5rk1/p5p1/1ppp1r2/1P5p/2PRp3/2P1P1qP/P5P1/2QR3K b - - 0 1

Dress Pr0n For the 'Ettes:

To round off this Russian week here is Alexandra Feodorovna's gorgeous yellow evening dress. The bottom is just remarkable! The velvet fades into lace as it descends to feature cut outs of what looks like hyacinth flowers. The petals also have lots of texture. #FashionHistory pic.twitter.com/Rli9ppqsQh

— Lauren Deutsch (@LaurenCDeutsch) March 15, 2021

Oh wow 🌸

Pierre Balmain 1953 couture cocktail evening dress, black velvet, covered in stems and roses, embroidered in ribbons by Lesage, worn by one of Balmain's star models, Paulette.

Part of the Didier Ludot collection sold by @Sothebys at auction. Sold for €25,000. pic.twitter.com/ICo2AP9jhl

— whatgrandmawore (@whatgrandmawore) March 1, 2021

This week's #MerriweatherMonday is this 1959-62 blue satin evening dress with a velvet floral pattern. It comes with a matching jacket decorated with blue and white ostrich feathers. The last picture really gets me. I can imagine seeing Marjorie from the back. #FashionHistory pic.twitter.com/e3ZCZPQgeA

— Lauren Deutsch (@LaurenCDeutsch) December 28, 2020

Another Irish Sweater Girl

___________

Problem Solutions

Beginner Problem - White To Play

1r1n1rk1/ppq2p2/2b2bp1/2pB3p/2P4P/4P3/PBQ2PP1/1R3RK1 w - - 0 1

1.Qxg6+ Kh8

If 1...Bg7 then 2.Qxg7#

2. Bxf6# 1-0

Intermediate Problem - White To Play

R7/P7/8/2K5/8/2k5/8/r7 w - - 0 1

This is pretty short, but it's an intermediate problem because it requires a bit of tactical insight that a beginner may not have yet.

1.Rc8! Rxa7

Not much else for Black to do. On any other move, White would be able to queen and then force Black to trade off his only piece. But now:

2.Kb6+

The discovered attack wins the rook, anyway. White wins.

Advanced Problem - Black To Play

5rk1/p5p1/1ppp1r2/1P5p/2PRp3/2P1P1qP/P5P1/2QR3K b - - 0 1

Black can hold out for six moes, max, if White plays the best moves.

1... Rf2
2.Rg1 R8f3
3.Qf1 (the threat is 3...Qxh3+ 4.gxh3 Rxh3#)
3...Rxf1
4.Rxd6 (if 4.Rxf1 then Rxf1#)
4...Qxg2+
5.Kxg2 R1f2+
6.Kh1 Rxh3#

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 05:28 PM

| Access Comments