Black just gave a check with 35… Bf8-c5+. What’s the best move for white and why? Scroll down for the answer.
Read More »Decision time
Category: Chess puzzle
Nice puzzle
Chess Puzzle: Time to Calculate
Things aren’t looking great for black due to the pin on the bishop by the rook. Is there any way out?
Read More »Those nasty pawn endgames (1)
Pawn endgames often seem deceptively simple. There are only two kings on the board and a handful of pawns. If you also know something about opposition, you might think you know everything you need. Or do you? Question: what’s the best move for Black?
Read More »Searching for candidate moves?
A key aspect of solving puzzles is broadening our perspective. In a position there are usually several possibilities – that is, candidate moves. The question is: do we always examine them or are we automatically looking for solutions without taking other important factors into consideration?
Read More »Chess puzzle 56: blunder punished
White just played 24. Rhg1?? in a game between Oleksiyenko en Shmeliov (Lviv 2003). Why is this such a big mistake? Scroll down for the answer.
Read More »Chess Puzzle 55: easy?
Black just played 29. … b5? in a game between De Firmian and Thorhallson (2003). This was clearly a mistake in already difficult position. How can white finish the game in style? Please scroll down for the answer.
Read More »What is the best move?
This game is from a long gone era. Chess was sort of in its infancy. The combatants were Adolf Schwarz (white) and Louis Paulsen (DSB Kongress / Meiserturnier Leipzig, 1879). Shall we have a look? Who is better in this position? I guess white thought ‘that’s me!’ and went for it with 42. a4. Is this the right approach?
Read More »Chess puzzle: who is better and why?
How would you judge this position, which arose after the 25th move by white in the game between Ponomariov and Bareev (FIDE Wch k.o. Moscow 2001). Question: who is better and can black take the pawn on e5?
Read More »Right or wrong?
Before you answer the first question, I have another question. Was white’s last move: 19. Qd1 right or wrong? What was the alternative?
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