Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch was a great player and chess writer who peaked in the late 19th century. His The Game of Chess is a classic that many players owe their chess skill to. This position is an example of his capacity for brilliant play. Think logically here according to that “wish” move process I’ve talked about here.

Solution:

With wish list thinking, you have to be like a kid peering into a candy store window—“Oh, I wish I could have that yummy knight!” The practical young lad would realize that something real like money would do the trick. Here, that knight is protected by the queen. Yet, the idea of Rxc7 is so appealing because it threatens mate on d7 that our young lad would realize here that the “cost” of purchasing the knight would be something that would interfere with the Black queen’s protection of c7. 1.Nc4 would accomplish that task after 1.Nc4 dxc4 2.Rxc7 Rd8 3.Bxc4 e6 4.Rxd7 Rxd7 5.Rd1 Bd6 6.Rxd6 0–0 7.Rxd7 and White is two bishops up and an easy win. However, Dr. Tarrasch was a very precise sort of fellow and found a better way: 1.Bd4 Qxd2 2.Rxc7 Rd8 3.Qxd7+ Rxd7 4.Rc8+ Rd8 5.Bb5# Kudos for you if you found either one of those or even 1.Ne4 dxe5 2.Bc4. All three show how thinking about wish moves can help you come up with a plan.

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.