ABQ CHESS

SUNDAY PUZZLER We Agree: You’re Not Coming to my Coronation (Level: Advanced)

Find White’s best move.

From D. Howell vs. M. Adams; Hastings, 2021.

Caplin Hastings

A rapid tournament was held on tornelo.com Jan. 9-10, in place of the 96th Hastings Chess Congress. Following are a position and a game from this event.

Flear vs. Adams Black to move and win.

Daniel Gormally (2479) vs. Matthew J Turner (2509)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4

5.e3 0–0 6.Bd3 c5 7.0–0 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Rc1 Be7 12.Re1 Nc6 13.a3 Rc8 14.Ba2 Nd5 15.Bd2 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 Bf6 17.d5 exd5 18.Bxd5 Bxc3 19.Rxc3 Na5 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Ne5 Bxd5 22.Qxd5 Qa8 23.Qd7 Qb7 (D)

White to move and win.

Solutions

Puzzler: 36.Bxe7! Kxe7 37.cxb6! [or 37.Ba6! Rc7 (37…Rf8 38.c6) 38.cxb6 Rxc1 39.b7] 37…Rxc1 38.b7 Rxf1 39.b8Q White went on to win.

Position: 26…Bxe4! White resigned; consider: 27.Qd1 (27.axb5 Rf2! 28.Rxf2 Rxf2 29.Kxf2 Qxg2+ 30.Ke3 Qf3#; 27.Rxe4 Qxe4!) 27…Bc2 28.Qc1 Bd3 wins an exchange with a better position.

Game: 24.b4 Black resigned.

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