After White offered the rook sac <9.Nxg5! Bxh1?>, he continued with <10.Bxf6!>, leaving black with this position:

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Black replied <10...g6>, giving the <11.?> puzzle position. If black had played 10...Bxf6, then 11.Qh5 Re8 12.Bh7+ Kh8 (12...Kf8 13.Qxf7#) 13.Nxf7#

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[A00] / URS, 1969. [A.J.G.]

***** ***** *****

1.b4!?,

This is the Sokolsky/Orangutang Opening ...

Its not really great, but probably not as bad as its reputation, either.

1...e6;

This is rather tame, though fully playable.

[ More energetic would be the continuation given by the new Fritz "Power-Book," which would be:

1...e5!; (center)

This is probably Black's best idea, the Bishop on b2 is can be blunted with center Pawns.

Now 2.a2-a3!? is worth serious consideration ...

2.Bb2!? Bxb4; The simplest.

(One reference work gives:
2...f6!?; 3.e4!? Bxb4;
4.Bc4, with comp. for the Pawn.
[ See MCO-15, page # 738;
column # 11, and all notes.
(Esp. note # r.) ] )

3.Bxe5 Nf6; 4.Nf3 0-0; 5.e3 d5; (unclear)

when Black has no real problems, some engines even assess Black as being a little better. ]

Both sides continue to develop.

2.Bb2 Nf6; 3.a3 Be7; 4.e3 0-0; 5.Bd3!?,

This is somewhat artificial, there is nothing here that would lead me believe that such a primitive attack should be successful.

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An interesting position has arisen.

[Better was: 5.Nf3 d5; =]

5...h6?!; ('?')
This loss of tempo was unnecessary here.

[Better was 5...d5!; 6.f4!? c5!; ∞ - Fritz 12. ]

6.Nf3 b6!?;
This is a little slow, Fritz, Houdini (and two other engines) like 6...a7-a5!; to immediately get some counterplay going.

7.g4?,

A simply horrible move, going for an unjustified (immediate) attack. Correct was a developing move like 7.Nc3. (Fritz)

7...Bb7?!; (Too timid.)

Black should go ahead and call White's bluff and grab the Pawn. (See the note, just below.)

[ Better was: 7...Nxg4!; 8.Rg1 f5; 9.h3 Nf6; 10.Nc3 Bb7; ∞ (unclear) when White has some play, but I am skeptical that it is worth a whole Pawn here. ]

White continues with his direct frontal assault - I don't think he has any choice now, not after the silly g2-g4 idea.

8.g5 hxg5T; ('Box')

This was pretty much forced, it would have been a disaster to allow Black to open the g-file in this position.

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Now White begins to show some nice tactics ... which Larry Evans said was, "the heart of chess."

9.Nxg5!,

This sets a nice trap.

9...Bxh1?, (Really - '??')

Blinded by the light ... and overcome by greed.

[ Black had to play: 9...g6▢; "T" 10.Rg1, " " but White (now) has good play and nice attacking chances down the half-open g-file. ]

10.Bxf6 g6T; (100% forced.)

This was forced, now we have reached our position for the daily CG problem. (POTD)

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[Or </= 10...Bxf6?; 11.Qh5 Bxg5; 12.Qh7#. ]

11.Qh5!, " "

Black Resigns, a nice mate occurs after 11...gxh5;
(otherwise Black cannot prevent a Queen mate on h8 or h7); and now 12.Bh7#.

If memory serves, I once played the following line against a "Class B" player in a tournament in Fort Walton Beach, (FL):

1.b4 a5 2.b5 e5 3.Bb2 f6 4.d3 d5 5.Nf3 c5 6.c4 d4 7.g3 Bd6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Bg2 Be6 10.0-0 Nd7 11.Re1 Nf8 12.e4 Qd7 13.a4 g5 14.Rc1 Nfg6 15.Nb3 g4 16.Nfd2 h5;

The intermediate moves in the sequence tell quite a story, I think. Bd3 might not be a really bad move, but very hand-showing. FWIW I didnt think g4 was so bad (at least, not once youve accepted Bd3). B might as well have bitten to bullet and taken it, it could hardly have turned out worse. But ... b6 and Bb7 were a fairly clear signal than he had no idea of the danger to his Kside. And ... Bxh1 well and truly confirms it.

1) B4 scarper all thoughts of clean game in strike from flank. 2) G4 gauge his tenacity plonk him in unknown waters. 3) G5 level it off seize heres pea cook slot hanging around?

Please, <<Post your nomination(s) in my forum, Click on the Wabbit Avatar>>. For I am too lazy to run all over the place to collect them.

This puzzle will soon be down and I will probably be the last poster.

White has sacrificied a rook and needs something immediately decisive. Soon I see that 11 Qh5 ! is the move we want. After 11.... gxh5 12 Bh7#. Declining the queen does not help, since both Qh7 and Qh8 bring immediate mate.