[blind-chess] Spoiler Alert: Problem BWTC002
- From: "Paul Benson" <paul.benson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2012 16:02:27 +0100
Hello all,
This posting is divided into various parts. You can jump to the headings of the
sections by search/find for **, a pair of asterisks
.
** Positional evaluation of the problem
.
White: Three pawn islands, and a piece down. The queenside pawns have gained
some space. The forward f-pawn is attacked, however black is unlikely to
capture, as this will leave black with tripled f-pawns. The h2 pawn is
undefended and attacked by the black d6 bishop. The king, while still in the
centre when the middle game is under way, is not in any immediate danger. The
queen is centrally placed, and is putting pressure down the dark squared a1-h8
long diagonal. The a1 rook is not yet in play, however, the g1 rook has found
an excellent fully open g-file on which to sit, from where it restricts the
movement of the black king. The bishop on b2 is supporting the queen, to create
a battery down the long diagonal, into the heart of the black kingside
.
Black: Three pawn islands, and a piece up. Of the triangle of e, and f-pawns,
it is the f6 pawn which is the weakest. It is under a double attack from the
white queen and bishop, and is only defended once, by the e8 knight. The h7
pawn is isolated, but not in any danger. The king on h8 is looking very
uncomfortable, it does not have a legal move. The g-file is fully open, and
occupied by a white rook. Furthermore, there is the alignment of the white
queen and bishop down the long dark square diagonal. The queen is not
particularly well placed on d7. The c8 rook has located itself on a fully open
c-file, and is probably black's best piece. The f8 rook is ready to move to the
g-file, and challenge the strong white rook, but it is not black to move. The
bishop on d6 is pinned to the queen on d7, a pity, because if it were black to
move, simply, Be5, would defuse the white pressure. The e8 knight is working
hard to protect the black king, guarding the f6 pawn, and also covering the g7
square
.
** Hints section, 5 hints
.
Hint 1, to find the key move
.
Is this assault and battery, or a battery to assault?
.
Hint 2, to find the key move
.
To receive the biggest reward, make the biggest investment
.
Hint 3, to find the key move
.
The immobile cornered black king is a sitting duck
.
Hint 4, to find the key move
.
Look for one big blow, remember that piece values are arbitrary
.
Final hint, to find the key move
.
It is checkmate in 2 moves, look for the most exciting move
.
** Proposed solution to Problem BWTC0002
.
The critical factor here, is the immobilised black king on h8. It has no legal
move, courtesy of the white rook, controlling the entire g-file, from the g1
square. All it needs to conclude matters, is for white to have the courage to
give up the queen, with a forcing capture, 1. Qxf6+. Black has no choice now,
1. ... Nxf6, is the forced reply. Now, 2. Bxf6+ is mate. The weakness of black
on the dark squared diagonal is now shown, as one piece with the power to move
diagonally, is replaced with another. Note, how the 2 black counterparts, the
queen on d7, and the bishop on d6, offer no defensive support to the dark
squared diagonal
.
** Condensed proposed solution
.
1. Qxf6+ Nxf6 2. Bxf6+ mate
.
** Other tactical variations considered, and rejected
.
There is perhaps only one other move which might have come to mind. With the
g-file being fully open, 1. Qg4, aiming to play, 2. Qg7+. This will not be
checkmate, black has a knight on e8. The unfamiliar square of e8 for the black
knight, from which it offers protection to the g7 square, could easily be
missed in the heat of the battle
.
** Alarm bells
.
1. An immobilised king in a corner, is vulnerable to a variety of checkmating
positions. Take some time to let the restricting white rook on the g-file,
combined with a checking bishop on the long diagonal, sink into the memory
.
2. In the original position, try swapping round the locations of the white
queen and bishop. Now, with the queen backing up the attack of the bishop up
the long diagonal, the capture of, 1. Bxf6+, would be an obvious move to
consider. Just because in the original position, the queen, the higher value
piece, is the leading piece, does not mean a capture on f6 with check,
involving her demise, should be dismissed from thought
.
3. White has positioned the queen and bishop on the long diagonal, pointing
directly at the black kingside. Black did not appreciate the potential danger
of this arrangement. Some action to strengthen the defence of the dark squares
at some earlier stage needed to be taken
.
Paul Benson
.
-----Original Message-----
From: R Dinger - Email Address: rrdinger@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent On: 09/07/2012 15:07
Sent To: chess - Email Address: blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-chess] Problem BWTC002
Good Morning Puzzlers,
Another checkmate problem.
This problem is from Mario Lang's puzzle web page at:
http://delysid.org/chess/epd.cgi
and is reported to be from Fred Reinfield's book "1001 Brilliant Ways to
Checkmate" .
This problem can also be obtained from G. Ossimitz's chess page at:
http://wwwu.uni-klu.ac.at/gossimit/c/chess.htm
Problem BWTC002
White to move
FEN Problem Setup:
2r1nr1k/
pp1q1p1p/
3bpp2/
5P2/
1P1Q4/
P3P3/
1B3P1P/
R3K1R1
w - - 0 1
Short Algebraic Problem Setup:
White: Ke1, Qd4, Ra1, Rg1, Bb2, Pa3, Pb4, Pe3, Pf2, Pf5, Ph2
Black: Kh8, Qd7, Rc8, Rf8, Bd6, Ne8, Pa7, Pb7, Pe6, Pf6, Pf7, Ph7
Other related posts:
