8/8/8/8/5qpk/4p3/4Q1P1/7K w - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n For The 'Ettes:

(h/t Mai)

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Solutions Update

Easier Problem - Black To Play

5k2/2q2prp/5p1B/3Q1R2/8/6PK/2r4P/8 b - - 0 1

The decision tree for this problem doesn't fork. Every move by White is forced:

1...Rxh2+
2.Kxh2 Qxg3+
3.Kh1 Qg1#

Pretty straightforward.

More Challenging Problem - White To Play

8/8/8/8/5qpk/4p3/4Q1P1/7K w - - 0 1

Black's extra pawn on the e-file looks menacing, but as it turns out, there's nothing he can do to keep White from forcing a draw:

1.g3+! Qxg3

Not 1...Kxg3?? because 2.Qh2+ Kf3 3.Qg2#

2.Qf2 Kh3
3.Qf1+ Kh4
4.Qf6+ Kh3
5.Qf1+ Kh4
6.Qf6+ Kh3
7.Qf1+ draw by perpetual check

If, instead of 2...Kh3, Black tries pushing the e-pawn, he still will not be able to avoid perpetual check:

2...e2
3.Qf6+ Kh3
4.Qh6+ Qh4
5.Qe3+ g3 (if 5...Qg3 then 6.Qh6+ Qh4 7.Qe3+ Qg3 8.Qh6+ Qh4 9.Qe3+ draw)
6.Qxe2 Qh7
7.Qh2+ gxh2 draw by stalemate

There are some other lines, but the bottom line (heh) is that Black's king simply won't be able to find a haven from White's queen's relentless pursuit.

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 05:17 PM

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