Puzzles

Black to play. This is from Caruana-Adams, Dortmund 2013. Despite play being in an endgame Adams sacrificed a piece. His adventurous play was rewarded when he reached the following position and won quickly with a tactic. What did he play? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 3 September or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I am offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.

White to play. This position is from Williams-Brown, British Championship, Torquay 2013. What is the most direct route to victory for White? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 27 August or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery. Last week’s solution 1 Nd6+ (1 ...

White to play. This is from Hebden-Arkell, British Championship, Torquay 2013. White is a pawn ahead in this endgame but his next move eliminated any doubt that this would result in a victory. What did he play? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 20 August or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 Qh5 (meeting 1... gxf4 with 2 Ng4) Last week’s winner P.A.

White to play, a variation from Speelman-Miles, London 1975. White has two pieces forked. What is the most accurate continuation of the attack? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 13 August or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.

White to play. This position is from Keene-Eley, Whitby 1964. White’s next move won at once. What did he play? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 6 August or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 Qf5 (planning 1 ... Rg7 2 Qf7+!

White to play. This position is from Moiseenko-Pasiev, Fidé World Blitz 2013. White’s next move set up a winning tactic. What did he play? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 30 July or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution  1 Qxe8+ (1 ... Kxe8 2 cxb6 wins).

White to play. This position is from Ivanchuk-Kramnik, Moscow Blitz 2007. What is the most accurate way for White to continue? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 23 July or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 c6+ (1 ...

White to play. This position is from Al-Sayed-Georgiev, Fidé World Rapid 2013. What is the most accurate way for White to continue the attack? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 16 July or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 ...

Black to play. This position is from the game Nimzowitsch-Tarrasch, St Petersburg 1914. With both bishops trained on White’s king, what is the best way of ploughing up White’s defences? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 9 July or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 ... Ng4 Last week’s winner Keith McDermott, Allerton, Bradford, W.

Black to play. This position is a variation from the game Nakamura-Gelfand, Tal Memorial, Moscow 2013. White’s king is in danger. How can Black exploit this? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 2 July or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.

White to play. This position is the conclusion of a study by M Botvinnik & S Kaminer. How does White finish off? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 25 June or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution  1 ...

Black to play. This position is from Bacrot-Ivanchuk, Thessaloniki Grand Prix 2013. This was the scene of Ivanchuk’s only success. What is the key move? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 18 June or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.

White to play. This position is from Short-van Wely, Sigeman 2013. Short played 1 Qh2 and won but what would have been quicker? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 11 June or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 ... Bg4 Last week’s winner R.F.

Black to play. This position is a variation from Bogolyubov-Alekhine, Germany (Game 8) 1929. Here 1 ... Nxf1 is not bad but Black actually has something much stronger. Can you see what it is? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 4 June or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 ...

Black to play. This position is from Carlsen-Wang Hao; Norway Masters 2013. Can you spot Black’s clever winning move in this endgame? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 28 May or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.

White to play. This position is from Anand-Nakamura, Norway Masters. What is White’s best move? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 21 May or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 ...

Black to play. This is from Kramnik-Fressinet, Alekhine Memorial 2013, a variation from a sensational win by the French grandmaster. Two pieces down, how does Black continue? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 14 May or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.

White to play. This position is a variation from Alekhine-Hofmeister, Petrograd 1917. A typical Alekhine conclusion. A queen down — how does he force the win? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 7 May or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.

White to play. This position is from Hartston-Penrose, London 1963. Here Hartston agreed a draw but he missed a cast that would have reeled Black in. Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 30 April or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.

White to play. This position is from Hollis-Courteney, Bognor Regis 1959. The Black king is badly exposed. How did White quickly cash in? Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 23 April or via email to victoria@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7681 3773. The winner will be the first correct answer out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of £20. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.   Last week’s solution 1 ...