SPOT ON CHESS PIZZLES For SATUDAY, May 20th of 2023

Three Puzzles courtesy of Sergei Azarov! (Not Ray Robson… we’ll cover one of his games later on!)

Different format today… a little less defined in terms of how much time is given per “tactic” and a little more explanation of how we arrived at the puzzle position. Enjoy!

Azarov, Sergei vs Indjic, Aleksandar
6th Sharjah Masters 2023

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 Qc7 7. O-O f6 8. c4 cxd4 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bb5 fxe5 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxe5 Nf6 13. Re1 Bb4 14. Bd2 Bd6 15. Ba5 Qxa5 16. Nc4+ Qxe1+ 17. Qxe1+ Be7 18. Nd6+ Kf8 19. Qe5 Ng4 20. Qg3 h5 21. Qf3+ Bf6 22. Nd2 Ne5 23. Qb3 Kg8 24. Re1 Kh7 25. f4 Ng4 26. Qd3+ Kg8 27. Nf3 Rh6 28. Qb3 Rd8 29. Ne4 Be7 30. Nxd4 Rg6 31. h3 Nh6 32. Nf2 Bd6 33. Qc2 Rf6 34. Nd3 Nf5 35. Nf3 Ng3 36. Nfe5 Bf5 37. Qa4 c5 38. Qxa7 Bxd3 39. Nxd3 c4 40. Qa5 Rc8 41. Qxd5+ Kh7 42. Ne5 h4 43. Nd7 Rh6 44. Ne5 Bb4 45. Qb7 Bc5+ 46. Kh2 Rf8 47. Nf7 Rg6 48. Qd5 Bf2 49. Rd1 Rf6 50. Ng5+ Kh8 51. Qxc4 Rxf4 52. Qxf4 Nf1+ 53. Rxf1 Rxf4 54. Kh1 g6 55. a4 Rf5 56. Ne4 Bd4 57. Rxf5 gxf5 58. Nc3 Kg7 59. a5 Kf7 60. Nb5 1-0

Yours in chess ~ S