I had a hard time deciding whether this should be an intermediate or advanced problem, because the solution is kind of hard to see. Or, at least I thought so.

8/3Q1BB1/8/8/1k6/8/8/7K w - - 0 1

Answer:

1.Be8!

This is the move that's hard to see. Beccause Black's king can safely move to 5 squares, but each one will result in a mate the very next move:

1...Kc4 2.Qb5#

or 1...Ka5 2.Qb5#
or 1...Ka3 2.Qa4#
or 1...Kc5 2.Qd4#
or 1...Kb3 2.Qa4#

So it's a mate in 2, 5 different ways.

Advanced Problem - White To Play

r6k/7P/6RK/8/8/8/p1B5/8 w - - 0 1

1.Bb3 Ra6!

Pins the white rook. Black's hope is creating a stalemate threat: 2.Rxa6 a1=Q 3.Ba2 3.Rxa1 draw.

Not 1...a1=Q? 2.Rg8+ Rxg8 3.hxg8=Q#

So White needs to be careful. The rook can't be taken, so another approach is called for.

2.Be6 Rxe6

or 2...Ra8 3.Rg8+ Rxg8 4.hxg8=Q#

3.Rxe6 a1=Q
4.Re8#

Hope to see you all next week!

___________

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.

___________

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 05:32 PM

| Access Comments