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White to Play

Pete Tamburro on

Published in Chess Puzzles

(Due to technical difficulties, this puzzle was left out Wednesday of last week. This then is your Thursday Bonus Puzzle!) Being alert to possibilities is our theme for today and our next puzzle. In this game, Khavsky-Korolev, Leningrad, 1962, White appears to be in dire straits. Black has just played Qg4. If White takes the queen, then 1.hxg4 hxg4 leads to mate on h1 with the Black rook. If White doesn’t take the queen, then 1…Qxh3 seems to threaten an unstoppable mate. So, just how alert are you to a great saving move?


- Solution: After 1.d4!! Qxh3 [Alternatives leave White up a piece: 1...Kf6 2.Qb3 Rb8 3.dxe5+ dxe5 4.hxg4 hxg4 (4...Rxb3 5.g5+ Kg6 6.axb3) 5.Qxf3+; 1...Qc8 2.Qxa8 Qxa8 3.Bxa8]2.Bg5+ f6 [2...Nf6 3.Qxc7+ Ke6 (3...Qd7 4.Qxd7#) 4.d5+ Nxd5 5.cxd5#]3.Qxc7+ Ke6 4.d5#

 


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