Puzzle

[Nick Burrows]

White to play and win. Quite a well known modern game that was new to me.

r3k3/1p4p1/1Bb1Bp1p/P1p1bP1P/2Pp2P1/3P4/5K2/4R3 w q - 0 1

[Joey Stewart]

The first move looks obvious but it's a hell of a long Combination to calculate. Not a very clean puzzle, very much of the computery type of rubbish that pollutes the servers on most tactics websites - I'd rate it 4/10

[Geoff Chandler]

I'm with you Joey. Computer rate our games (1.089) in revenge we rate puzzles they can solve instantly (4/10).

Regarding the puzzle it must be Rxe5 only because it's set as a puzzle. Not too sure I'd have played OTB.
(if indeed it is correct. If it's wrong then I would have played it! playing wrong moves that look good is my chess gift.)

[NickFaulks]

Not a very clean puzzle, very much of the computery type of rubbish that pollutes the servers on most tactics websites

Surely that's a bit unfair if it happened in a real game.

[Nick Burrows]

The first move looks obvious but it's a hell of a long Combination to calculate. Not a very clean puzzle, very much of the computery type of rubbish that pollutes the servers on most tactics websites - I'd rate it 4/10

Im amazed that you can both judge the aesthetics and downgrade a puzzle that you have not solved. Impressive.

[Ian Thompson]

Regarding the puzzle it must be Rxe5 only because it's set as a puzzle.

Why not g5? That look equally good as a possible solution to a puzzle.

[Michael Farthing]

and after hxg5? The rook capture either wins a bishop or forces white to recapture with the f pawn, vacating a vital square for a pawn later to hem in the black king

[Roger de Coverly]

The rook capture either wins a bishop or forces white to recapture with the f pawn, vacating a vital square for a pawn later to hem in the black king

e5-e4 becomes possible if the white King wanders too far away trying to invade the King side. Thus some calculation needed to check variations. But some idea involving g5 to help create a passed pawn is the obvious follow up to the exchange sacrifice.

[Michael Farthing]

Yes I had g5 as the second move

[Ian Thompson]

Yes I had g5 as the second move

To misquote a well known comedian, "I'm playing all the right moves, but not necessarily in the right order."

[Michael Farthing]

Thinking about it however g5 followed by Rxe5 would transpose back to one of the lines. As a Morecambe man I should have realised that straight away!

[Nick Burrows]

The game was Nakamura - Giri in the 2012 Fide GP in London.

Nakamura found the beautiful and simple 47.g5! hxg5 48.h6 gxh6 49.Rxe5! fxe5 50.f6 when the f-pawn can't be stopped.

r3k3/1p6/1Bb1BP1p/P1p1p1p1/2Pp4/3P4/5K2/8 b q - 0 4

after 50..Bd7 51.f7+ Ke7 52.Bxd7 Kxd7 53.Bxc5 the endgame is winning and Nakamura converted.

If, in the initial position white starts with 47.Rxe5 then black can defend with fxe5 48.g5 Bd7!