8/2q5/2r3k1/7r/8/8/5Q2/K1R5 w - - 0 1

Arnold Says Stay Home and Play Chess:

Here’s your daily Lulu update - she’s not the best chess partner but she’s getting there. If you’ve been putting off something like learning chess with your family, use the time you’d normally be out and about. pic.twitter.com/S3QoBJtO7q

— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) March 30, 2020

Advanced Problem - White To Play (580)

If there's anything I like better than a tricky endgame, it's a tricky endgame I actually understand. How does White win from this position, even with Black making the best possible moves? I've experimented with this problem enough where I *think* I understand what's going on and hopefully will be able to explain why wrong answers are wrong answers. Or, maybe I've missed a critical line. We'll see.

8/8/b7/7p/P2P4/3k3B/8/K7 w - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n For The 'Ettes:

Beat it #bluemonday! Battling the blues today with a breathtaking evening dress from the @nasjonalmuseet, 1905-10, two-tone binding, silk tulle, partially sequined skirt with tassels marking the end of the sequined panels. I love the back of the bodice, and sequinned hem. pic.twitter.com/tN4oOPHthE

— whatgrandmawore (@whatgrandmawore) January 20, 2020

Greetings From Argentina

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Problem Solutions

Beginner Problem - Black To Play

rn2k2r/p4p2/b2p1np1/2pPb2p/Nq6/NB3P2/PP1B2PP/R2QK2R b KQkq - 0 1

Mate in 3:

1...Qh4+
2.g3 Bxg3+
3.hxg3 Qxg3#

2...Qxg3+ 3.hxg3 Bxg3# also works.

Intermediate Problem - White To Play

8/2q5/2r3k1/7r/8/8/5Q2/K1R5 w - - 0 1

1.Rxc6+ Qxc6
2.Qc2+ Qxc2 stalemate(!)

Which is all but forced. If 2...Kf6? then 3.Qxc6+ for at least a draw and possibly a win.

Advanced Problem - White To Play

8/8/b7/7p/P2P4/3k3B/8/K7 w - - 0 1

Answer:

1.d5!

1.Bf1+? is tempting, but it fails: 1...Kxd4 2.Bxa6 Kc5 3.Kb1 h4 4.Kc2 Kb4 5.Bc8 Kxa4 draw

1...Bb7
2.d6 Bc6
3.Bd7! Bxd7
4.a5 h4

If 4...Bc6 then 5.a6 h4 6.a7 h3 7. a8=Q Bxa8 8.d7 Kc4 9.d8=Q Bc6 10.Qh4+ and the pawn won't queen.

5. a6 h3
6. a7 Bc6
7. a8=Q! (7.d7? h2 8.d8=Q+ Kc2 9.Qc8 (9.Qb8 h1=Q+ 10. Ka2 Qd5+ 11. Ka1 Qd4+ 12. Ka2 Qa4#) 9...h1=Q+ 10. Ka2 Qb1+ 11. Ka3 Qb3#)

7...Bxa8
8.d7 Ke3
9.d8=Q Bg2
10.Qf6 Ke4
11.Kb2 Kd5
12.Qf4 Kc5
13.Kc3 Kd5
14.Qf5+ Kd6
15.Kd4 1-0

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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