8/ppp3pk/4Q3/6q1/5rr1/1BP3P1/PP3P2/R3R1K1 b - - 0 1

Advanced Problem - Black To Play (1066)

Black is in bad shape. Yes, he's got the R+R v. R+B advantage, but White's connected advanced pawns are crushing. How does Black avoid losing?

(h/t to the lurking chess moron who sent this one to me last month)

4r3/K1R5/3P1pk1/2P2p1p/5B1P/1r4P1/8/8 b - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n For The 'Ettes:

Beautiful back detail from this @GoldsteinMuseum 1889-92 ruby red dress with braided belt and tassled end. I love the deep pleats which are throughout this gown, with large sleeves which are slightly subtler than the gigot sleeves at the end of the 19th century. pic.twitter.com/ApLmIKxfni

— whatgrandmawore (@whatgrandmawore) October 17, 2019

Greetings From Germany

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Solutions Update

Beginner Problem - White To Play

6k1/4q1b1/p2p3R/3PpB2/2p5/6RK/8/8 w - - 0 1

1.Be6+ Kf8
2.Rh8+ Bxh8
3.Rg8#

Intermediate Problem - Black To Play

8/ppp3pk/4Q3/6q1/5rr1/1BP3P1/PP3P2/R3R1K1 b - - 0 1

1...Rxg3+
2.Kf1

Or 2.fxg3 Qxg3+ 3.Kh1 Rh4+ 4.Qh3 Rxh3#

2...Rxf2+
3.Kxf2 Qf4+
4.Ke2 Rg2+
5.Kd3 (5.Kd1 Qd2#)
5...Rd2#

Advanced Problem - Black To Play

4r3/K1R5/3P1pk1/2P2p1p/5B1P/1r4P1/8/8 b - - 0 1

Answer:

Sometimes you have to figure out how to eke out a draw in a seemingly lost position. Fortunately for Black, his King is in a near-stalemate position, which allows him to attack with impunity.

1...Ra8+!
2.Kxa8

Forced, of course.

2...Rb8+
3.Ka7

White can't take the Rook because that would be stalemate. All he can do is move out of the way. But Black can still chase him around.

3...Rb7+
4.Ka6 Rb6+
5.Ka5 Rb5+
6.Ka4 Rb4+
7.Ka3 Rb3+
8.Ka2 Rb2+
9.Ka1 Rb1+

Black can keep White's king pinned to the a-file with endless checks. As long as he does, it's a draw.

Perpetual checks and stalemates should be in your tactical toolbox to be used in tricky endgames when it looks like all is lost.

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 paste 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 05:23 PM

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