Black to play. Sjugirov–Paravyan, Russian Higher League, October 2020. A piece for a pawn down, Black’s follow up was subtle but devastating. What did he play? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 26 October. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address. Last week’s solution 1 Bxc4? h5+! (not 1…Rxc4 as played) 2 Kh4 Kh6 3 f4 f6!
Rapport–Sprenger, Bundesliga, September 2020. The game continued 1 Bxc4 Rxc4 2 Bxe5+ f6 3 Bf4 Rxe4+ 4 Kf3 and was eventually drawn. How could Black improve on this sequence? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 19 October. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address. Last week’s solution 1…g5! threatens Rc1-e1 mate. After 2 Bd4+ Kg8 3 Ra8+ Kf7 4 Ra7+ Ke8 White soon runs out of checks.
Black to play. Khodashneli — Willow, European Online Youth Championship U18, September 2020. White has just advanced 40 g3-g4, and England’s Jonah Willow spotted his opportunity. What did he play?Answers to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 12 October. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 h8=Q+! Rxh8 2 Nh7+! Kxh7 3 Rd3 Bd8 4 Rh3+ and mate follows. Or 1…Kxh8 2 Nxf7+ Kh7 3 Rd6 and Rh6 mate. Not 1 Ne4/e6+ Kh8!
White to play. A variation from L’Ami–Caruana, Bundesliga 2020. Caruana avoided this position, where White can force a quick mate. White should begin with a check, but which one? 1 h8=Q+, 1 Ne6+, or 1 Ne4+? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 5 October. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address. Last week’s solution 1 Qc6! deflects Black’s queen: 1…Qxc6 2 Rf8+ Rxf8 3 Rxf8 mate. Or 2…Qd8 3 Qxe8+! Qxe8 Rf8+ etc.
White to play. Areshchenko–Koch, Bundesliga 2020. White has won rook for bishop, but the queen is offside and his Rf2 is pinned by the Qb6. How did White win the game at a stroke? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 28 September. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address. Last week’s solution 1…Ra2! traps the knight on b5. 2 Re3 Kc6 and White resigned a few moves later.
Black to play. Jones–McShane, London Chess Classic 2019. Last year I played two games of no-castling chess with Gawain Jones, each of us winning one. Here, Jones has won a pawn, but his pieces are scattered. Which move won me the game? Email answers to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 21 September. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address. Last week’s solution 1…Rf5! threatens h6-h5 mate. 2 Nxf5 exf5+ costs the queen.
Black to play. Rios–Adams, Online Olympiad, August 2020. The White king is running short of squares. Which move did Adams play to tighten the noose? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 14 September. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Qxh6+!!
White to play. Zaibi–Napoleao, Online Olympiad, August 2020. White has just sacrificed the rook on a1. He concluded the attack in fine style. What was the winning move? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 7 September. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 hxg5! White eventually drew. Not 1 Kxg5? Qh6+ 2 Kf5 g6+! and 3…Qxf8. 1 Kg3? Qe3+ 2 Kg2 gxh4 is bad too.
Nakamura–Carlsen, August 2020. Carlsen has just advanced 40…g6-g5+, laying a nasty trap. Only one move gives White a fighting chance here — what is it? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 31 August. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 51…Qh3+!! 52 Kxh3 Rh1 mate.
Black to play. McShane–Anand, World Rapid Championship 2017. While executing my last move, 51 Qf4-f3, attacking the h5-pawn, I got a horrible sinking feeling, as I saw what was about to hit me. What did Anand play? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 24 August. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1…Bc5+ 2 d4 Bxd4+! 3 Qxd4 Ne2+!
Black to play. Efimov–Bronstein, Kiev 1941. Normally White seeks glory in the King’s Gambit, but here Bronstein scored a lightning victory for the Black side. Which move did he choose? Email answers to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 17 August. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1...a4! wins, as 2 Bxe7 axb3 3 Bxd8 Bxb5 4 Bxg5 Bxd3 left Black a piece up. Or 2 Qxa4 Bxb5! hits the queen.
Black to play. Studer–Naiditsch, Biel, July 2020. White intends to meet 1…Bxb5 with 2 Bxe7 Qxe7 3 Qxb5, with an equal position. Which move did Naiditsch play to pinpoint the flaw? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 10 August. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include your address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Ra8! Kxe7 2 a7! The threat of 3 Rh8 Rxa7 4 Rh7+, winning with a skewer, is decisive. If 2…Kf6 3 Rf8+ and 4 a8=Q. Last week’s winner W.
White to play. Stockfish–Leela Chess Zero, TCEC 18, Game 92, July 2020. It looks hard to make progress, despite the far advanced pawns. What was Stockfish’s winning move? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 3 August. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Qh7+ Kxh7 (1...Kf8 2 Qh8 mate) 2 Bf7 mate.
White to play. Stefano Tatai–Spyridon Skembris, Budva Zonal 1981. Morricone’s teacher found a delightful conclusion to this attack. What was his next move? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 27 July. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Rb8+! Rxb8 (or 1...Bxb8 2 Rxa8 and 3 Rxb8 mate) 2 Rh1! and 3 Rh8 mate. Not 1 Rh1 0-0-0!, or 1 Rxa7 Rd8!
White to play and mate in three moves. A problem composed by grandmaster Jonathan Levitt (British Chess Magazine, 1995). One tip: note that there is an ‘obvious’ mate in two which actually falls short. Answers (first move only) should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 20 July. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Re6! wins, as taking the rook costs Black his queen. The game ended 1...Qd8 2 Qf4+ Kg8 3 Rxe7 Rxe7 4 d6+ Re6 5 d7 g6 6 Rd6 and Black resigned.
White to play. Giri–Nepomniachtchi, Chessable Masters 2020. Giri has sacrificed a knight to lure the black king forward. Which move forced a decisive breakthrough? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 13 July. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.
White to play. From the ridiculous to the sublime. According to the ‘Chess Notes’ website, a game won by Edward Gestesi in Paris, 1911. Which move forces a quick checkmate? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 6 July. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Ra1! draws. The key line is 1…Ke3 2 Ke5 Kd3 3 Kf4 Kc3 4 Ke3 Kb2 5 Kd2 Kxa1 6 Kxc2 stalemate.
White to play. Grischuk–Aronian, Clutch Chess 2020. Only one rook move draws here. Which one? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator-.co.uk by Monday 29 June. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Na4! is a nasty surprise, trapping the queen.
White to play. Tolush–Aronson, Moscow 1957. Strangely, this quick win was once wrongly attributed to Alekhine. How did White exploit the exposed position of the Black queen? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 22 June. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1…Bg2! 2 Bxh8 Qh3 and mate follows on h1. No better is 2 g4 Bxf3, or 2 cxb7 Rh1+!
Black to play, Ding Liren–Daniil Dubov, Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge, May 2020. Dubov’s rook is under attack, but his next move turned the tables, prompting immediate resignation. What did he play? Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 15 June. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Rh6!! gxh6 2 Qf5+!!
