Black to Play

Pete Tamburro on Jul 22, 2008

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As with our last puzzle, this one is the same question: should you take the pawn? In this case, you are asked whether Black should take White’s pawn on b3 with his pawn on c4. Again, you have to have the proper reason why. If you say no, then you have to come up with the best move available as Black. If you say yes, you have to have a reason why it’s the best move under the circumstances.

Solution:

A position from Torre-Lasker. In the post-mortem, US champion Frank Marshall walked by and suggested a move here that Edward Lasker did not see: 8...c3, which wins a piece and, at that level, the game! The game started out

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Na3 e5 4.Nxe5 Bxa3 5.Qa4+ b5 6.Qxa3 [6.Qxb5+ c6 7.Nxc6 Nxc6 8.Qxc6+ Bd7] 6...Bb7 7.b3 Qd6 [7...Qd4 8.Bb2] 8.Bb2

And now, instead of 8...cxb3 9.Qxb3, with a great position for White, Black wins with: 8...c3 9.dxc3 [9.Qxd6 cxd6 10.Bxc3 dxe5 11.Bxe5 Nf6; 9.Bxc3 Qxa3] 9...Qxe5

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.