Sally Simpson: Good game.
This postion - Black to play.
 click for larger viewBlack played 37...Rg8(!)
 click for larger viewThis was puzzle set here by tpstar on Wesley's page. There is a wee sneaky pete for the solver to avoid. White can just skewer the Rook. (and why not?)
39.Qa8+ Ke7 40.Qxg8
 click for larger viewBut there si the catch. 40...Qd1+ 41.Rc1 Qd3+ 42.Ka1 Qd2.  click for larger viewThe Rook has to move, Kb1 is perpetual and there is no other way to protect it. Best is 43.Rb1 Be5.  click for larger viewAnd amazingly there is nothing White can do to stop Black from playing Bxb2+ and Qc1+ and Qc3+ a draw. (don't try 44.a3 Qd3! The threat is Qxa3 mate and Ka2 meets Qd5+ and Qb3! It's quite an incredible and instructive position.) That was a good avoid by 14 year old Wesley so.
 click for larger viewWes ignored the Rook playing 38.Nxc7! I chose 38.Kc1 (threat Rd2) which also wins due to the coming Rd2+ Wonder what the top computers choose as first choice for Black's 37th move. It's the best practical choice. (here have a Rook). I'm doubting if any or many will go for 37..Rg8 because they will expect the best White reply. These things will be seeing things a lot deeper than this...a lot deeper and rejecting them, in some cases over a 0.01 of an evaluation because they are always expecting what it considers is the best move. We have got to them looking for the human plausible move. |