Terrey Shaw was an Australian International Master who represented Australia on many occasions from the late 1960s to the 1980s. He was not a flashy player but was renown for his determination and ability to grind down lesser opponents from even positions.
In today’s puzzle from the 1968 Chess Olympiad Terrey is playing an opponent from Hong Kong and has a position which is even on material but Terrey (White) has a bit more pressure. Black of course is happy to draw with his higher rated opponent and is trying to swap off pieces and make sure that everything is defended.
It is Black to move. He must decide between 1…Ne6 to try to swap knights; 1…Nb5+ to drive the white King away or 1…Rb7 just to mark time and see if White tries anything.
One of these moves is a horrible blunder and that is the move that Black chose! The puzzle is which move did he choose and why is it a blunder?
Shaw v Robes 1968 - Black to play and blunder.
ANSWER:
Black chose 1…Ne6?? and was rocked by 2.Nxg6+ hxg6 3.Rf5+ gxf5 4.Rxf5#.
That sure saved Terrey a lot of grinding!
