[blind-chess] Spoiler Alert Problem WAC033

From: "Paul Benson" <paul.benson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:37:59 +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 is a pawn up, and that pawn is advanced to the 6th rank. The king is safe 
from any back-rank threats. The queen is centrally placed, and exerts some 
influence there. She is however, tied down to defending the c6 pawn. The rook 
on c1 is correctly located for attempting to push forward a passed pawn. That 
is, behind the pawn.
.
Black being a pawn down without any compensation, is defending. The black king 
is safe from back-rank mates. The queen is blockading the c6 passed pawn, not a 
happy role for such a powerful piece. The rook is attempting to attack and 
defend at the same time
.
It might appear that both white and black queen and rook are limited in 
opportunities. White pieces must defend the pawn to maintain winning chances, 
the black pieces trying to halt the further advance of the pawn

.
** Hints section, 3 hints
.
** Hint 1, to find the key move
.
The passed pawn wants to advance, what is stopping it?
.
** Hint 2, to find the key move
.
Examine a forcing move, followed by another
.
** Hint 3, to find the key move
.
In this instance, irresistible force overcomes immovable object
.
** Proposed solution to WAC033
.
A passed pawn has an insatiable desire to advance. First a forcing move, a 
queen fork with 1. Qe5+, and black has several replies. Obviously 1. ... Rf6 2. 
Qxc7 loses. If either 1. ... f6,  or any legal king move, white proceeds with a 
second forcing move. The immovable object, the queen on c7, is deflected from 
her post by an irresistible force, the white queen. It is 2. Qxd6, and black 
has little real choice, 2. ... Qxd6, and now the c6 pawn may advance. Note how 
a rook and pawn here are stronger than a queen. So, 3. c7 Qd7 4. c8-Q, and a 
simple win for white
.
** Condensed proposed solution
.
1. Qe5+ f6 2. Qxd6 Qxd6 3. c7 Qd7 4 c8-Q
. 
** Other tactical variations considered, and rejected 
.
Assuming white misses the above tactic, there is an attempted invasion, 1.Qe8, 
intending to go to a8, and then to b7,where it challenges the blockading black 
queen. Black can easily stop this with, 1. ... Rd8. White must retreat the 
queen down the 
e-file, 2. Qe4, but now 2. ... Rc8, produces a much better way for black to 
blockade the c6 pawn. White could plan to trade queens, 3. Qd5 Rb8 4. Kg2, it 
is vital the king is not on the back-rank, 4. ... Rc8 5. Qd7 Kf8 6. Qxc7 Rxc7, 
and black can either hold the c6 pawn or capture it by closing in with the 
king. I think black can cope with a queen trade, but it would require care
.
** Alarm bells
. 
1. Black has tried to defend actively, by placing the rook on the third rank. 
It would have been better on c8.
.
2. A queen is poorly placed when blockading a passed pawn, which is backed up 
by a rook
.
3. Once a pawn is on the 6th rank it is only 2 moves away from promotion. This 
should set one thinking of ways, sacrificing if necessary, to get it moving 
further
.
Paul Benson.

-----Original Message-----
From: R Dinger - Email Address: rrdinger@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent On: 13/09/2010 16:31
Sent To: chess - Email Address: blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-chess] Problem WAC033

Good Morning Puzzlers,

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 "Win At Chess" 1958.

Problem WAC033

White to move

FEN Problem Setup:
8/
p1q2pkp/
2Pr2p1/
8/
P3Q3/
6P1/
5P1P/
2R3K1
 w - - 0 1

Short Algebraic Problem Setup:
White: Kg1, Qe4, Rc1, Pa4, Pc6, Pf2, Pg3, Ph2
Black: Kg7, Qc7, Rd6, Pa7, Pf7, Pg6, Ph7
[blind-chess] Spoiler Alert Problem WAC033

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