Daily Chess Puzzles

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

On 29. 12. 2025 at 1:13 AM, integral said:

Puzzle 8

White to move and win.

I think the only foreseeable line in sight of us, mortal non GM players, would be white pawn to D8, followed by a black queen to A8 (the only way to prevent instant backrank checkmate), then white queen to A3 attempting to get rid off the black queen. Black queen would then go to D8 most likely, blocking our pawn from promotion and taking it on next turn. However, we'd go white queen to A7, tactically winning a black bishop, and this might be enough to eventually win an end game, since we'd mantain a significant material advantage over the black. I've analyzed this game in stockfish and indeed, after 2 Magnus Carlsens duking it out, white should come out on top of that exchange, after like 46 moves

[integral]

5 hours ago, NewKidOnTheBlock said:

I think the only foreseeable line in sight of us, mortal non GM players, would be white pawn to D8, followed by a black queen to A8 (the only way to prevent instant backrank checkmate), then white queen to A3 attempting to get rid off the black queen. Black queen would then go to D8 most likely, blocking our pawn from promotion and taking it on next turn. However, we'd go white queen to A7, tactically winning a black bishop, and this might be enough to eventually win an end game, since we'd mantain a significant material advantage over the black. I've analyzed this game in stockfish and indeed, after 2 Magnus Carlsens duking it out, white should come out on top of that exchange, after like 46 moves

Nice not bad if you figured this out without a engine.

The key concept is black is forced to run back to stop the pawn and the bishop is trapped so you can win it. 

[Leo Gura]

7 hours ago, NewKidOnTheBlock said:

I think the only foreseeable line in sight of us, mortal non GM players, would be white pawn to D8, followed by a black queen to A8 (the only way to prevent instant backrank checkmate), then white queen to A3 attempting to get rid off the black queen. Black queen would then go to D8 most likely, blocking our pawn from promotion and taking it on next turn. However, we'd go white queen to A7, tactically winning a black bishop,

That don't work.

Black will not lose that bishop. The bishop just moves to A8 to be safe.

Edited 4 hours ago by Leo Gura

[AtmanIsBrahman]

On 12/28/2025 at 7:13 PM, integral said:

Puzzle 8

White to move and win.

D7 Qa8 Qa3, black has to move the queen. Qb8 is probably best because Qa7 is a threat, but Qa7 anyway and white wins.

[AtmanIsBrahman]

54 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

That don't work.

Black will not lose that bishop. The bishop just moves to A8 to be safe.

True, this is a more resilient line for black. I think white wins with Qa6 (threatening Qc8) Ne7 Ba3. White loses at least a piece.

[NewKidOnTheBlock]

1 hour ago, Leo Gura said:

That don't work.

Black will not lose that bishop. The bishop just moves to A8 to be safe.

That's a good point and I've missed that lol however I'm sure there's a line in here somewhere in which you will either tactically win a knight or a bishop, just need to harass both at the same time long enough for the opponent to make a mistake

[Leo Gura]

1 hour ago, AtmanIsBrahman said:

True, this is a more resilient line for black. I think white wins with Qa6 (threatening Qc8) Ne7 Ba3. White loses at least a piece.

White queen at c8 is the killer move that breaks black.

Good find.