The Slightly Better Move...
Testing out a new idea
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Usually, when you solve puzzles there is a clear best move. A move that either gives a huge advantage or wins the game on the spot. However, chess for the most part consist of picking between moves that are either equally good or slightly better than the next one. To look into if it is possible to create a different kind of puzzle book I have written a script that can extract positions where there is a slightly better move in the positions that are within the range of a +-1.5 evaluation. The top move has to be 0.4-0.7 centipawns better than the top-2 move at search depth 15.
Maybe this idea is good or just not working.
But if you want to be a guinea pig I would like to challenge you to try to “solve” the following six positions. Write down your evaluation of the positions, and your calculation, and then check them with the Lichess study (and Stockfish). The link is below the puzzles.
If you solve all the positions, I'd love your feedback on both the positions themselves and the overall concept. It's worth noting that the positions were chosen solely based on the script's criteria, with no manual selection on my part.
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Giri, Anish
2013.06.08, 26. Leon Masters g20
Black to move
Morovic Fernandez, Ivan vs Swinkels, Robin
2013.04.30, 48. Capablanca Open I 2013
White to move
Morovic Fernandez, Ivan vs Obregon Rivero, Juan Carlos
2013.04.25, 48. Capablanca Open I 2013
White to move
Savchenko, Boris vs Lysyj, Igor
2012.06.14, 16. Voronezh Master Open
White to move
Chernyshov, Konstantin vs Simantsev, Mikhail
2012.08.06, Olomouc GM Valoz Cup
Black to move
Pap, Gyula vs Papp, Gabor
2012.11.23, 62. ch-HUN 2012
Black to move
A short announcement before you go. I have made some progress with the next Tactics Ladder book, which will be for the 1200 FIDE level. If all goes as planned it will be out at the end of the month.
In regards to the pawn endgame study book, that you voted for as the next project, I found out in my initial research that Mikhail Zinar has published this book:
Therefore, I will shelf that idea and work on completing the Tactics Ladder series.
/Martin
I like the idea, but you need a depth of more than 15. At Depth 15, a differnce of 0.7 centipawns could be plain wrong.
My rating is 2100 Lichess.org rapid. First part just wrote down my main thoughts after solving, you can skip that) and just read summary.
1) Ivanchuk-Giri
Considered d4, Ba5, Qd6. 1... d4 2 e4 didn't like Losing the position. Opted for Ba5(no Nb3, N:c5, due to Bc7, B:f3 and Qd6 winning a piece) chose Ba5 as Best move with evaluation -0,7 and d4 as - 0,2.
2) Morovic-Swinkels
Considered d4 and d3. d4 I evalute +0,5, after Ne6 2)Nd2 with Nc4 coming.
After d3 I consider the position about equal with 2)e4, 3)Nd2 coming
3)Morovich-Obregon
I would evaluate 3 possible captures Nd4, Qd4, ed as +0,8 +0,3 +0,1
Aftet Nd4 a plan looks Like exchange LSBs, Nf5, Ne2, Ng3, f3 if needed. Maybe include Bc3, Ra1, Ra7
Qd4 also nice battery with Bb2
ed I don't like since it closes rhe DSB.
4) Savchenko-Lysyj
Qg3 main move since the plan is to attack the King after e5, Bd3, Ne4, +0,5
Qc7 and Qd2 I beleive are about equal moves and the position is about equal
5) Choosing between e6 and b5. e6 is better we have a nice plan of advancing the queenside pawns after exchange, White has Hard time pushung in the center. After 1... b5 2 e4, 3 e5 is coming we Will have to sac the exchange and since the night doesn't land on d4, because of g4, White is slightly better. would estimate -0,3 and +0,5
6)Pap-Papp
Main moves Considered c6, Rab8, f5. Couldn't make f5 Work. C6 too passive after 2) bc bc 3)de fe 4)0-0 the d 6 pawn is weak. Rab8 with hope to get f5 in after Re8, Nf8, Ng6... Evaluation Rab8 +0,6, c6 +1,1
In summary spend about 15-20mins solving each position.
2 times picked Best moves, 3 times second Best moves and one puzzle picked 2 bad moves. Average Eval mistake for Considered moves is about 0,6.
Your puzzle ideas I very much like. Typical puzzles are pretty far of a real game thinking. Slight edge puzzles are great, loved solving them. The only thing it's Hard to say after all did I solve it or not? What's the criteria? Maybe break them: did I pick the right moves as candidate? Did I place them in correct order? Was my evaluation precise?
Or Maybe no need to "solve" just use them as an exercise. See positions, tactical ideas, themes you struggle in.
And as pointed out earlier the script probably needs bigger depth.