8/8/2p2p2/8/7P/8/1k1K4/8 w - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n For the 'Ettes

Perfect summer style! Airy floral dress by the beach, circa 1950s. #vintagefashion #SummerStyle #50sfashion https://t.co/wOOvp40TeN pic.twitter.com/uCtE66ZOjt

— Ephemeral Elegance (@drapedinhistory) June 28, 2017

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Greetings From Norway

Happy Independence Day!

Too Cheesy?

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Problem Solutions

Beginner Problem - White To Play

r6k/ppp4r/3pqNP1/6Q1/3P4/8/PPP3P1/2K5 w - - 0 1

1.g7+ Rxg7
2.Qh6+ Rh7
3.Qxh7#

Intermediate Problem - White To Play

r1b1qrk1/2pp1ppp/pb1n1Bn1/1p6/3PPQN1/1BP5/PP3PPP/RN3RK1 w - - 0 1

1.Qh6

The noose is tightening around Black. Capturing either attacking piece loses early:

1...gxh6 2.Nxh6#
1...gxf6 2.Nxf6+ Kh8 3.Qxh7#

If this is all you found, you did an OK job. But there is one Black defense that holds out for one more move:

1... Nf5
2.exf5 gxf6
3.Nxf6+ Kh8
4.Qxh7#

Advanced Problem - White To Play

8/8/2p2p2/8/7P/8/1k1K4/8 w - - 0 1

White has a monster passed pawn on h4. So what would happen if just ran it?

1.h5 c5
2.h6 c4
3.h7 c3+
4.Ke1 c2
5.h8=Q c1=Q+ and draw.

So the answer is: not much. The problem is, Black can get counterplay by pushing his own pawn down the 'c' file. So White needs to eliminate this threat.

1. Kd3!

Trying to get to c4. But Black easily counters.

1...Kb3
2. Kd4 Kb4

And now White has the position he wants. Black's King has been maneuvered far enough away from the c1 queening square that he will not be able to get back there in time to protect his queening pawn from capture. White may now push his passer.

3. h5 c5+

White has nothing to fear from this check.

4. Ke3 c4
5. h6 c3
6. h7 c2
7. Kd2!

Aha! And now Black is schlonged. He has to drop his King all the way back to c2 in order to protect his pawn, but he just doesn't have enough time.

7...Kb3
8. h8=Q Kb2
9. Qc8 and wins

White wins the pawn and the game.

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 05:20 PM

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