8/Pk6/1P6/8/3K4/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

Advanced Problem - Black To Play (291)

How many lines to mate can you find? What's the shortest line that's forced?

6k1/8/8/4b1B1/1Pbq2PP/7K/5N2/4Q3 b - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n For The 'Ettes:

Every year I post an #advent dress each day in #December & I thought that this year’s should be one big imaginary huge party of the sort 2020 has missed. So for Days 1 & 2 this exuberant strapless number strewn with what might be an evergreen bough or two in silver @FIDMMuseum pic.twitter.com/UWEIgmpWVX

— Dr Kate Strasdin (@kateStrasdin) December 2, 2020

The density of the embroidery on this 'Vilmiron' 1952 Christian Dior dress is breathtaking - blooming and budded flowers with springs of grass coat this garment, in particular around the hem, making the wearer look like a walking meadow.

To create such a masterpiece, Dior 1/2 pic.twitter.com/JNe1mUReUa

— whatgrandmawore (@whatgrandmawore) November 24, 2020

Greetings from Romania

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Problem Solutions

Beginner Problem - White To Play

4r1nk/6pp/6q1/6N1/5K1Q/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

1.Qxh7+ Qxh7
2.Nf7#

Smothered mate!

Intermediate Problem - White To Play

8/Pk6/1P6/8/3K4/8/8/8 w - - 0 1

1.Kc5 Ka8
2.Kb5 Kb7
3.a8=Q+ Kxa8
4.Kc6 Kb8
5.b7 Ka7
6.Kc7 Ka6
7.b8=Q and wins

Or, instead of 4.Kc6, White can send his king up the other side with the same result: 4.Ka6 Kb8 5.b7 Kc7 6.Ka7 etc.

Advanced Problem - Black To Play

6k1/8/8/4b1B1/1Pbq2PP/7K/5N2/4Q3 b - - 0 1

Black can force mate in 5 moves, in several lines. If White chooses poorly, the mate comes faster.

1...Qc3+ 2.Nd3

If 2.Qxc3 then Bf1#.
Also if 2.Qe3 then Bf1#.

or 2.Be3 Bf1+ 3.Qxf1 Qxe3+ 4.Kg2 Qg3+ 5.Kh1 Qh2#

2...Bxd3 3.Qg3

Now it gets a bit complicated.

If 3.Be3 then Bf1+ 4.Qxf1 Qxe3+ 5.Qf3 (5.Kg2 Qg3+ 6.Kh1 Qh2#) 5...Qxf3#.

Or 3.Bf4 Bf1+ 4.Kh2 Qh3+ 5.Kg1 Qg2#.

Or 3.h5 Bf1+ 4.Kh4 Qh3#.

3...Bf1+
4.Kh2 Qxg3+
5.Kh1 Qh2#

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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