply accurately to win: 35...Rg3! (only by taking aim at the h3pawn can Black create irresistible threats; instead both 35...Qg6? 36 f7! and 35...Rg2+? 36 Rxg2 Rxg2+ 37 Qxg2 Bxg2 38 Rg4 are unclear) 36 Qe2 (36 Rh4 Qg6 –+) 36...Be6 37 Rh4 Qg6 –+. 34...c5 35 dxc6 Bxc6 White has no chance of surviving here since on b4 the bishop cannot create counter threats against the black king. 36 Rxd6 Or: a) 36 Rh4 Qf6!? –+. b) 36 f6 has several good answers, including 36...Rg1, when 37 Qd3+ Kh8 38 Re4 (compare note ‘b’ to Black’s 33rd move) 38...Qg6 (which would lose with the bishop on c3) is now an easy win for Black. c) 36 Qe2 Rg1 –+ (36...Rg2+!? –+) 37 Re4 Qd5 38 Re7+ R8g7 –+. 36...Rg2+ 37 Rxg2 Rxg2+ 38 Qxg2 Bxg2 39 Kxg2 Qb7+ –+ Black wins comfortably.
Thank you for reaching the end of this 600-puzzle journey. I hope these puzzles helped you think deeper, calculate more accurately, and enjoy chess even more. Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, or favorite puzzles in the comments and don’t forget to share this series with other chess lovers.
