Forbidden things have a secret charm – that delicious paradox applies to the chessboard just as it does in life. Moves which appear to be unthinkable (for example, when the piece in question can be readily captured) can create a strong aesthetic effect. Composers of chess problems often make great play of this fact – so much so that it is a useful rule of thumb for a solver. If you spot a move which appears to be prevented for several reasons, there’s a good chance you have your solution.
Once in a while, this pursuit of maximum mischief proves its worth in practical play as well. One of the most famously beautiful moves in chess history is 23…Qc3-g3, from the game Levitsky-Marshall, Breslau 1912, where the queen was placed on a square where she could be captured in three separate ways, each with its own refutation.
Consider the following position, played in a rapid tournament last year, with Rapport (White) to play.
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