Here are 2 puzzles based on positions from Friday night’s Club Championship games.
In Puzzle A black had an opportunity to win the game with a forced mate in 3 and in Puzzle B white misses the chance to equalise in a tricky position.
Puzzle A : Black to play and win
In this position black played Rg8 to pin the g3 pawn and the game is level. (Stockfish gives an evaluation of +0.29)
However, black has a forced mate in 3. (Solution at the bottom of this page)
Puzzle B : White to play
White to move has to deal with the threats to his queen and knight.
In the game white played Qd3 and then quickly lost after black’s reply of Rc1.
The game concluded with 29…Rc1 30.Qxa6 Rxe1+ 31.Kg2 fxg5 32.Qc8+ Kg7 33.hxg5 Qe6 0-1
How can white save the game? ….. the solution is shown below.
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Solutions
Puzzle A black mates in 3 after 1…Qh3 2.gxf4 Rg8+ 3.Kh1 Qg2#
Puzzle B white can equalise after 1.Qe3 Qe5 (if 1… fxg5 2.Qe8+ Kg7 3.Re7+ Kh6 4.Qf8+ wins) 2.Qxe5 fxe5 3.Rxe5 =