8/8/k7/2P5/PP6/6p1/6Pp/7K w - - 0 1

And Now, For the 'Ettes -- Dress Pr0n!

Take a look at these lovely dresses. This is silent film star Lillian Gish:

Click here for a larger version of this photo.

Mrs. Muse gives this one two thumbs up:

[Update]: Thanks to all of the morons (Iron Mike Golf, olddog in mo, and maybe others) who tracked down information on the 2nd photograph.

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Solutions Update

Problem 1 - White To Play

6k1/1p1r1pp1/p1r3b1/3pPqB1/2pP4/Q1P4R/P3P2K/6R1 w - - 0 1

1.Qf8+ Kxf8
2.Rh8#

Problem 2 - White To Play

5rrk/p3q3/3p1b2/2p4p/2P1B3/5P2/P1Q3PP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 1

1.Rb7!

It'a always good to seize the 7th rank with one of your rooks, and, in this case, the advantage it gives White is yuuge. Black is reduced to two unpleasant options. He can either move the queen out of the way, in which case he'll lose instantly:

1...Qe8
2.Rh7#

Or take it, in which case he will lose more slowly:

1...Qxb7
2.Bxb7

Either way, he loses.

The second path, where Black gives up queen for rook, his loss is not guaranteed, it's just highly probable, given the material imbalance.

Problem 3 - Black To Play

r4bk1/p4p1p/2p3p1/1q1p1n2/N2P1P2/1PP3P1/2QBR1KP/R7 b - - 0 1

1...Qxe2+!
2.Kg1 Ne3

Which, of course, threatens Qg2#. The only response is

3. Bxe3 Qxc2

And Black wins the queen. Even if White moves

2.Kh3

Back still makes the same move

2...Ne3

Which threatens Qg4#.

3.Bxe3 Qxc2 and wins.

Problem 4 White - To Play

r4rk1/pp3ppp/2n5/3BP2Q/5R2/4p3/PqP3PP/R6K w - - 0 1

With all of those white pieces ganged up around the black king, that's precisely the kind of position that calls for a sacrifice of material. Thus:

1.Bxf7+! Rxf7
2.Qxf7+ Kh8
3.Qf8+ Rxf8
4.Rxf8#

That's the main line. Black isn't forced to accept the initial sacrifice. Another option is to retreat:

1...Kh8

But in this case, White has another way to checkmate, and it's one move quicker:

2.Qxh7+

Queen sac! Queen sac!

2...Kxh7
3.Rh4#

Wheee!

Endgame of the Week

8/8/k7/2P5/PP6/6p1/6Pp/7K w - - 0 1

White's king is stuck where it is, so it's pretty much out of the picture. There are three possible pawn moves, 1.a5, 1.b5+, and 1.c6. Two lead to draws. Only one wins.

The first drawing move is the natural 1.b5+. But there follows:

1...Ka7
2.c6 Kb6
3.a5+ Kc7
4.b6+ Kxc6 and it's pretty much a draw from here.

Also inadequate is:

1.a5? Because of

1...Kb5!

And now White is in zugzwang.

2.c6 Kxc6
3.a6 Kb6
4.b5 Ka7
5.b6+ Kxb6 draw

The only way to win is (drum roll):

1.c6!

1...Kb6
2. b5 Kc7
3. a5 Kc8
4. b6 Kb8

This is the crucial position. Many of us, myself included, would be tempted to play a6 here, but that is precisely the wrong move: 5.a6 Ka8 6.b7+ Kb8 7.a7+ Kxa7 8.c7 Kxb7 9.c8=Q+ Kxc8 draw

The correct move is

5.b7! Kc7
6.b8=Q+!

Again, not 6.a6, because of 6...Kb8 7.a7+ Kxa7 8.c7 Kxb7 9.c8=Q+ Kxc8 draw

So the queen must be sacrificed for the greater good:

6...Kxb8
7.a6 Ka7
8.c7 and wins.

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 05:14 PM

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