Today’s problem exercise
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
I can tell my readers with complete honesty that my appreciation for the works of the Russian master composer Nikolai Grigoriev has increased as I grow older and more experienced. His studies have such grace and elegance that few other artists have been able to achieve. And many of his studies have enormous value in the domain of practical endgame theory.
N. Grigoriev 1937
WHITE TO PLAY. HOW DOES HE WIN?
Today’s beauty is deceptive: material is even and both Kings are well positioned to make difficult the advance of the opponent’s pawns. However, a small but important detail hides itself in the position, and only a careful analysis will reveal what that is. And this secret will allow White to force a win!
GOOD LUCK! A master should find this solution in 15 minutes.
THE THINKER
Nikalai (Nikolay) Dmitrievich Grigoriev was a Russian chess player and a composer of endgame studies. A real artist, most of his work has never been surpassed in originality of conception or clarity of technique.
He was born on 14 August 1895 in Moscow, and he died there in 1938. Grigoriev composed more than 300 endgame studies. Grigoriev was Moscow Champion four times: in 1921, 1922, 1923–24 and 1929. His playing career spanned from 1910 to 1929