Excelsior

The Theme

Sam Loyd, the great American puzzle king and chess problem composer, named one of his problems in which a pawn trekked across the board, The Excelsior. The name has since been applied to any problem highlighting such an ambitious little pawn. In this lovely instance, our intrepid pawn brings his journey to a close by a final act of understated intelligence.

The Problem

Hugh Blandford, 1949

White to move and win.

Solution appears below.

The Solution