Chess

When I first saw this position (from Spassky-Averkin, USSR Championship 1973) I noticed something very unusual about it. It is a "White to play and win" position in which finding the answer is not made any easier by having the words "White to play and win" printed beneath it.

Whenever one sees that magic phrase, one looks for sacrifices, startling moves and heavy threats. In this case, the moves 1.Rxg7+, 1.Nd5, 1.Be5, 1.Qe5 and 1.Bh6 are queuing up to be analysed. If there is a forced win in the position (and we know that there is), it has to be something based on the c-file, the back rank and an attack on g7. And since the answer is bound to be something flashy, or the question would not have been posed in the first place, it really ought to be 1.Rxg7+ or something to do with Nd5 - after a preliminary b4, perhaps.

When I saw Spassky's next move - which was none of those yet mentioned - I resolved to start a collection of positions in which it may be easier to find a winning combination if you are not told one is there.

Twenty-two years later, I still have only this one position. So, rather than wait any longer, I resolved to display my entire collection today.

And in case you still haven't spotted the answer, I can divulge that Spassky played 1.Bc7! Rxc7 2.Qe5 simply winning rook for bishop.