Solve Puzzles and Play Daily Chess Better

2024 Daily Chess Championship - Round 3

Good Morning Chess Players!

After last year's success, this year's edition turned out to be much more demanding. Not only did I draw 6 games, but I also fell for a fairly easy tactical trap. In the end, I gave up a few moves before checkmate. If you add it all up, I lost a total of 4 points. A score of 16 points out of 20 almost never allows you to win a group in rounds earlier than the 4th. And so it was this time. It was close, but I was eliminated, finishing my group in second place.

• Traditionally, I will present the most interesting moments from this round to you in the form of a series of tasks.
• I will start from my best game with a probably drawn ending, which I managed to win in the end.
• Then you will be able to watch a simple but spectacular combination performed by my opponent.

I assigned an estimated level to each task in the form of a ranking. You can think of it as a Rapid Ranking (10 minutes per game or 15+10). Since I have a good understanding of the level of play related to ranks 300, 500, 1000...  I think the assignment will be relatively objective.
Because there are 9total problems, treat this Quiz as a traditional 9-round Puzzle Tournament . Then count how many tasks you solved correctly. If you managed to solve, for example, 7, your Puzzle Tournament score is 7 points out of a possible 9.
The average ranking of all 9 tasks is ideally 1500 .
To calculate your ranking, go to the official FIDE website and enter the appropriate values :

https://ratings.fide.com/calc.phtml?page=initial

So let's focus on the chessboard and try to solve as many puzzles as possible!!!

Puzzle #1  >>>  Find the best move for White!

@Level 2000

You're probably wondering how on earth I decided that the simplest attack on the Rook was the best move of the third round:brilliant:. 
True 😀 , if you set this position for beginners, most will probably make this move. I guess more advanced players will decide on 41. Rg5+. I must admit that at first it seemed obvious to me to check the Rook on g5. Then the counting of variants began. It turns out that after 41. Rg5+ Kh3 42. Bb3 Rc6 we have a draw. 
OK fine there is no Rc6 after 41. Bb3. But what after 41...Rg6 (During the game my opponent played Rf6).
Now 42. Rg5+ is no longer possible. The line I will present you below shows the beauty of chess:

41. Bb3 !!  Rg6 42. Bf7! Rg7 43. Be6+! Kg3 44. Rg5+!!  Rxg5 45. hxg5
And cannot prevent promotion.
41... h4 46. g6 h3 47. g7 h2 48. g8 ( ) with check. And White is winning.

For convenience, please find an animated GIF 🙂

Puzzle #2  >>>  White to move, how to win? 

@Level 1800

If the opponent is allowed to have a pair of his bishops looking at our king. Additionally, we have no way to quickly cover the a1-h8 diagonal. In such a situation, we can certainly expect some tactical solutions from the opponent.

Overlooking this combination cost me an important point that would have decided my advancement to the fourth round.

Puzzle #3  >>>  Black to move, how to win? 

@Level 1600

If you have a material advantage, exchange pieces. This will reduce the risk of tactical complications. Especially in a situation where your opponent's queen is attacking your king...

Puzzle #4  >>>  Black to move, how to draw? 

@Level 1300

Throughout the endgame I was counting on gaining enough of an advantage to promote the b-pawn. The position is probably a draw anyway, but with the last move Kc4 I completely ruined my chances of winning. I admit that my opponent's next move completely surprised me.

Puzzle #5  >>>  Black to move, how to win? 

@Level 1500

White's position is not enviable. The bishop on b2 is completely useless. The positioning of the knights is downright ridiculous. Although both are close to the center of the board, due to the double pin, neither can move.

Puzzle #6  >>>  White to move, how to win? 

@Level 1300

Rapid development of pieces and occupying the center is a good way to gain an advantage. Pawns e4 and d4 supported by classically placed knights and a pair of bishops looking at the king can cause concern in the opponent. How to use such an advantage right after the end of the opening?

Puzzle #7  >>>  Black to move, how to win? 

@Level 1400

If anyone is going to win this endgame, it's Black.

Puzzle #8  >>>  Black to move, how to win? 

@Level 1400

Once again, an advantage in the development of pieces in the early phase of the game may prove decisive.

Puzzle #9  >>>  Black to move, how to win? 

@Level 1200

Some moves earlier my opponent started to set a trap for me. Of course I noticed it in time and didn't let myself be checkmated. Of course White has great advantage but please find what could happened if White play a4 carelessly. 

These are all the interesting puzzles that appeared during my games.  

I hope that they help you to improve your chess.

I finished third round with 16 points out of a possible 20 being second in my group.