8/4pkPp/7B/3K4/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

___________

Solutions Update

Problem 1 - White To Play

8/1p1n1r1k/pqn1RpNp/8/2p2Q1P/1P4P1/P1B4K/8 w - - 0 1

Solution #1:

1.Ne7+ Kg7
2.Qg4+ Kh8
3.Qg8#

Solution #2 is when Black responds to the initial check with Kh8 instead of Kg7

1...Kh8
2.Qxh6+ Rh7
3.Qxh7#

Problem 2 - White To Play

r4bk1/p4p2/Bpbr2p1/n2Np3/1Q2P1q1/4B1P1/7P/3R1RK1 w - - 0 1

1.Qxd6! Bxd6
2.Nf6+ Kg7
3.Nxg4

White gets his queen back with interest.

Problem 3 - White To Play

2rr2k1/1pbb1ppp/4p3/pP1nN3/P7/1B2P3/1B2KPPP/2R4R w - - 0 1

1.Nxd7! Rxd7
2. Bxd5 Rxd5
3. b6 pins the bishop and wins it

But 2...Rxd5 is a bit problematic. Perhaps better is

2...Rcd8

There follows:

3.Bxb7 Bb6

Black will not succeed in winning back the bishop with 3...Rd2+ because 4.Kf3 Rxb2 5.Rxc7.

4.Rhd1 Rxb7
5.Rxd8+ Bxd8
6.Rc8 Rd7
7.Bc3 Kf8
8.Bxa5 Ke8

And now the winning path lies through simplification:

9.Rxd8+ Rxd8
10.Bxd8 Kxd8

White's 2-pawn advantage is enough to prevail

Problem 4 - White To Play

rn1q1r2/ppp2pk1/5n1p/3P4/2P3b1/1P1B1R2/PB4PP/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 1

1. Rxf6!

Now, watch what happens if Black takes the queen:

1...Bxd1
2.Rg6+ Kh7
3.Rg7+ Kh8
4.Rh7+ Kg8
5.Rh8#

So, is there anything better Black can do? Well, instead of snarfing the queen, he could always try:

1...Rg8

But, ultimately, he'll just die tired:

2.Qxg4+ Kf8
3.Rxf7+ Kxf7
4.Rf1+ Qf6

Not 4...Ke7 5.Qe6#. Or if 4...Ke8 then 5.Qxg8+ Kd7 6.Qe6#

5.Qe6+ Kf8
6.Rxf6+ Kg7
7.Rf1#

Congrats to my chess app for finding the second, longer, line.

To sum up, it's either a mate in 5 or a mate in 7.

Endgame of the Week

8/4pkPp/7B/3K4/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

Short answer: White can force a win.

Longer answer: Ordinally it is not possible to mate with a single bishop, but there are certain circumstances where it's possible. Like if you can force him into the corner. However, the first move is counterintuitive"

1. g8=Q+! Kxg8

The capture is forced, and Black is driven back

2. Ke6 Kh8
3. Kf7 e5

Black's position is so restricted, this is his only legal move.

4. Bg7#

Hope to see you all next week!

___________

Note: that cryptic line of letters and numbers you see underneath each board diagram is a representation of the position in what is known as "Forsyth-Edwards Notation", or F.E.N. It's actually readable by humans. Most computer applications nowadays can read FEN, so those of you who may want to study the position, you can copy the line of FEN and paste into your chess app and it should automatically recreate the position on its display board. Or, Windows users can just "triple click" on it and the entire line will be highlighted so you can copy and past it into your chess app.

___________

So that about wraps it up for this week. Chess thread tips, suggestions, bribes, rumors, threats, and insults may be sent to my yahoo address: OregonMuse little-a-in-a-circle yahoo dott com.

posted by OregonMuse at 05:02 PM

| Access Comments