r3q2r/2p1k1p1/p5p1/1p2Nb2/1P2nB2/P7/2PNQbPP/R2R3K b - - 0 1

Advanced Problem - White To Play (1296)

How does White go about obtaining a winning position?

r1b1qr1k/b1pp2pp/p1n5/1p3RB1/3P4/2P4P/2B2PP1/3Q2K1 w - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n For The 'Ettes:

There has been a certain amount of consternation from some of you about wheter the disappointing election results will affect my custon of putting up Melania pics and if I'll be instead sharing photos of the wife of the current occupant of the White House. So, as Richard Nixon used to say, let me say this about that:

1) I will never willingly post any "fashion" pics of Jill Biden in the chess thread, or any of my threads. If by chance any of you really want to see such pics, I'm sure that they will soon be glutting the pages of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, and all of the other fashion magazines, no doubt accompanied by the most gushingly obsequious encomiums you can possibly imagine.

2) I still have a backlog of Melania pics, so I'll be running those in the coming weeks. When those are exhausted, I will simply recycle the ones I have already used.

A gown relating to #MetGala themes of time: although modelled to the Empire silhouette of the late 18th/early 19th centuries, this gown was worn to a wedding in 1935, by a daughter to her mother's wedding. Rhinestone laurel leaves reference Ancient Greek motifs. @HillwoodMuseum pic.twitter.com/8C46W5gqbC

— whatgrandmawore (@whatgrandmawore) May 5, 2020

Hoodie, but make it fashion.

Circa 1760-70 hooded silk jacket, via Les Arts Décoratifs. pic.twitter.com/vTdZmH27os

— Ephemeral Elegance (@drapedinhistory) April 13, 2020

Greetings from Ireland

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Problem Solutions

Beginner Problem - White To Play

1Bb5/2P5/k2N4/Pp6/1P6/8/2p4p/2K4B w - - 0 1

1.Ne4 Kb7
2.Nc5#

or

1...Bb7 2.Nc5#
1...Bd7 2.Nc5#

So, basically, Black cannot stop 2.Nc5#.

Intermediate Problem - Black To Play

r3q2r/2p1k1p1/p5p1/1p2Nb2/1P2nB2/P7/2PNQbPP/R2R3K b - - 0 1

1...Rxh2+

Opening up the h-file is key.

2.Bxh2

If 2.Kxh2 then 2...Qh8+ 3.Bh6 Qxh6+ 4.Qh5 Qxh5#

2...Ng3+
3.Bxg3 Qh8+
4.Bh2 Qxh2+
5.Kxh2 Rh8+
6.Qh5 Rxh5#

Advanced Problem - White To Play

r1b1qr1k/b1pp2pp/p1n5/1p3RB1/3P4/2P4P/2B2PP1/3Q2K1 w - - 0 1

1.Qh5! h6

Black is real weak on the back rank: 1...Qxh5 2.Rxf8#. The threat is 2.Rxf8+ Qxf8 3.Qxh7#.

2.Bxh6 Kg8 (not 2...gxh6? 3.Qxh6+ Kg8 4.Rxf8+ Qxf8 5.Qh7#)
3.Rxf8+ Kxf8
4.Bxg7+ Kxg7
5.Qxe8 and wins

I set up this position in my chess app and it played it out like this:

5...Kf6
6.Qg6+ Ke7
7.Qg5+ Ke6
8.Bb3+ d5
9.Qxd5+ Ke7
10.Qxc6 Bb6
11.Qxa8 Bd7
12.Qxa6 Bxh3
13.gxh3 b4
14.cxb4 Kd6

It's amazing how quickly Black's position completely collapses.

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 05:30 PM

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