[blind-chess] Spoiler Alert Problem WAC035
- From: "Paul Benson" <paul.benson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:38:19 +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 depending on your perspective, the d4 pawn is either
passed or isolated. I would say slightly more passed than isolated. Both rooks
are active and well located for a kingside attack, one on the 7th rank and the
other on the h-file. However, both rooks are unprotected, and thus vulnerable
to a potential black queen fork if white is careless. The queen looks passive
on d1, she is tied down to defending a potential back rank mate. The white king
is in no immediate danger, other than a possible back rank mate.
.
We know there is a quick win for white here, but if there was not a tactical
continuation, I think it would be difficult to force matters. White would find
it problematic to win if all rooks were traded off. On the other hand,a queen
trade would be very advantageous for white. A king and pawn ending is a clear
win, providing when kings head for the centre, white does not lose the race to
the d4 pawn
.
Black is under pressure, a pawn down and will have to respond to how white
chooses to handle the position. The advance of the pawn to f6 has considerably
weakened the 2nd rank. The black king has no immediate protection from the
heavy pieces. The only plus for black in this position, is the combined efforts
of the e8 rook and the queen, setting up a back rank mate threat, should white
be careless with the queen
** Hints section, 4 hints
.
** Hint 1, to find the key move
.
Any move that forces a reply deserves examination
.
** Hint 2, to find the key move
.
The black king seems rather lonely on h8, give him some unexpected company
.
** Hint 3, to find the key move
.
The name of the game is checkmate, piece values can be disregarded to achieve
the aim
.
** hint 4, to find the key move
.
Anyone for a game of Battleships? My first choice is a bombshell on h7
.
** Proposed solution to WAC035
.
White removes vital pawn cover with a forcing move, 1. Rxh7+, black has 2
replies. TFirstly, trying to run away leads to several mates in two. If 1. ...
Kg8 2. Rhxg7+, and again the power of rooks doubled on the 7th rank is
revealed. The black king has 2 moves now, if 2. ... Kf8 3. Rcf7+ is mate, or 2.
... Kh8 3. Qh5+ mate
.
Secondly, black takes the rook, but gets mated in three more moves. So, 1. ...
Kxh7 2 Qh5+, and the queen joins in the attack giving check with each move. The
black replies are forced, 2. ... Kg8 3. Qf7+ Kh8, note Kh7 instead end just the
same, 4. Qxg7+ mate
.
** Condensed proposed solution
.
1. Rxh7+ Kxh7 2. Qh5+ Kg8 3. Qf7+ Kh8 4. Qxg7+ mate
.
** Other tactical variations considered, and rejected
.
One try for white is 1. Qb1, threatening qxh7+ mate, black has 3 pawn moves to
try stop this, 2 fail, 1 succeeds
.
A: If 1. ... h6 then 2. Rxh6+ which leads to 2 mates, 2. ... gxh6 3 Qh7+ mate,
or 2. ... Kg8 3. Qh7+ Kf8 4. Qh8+ mate.
B: if 1. ... g6, the 7th rank is opened for the c7 rook, so 2. Rhxh7+ Kg8 3.
Qxg6+ Kf8 4. Qf7+ mate.
C: if 1. ... f5, white has messed up. The tactics no longer work, if 2. Qxf5
then 2. ... Re1+ is mate. Instead, after 1. ... f5, 2. Rxh7+ Kxh7 3. Qxf5+, and
now a heavy black piece comes to the rescue, 3. ... Qg6, and the attack is
almost over. White must try desperately to draw here, with the move 4. Rxg7+,
seeking to catch the black king in a perpetual check. It fails, the black king
can move toward the e8 rook, and once this happens, that rook can be used to
block checks.
.
After 1. Qb1, there is the tactical 1. ... Re1+ 2. Qxe1 Qxc7, when black is
closer to drawing, a very dangerous c7 rook has gone, as has the white attack
.
A second attempt to break through is 1. Rxg7, but simply 1. ... Kxg7 2. Qg4+
Kh8, which forces white to give up more material to just get a draw, it fails.
If 3. Rxh7+ Kxh7 4. Qh5+ Kg7
5. Qg4+ Kf7 6. Qh5+ Ke7and the king escapes
.
** Alarm bells
.
1. The actively placed white rooks, one on the 7th rank and the other on the
h-file, should alert one to analyse surprising tactics
.
2. The lack of piece protection for the black king permitted the tactical
conclusion
.
3. Clearly, at some point earlier in the game, black has neglected development,
in particular the a8 rook
.
Paul Benson.
-----Original Message-----
From: R Dinger - Email Address: rrdinger@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent On: 20/09/2010 19:31
Sent To: chess - Email Address: blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-chess] Problem WAC035
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 WAC035
White to move
FEN Problem Setup:
r3r2k/
2R3pp/
pp1q1p2/
8/
3P3R/
7P/
PP3PP1/
3Q2K1
w - - 0 1
Short Algebraic Problem Setup:
White: Kg1, Qd1, Rc7, Rh4, Pa2, Pb2, Pd4, Pf2, Pg2, Ph3
Black: Kh8, Qd6, Ra8, Re8, Pa6, Pb6, Pf6, Pg7, Ph7
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