r2q2k1/p4ppp/2p2n2/8/6b1/3Pr3/PPQK2PP/RN3B1R b - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n For The 'Ettes:

There are several references to Greek antiquity here with this House of Paquin 1905 evening gown; the Greek key pattern, laurel wreaths, and raised waist. There are still the signature techniques of Paquin: satin ribbons, flowers around the chest, and silks/velvets. @metmuseum pic.twitter.com/VR4t1IX3d7

— whatgrandmawore (@whatgrandmawore) April 5, 2020

Joan Fontaine in Suspicion - the sequin design on this coat, designed by Edward Stevenson, looks as if she is being grasped by hands, and reflects her fears that her husband, Cary Grant, is going to murder her #HitchcocksHeroines pic.twitter.com/auIYqbFMCC

— Caroline J Young (@Caroline79) January 19, 2020

I discovered that legendary costume designer Adrian designed Teresa Wright's gowns in Shadow of a Doubt, when writing my book #HitchcocksHeroines. You can see the Adrian touches in this gingham dress, like that of Katharine Hepburn's in Philadelphia Story https://t.co/VImfHiUFNo pic.twitter.com/AUjf4w114I

— Caroline J Young (@Caroline79) January 20, 2020

Reminiscent of waves/the ocean, this 1928-29 House of Worth gown makes use of aquamarine chiffon, iridescent sequins and a floral style print of wavy pastel colours. A sequin pattern is attached via tulle panels to the hips, where blue chiffon bursts out of the skirt. @V_and_A pic.twitter.com/kCROtD5JHu

— whatgrandmawore (@whatgrandmawore) May 2, 2020

Greetings From Thailand

(click for larger version)

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Problem Solutions

Beginner Problem - Black To Play

r2qkb2/ppp1pp1p/8/8/3n1N2/N3Qb1P/PPP2P1r/R1B1K1R1 b Qq - 0 1

1...Nxc2+
2.Kf1

If 2.Nxc2? then Qd1# immediately.

2...Qd1+
3.Qe1 Qxe1#

So it's a mate in 3.

Intermediate Problem - White To Play

5r1k/1p1b1p1p/p2ppb2/5P1B/1q6/1Pr3R1/2PQ2PP/5R1K w - - 0 1

This is one of Mikhail Tal's brilliancies:

1.Qh6!

Classic Tal attack. White is threatening both Qxf8# and Qxf6#.

1...Rxg3

A desperate move, but it stops both immediate mates.

Now, a lesser man might go for exg3, but Tal is not such a man:

2.Bg6!

Tal continues to pile on. The biahop now cannot be taken by the f-pawn since Qxf8 is now checkmate.

2...Rxg6
3.fxg6 fxg6

Any other move would result in 4.Qxh7#. But now

4.Qxf8#

Advanced Problem - Black To Play

r2q2k1/p4ppp/2p2n2/8/6b1/3Pr3/PPQK2PP/RN3B1R b - - 0 1

1...Ne4+
2.Kxe3

or 2.Kc1 Re1+ 3.Qd1 Qg5+ 4.Nd2 Qxd2+ 5.Kb1 Rxd1#

2...Qg5+
3.Kxe4

(3.Kd4 Rd8+ 4.Kc4 Qd5+ 5.Kb4 Rb8+ 6.Ka3 (6.Ka4 Qb5+) 6...Qd6+ 7. Ka4 Qb4#)

3...Re8+
4.Kd4 Qe5+
5.Kc4 Be6+
6.Kb4 Rb8+
7.Ka3

(7.Ka4 Qb5+ 8.Ka3 Qb4#)

7...Qd6+
8.Qc5

(8.b4 Qxb4#)

8...Qxc5+
9.b4 Qxb4#

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 05:13 PM

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