White to Play
Pete Tamburro
on
Published in Chess Puzzles
In 1998, British Chess Magazine reported the following position that arose between grandmasters Gelfand and Lautier. Gelfand played 39.Rc5. Two questions: should Gelfand have played that move; what should Lautier’s response have been?
Solution:
Gelfand actually played 39.Rc5 and Lautier responded with 39…Bc4, both of which were horrific blunders. 39.Rc5 should have lost to 39…b4! 40.axb4 b2 or 40.Rxd5 bxa3 or 40.Kd2 bxa3 41.Kc3 b2 42.Rb5 Be4. Gelfand could have won with 39.Kd2, and thanks to Lautier’s 39…Bc4, he played 40.Kd2 and did win.
Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.
