k7/3N4/8/B2P4/KQr1Rp2/4n1b1/8/2q5 w - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n

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Solutions Update

Easier Problem - White To Play

kbK5/pp6/1P6/8/8/8/8/R7 w - - 0 1

Mate in 2:

1.Ra6!

Black is pretty much hamstrung. His bishop can't move. If it does, then kaboom: 2.Rxa7#. The only other move is

1...bxa6

Which allows White to push his pawn.

2.b7#

More Challenging Problem - White To Play

k7/3N4/8/B2P4/KQr1Rp2/4n1b1/8/2q5 w - - 0 1

White mates in 8 moves.

You might be tempted to play 1.Rxc4, hoping for 1...Nxc4 2.Qf8+ Kb7 3.Qb8+ Ka6 4.Nc5#, but Black could instead play 1...Qxc4 and after 2.Qxc4 Nxc4, the position is starting to look quite drawish.

So instead, White should play:

1.Re8+! Ka7
2.Bb6+ Ka6
3.Nc5+ Rxc5
4.Ra8+ Kb7

There are two possible moves for White here, 5.Ba7+ or 5.Bc7+

If 5.Ba7+ then

5...Kc7 (or 5...Rb5 6.Qxb5+ Kc7 7.Qb8+ Kd7 8.Qd8#)

6.Qb6+ Kd7
7.Qe6+ Kc7
8.Qe7#

The other main branch of the decision tree is 5.Bc7

5.Bc7+ Rb5 (if 5...Kxc7 then 6.Qb6+ Kd7 7.Qd8#)

6.Qxb5+ Kxc7
7.Qb8+ Kd7
8.Qd8#

Hope to see you all again 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 04:38 PM

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