7k/7P/p1p3K1/1p6/8/8/1P6/8 w - - 0 1

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Solutions Update

Problem 1 - Black To Play

r4rk1/p5pp/2pNb3/4pp2/1P3q2/P2B4/2P2PPP/Q4RK1 b - - 0 18

18...e4

Now White's bishop and knight are in danger, and both cannot be saved. White will pick off one of them.

Problem 2 - White To Play

r1b1kbnr/pp1ppppp/2N5/8/3BP3/q1N5/2P2PPP/3QKB1R w Kkq - 0 9

After 8...Qa3?? 9.Nb5! is a killer move. White is now threatening Nc7# and there's no way Black can drop his queen back to defend, e.g. 9...Qd6 10.Nxd6+

So Black will have to do something like

9...dxc6
10.Nxa3 Nf6

And White's material advantage should be enough to win. Eventually.

Problem 3 - White To Play

r2qkb1r/pppb2pp/3p1n2/5pN1/2BQP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 0 1

1. Bf7+ Ke7
2. Qxf6+ Kxf6

Pretty much forced. If 2...gxf6 then 3.Nd5#

And now the king chase begins! The rest of the moves by Black's king are absolutely forced.

3.Nd5+ Ke5
4.Nf3+ Kxe4
5.Nc3#

Problem 4 - White To Play

2Rrq1r1/1p2kp2/1Q4p1/4P2p/pP3P2/P2n4/5P2/5RK1 w - - 0 2

Black may be a piece up, but surprisingly, he's close to being in zugzwang. White may want to play 1.Qf6+, but after 1...Kd7, his hanging rook is a problem. But he can eliminate the problem by moving

1.Rb8!

Black still can't take the rook due to the mating threat Qd6. So his rook needs to stay put on d8. 1...Nxf4 may look promising, but after 2.Qf6+ Kd7 3.Rxd8+ Qxd8 4.Rd1+, Black is pretty much schlonged.

So Black's best move is probably a waiting move, such as

1...h4

And now, White can threaten on f6.

2. Qf6+ Kf8 3. Rxd8 g5

Or 3...Qxd8 4.Qxd8+ Kg7 5. Qxd3 will get you to the same place.

4.Qd6+ Kg7
5.Rxe8 Rxe8
6.Qxd3

White started out being down a knight. He is now ahead by a rook, and should win.

Endgame of the Week

7k/7P/p1p3K1/1p6/8/8/1P6/8 w - - 0 1

White has a killer move:

1.b4! c5

And now the pawn race is on.

2 bxc5 b4
3.c6 b3
4.c7 b2
5.c8=Q#

White wins because he was one move ahead. The same result would've occured if Black had pushed the 'a' pawn:

1...a5
2.bxa5 b4
3.a6 b3
4.a7 b2
5.a8=Q#

Hope to see you all next week!

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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.

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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 05:03 PM

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