In today's position, the classic thinking issue is: examine every check and capture in the position. While ...R2xe3 won't work, ...R8xe3 does. Clearly when White was visualizing this position a few moves before, he saw the first candidate but missed the second.

Yesterday's puzzle was an example of: Who is the stronger chess thinker--the one who sees the mate in 6 (he saw "further") or the one who sees the mate in 3 (he saw "better")? Both Rg8+ and Qg8+ won, however, some found the first candidate simplier to visualize and calculate, some the second candidate.

Tuesday's puzzle also had two candidate moves, but the issue was different. While Rxg6+ won, it lead to a messy position that required lots of calculation. (However, most strong players would consider Rxg6+ first as it is the most forcing move, and if it did win, no need to calculate anything else.) The game move, e5, was a much more efficient win. The move was also of a completely different tactical theme--line blocking of the Black Queen's defense of the f6-square. Anyone who concluded that Rxg6+ won should also examine why they didn't see e5. They may not be seeing interference tactical themes in their move selection process.

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height rook glesson bargain rookxe3 provides have thorn

the disciple thorax side after d1, mage e3 gets rid jack queen is

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e3 retains the crown for length picket fence off he

marches nutmeg e3 ko rook g2 box a kit sidestep

see white defence call it of the wild dongle it fancy anger

coins 35...r8xe3 36.fxe3 rg2+ king has lip h1 or dervish queen

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Black to play (35...?) "Medium"

I believe I've seen this before, but not too tough in any event.

35...R8xe3! 36. fxe3

Otherwise Black just wins on material.

36...Rg2+! 37. Kh1

Or 37. Kxg2 Nxe3+ forks king and queen, as does 37. Kf1 Nxe3+.

Human diversity being what it is, it comes as no surprise that we all think and see the board differently. But chess strength derives in no small part from the ability to synthesize as many different "board views" as possible, improving our chances of seeing all the potential in a given position.

This is part of what makes CG.com valuable. By first finding our own solutions to puzzles, or alternative lines in other games that we may examine, and then comparing notes with other players, we can add other perspectives to our own, yielding the proverbial whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Usually I am good with this stuff. I can solve insane difficulty puzzles in a mere 2 or 3 minutes. But this one: I don't know, perhaps it's just lack of familiarity. If you simply glance at the board for about 2 or 3 minutes, I think most people would love playing white. The rook is trapped and the Knight skewered, and the white queen seems to be in a lovely spot.

It seems to be in a lovely spot, because from white's point of view, only on that square, does it attack both rook, knight and also attacks the back rank rook indirectly...

But, alas for white, appearances can be very deceiving.

:-)