[blind-chess] Re: Answers to last week's end game problems
- From: "R Dinger" <rrdinger@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 11:45:28 -0700
If after White plays 1. Ra6+
What do you do if Black plays:
1... f6
instead of blocking with the Rook?
Note also Black threatens to play Rxb2 winning the Queen, so White cannot waste
any time or the White Queen is toast!
----- Original Message -----
From: Carol Harvester
To: blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 10:08 AM
Subject: [blind-chess] Re: Answers to last week's end game problems
Hello Richard,
In question 18, could there be other possibilities?
1. Ra6 + -Rb6
2. gxh5++
Or
1. Ra6+ -Rb6
2. Rh6++
Carol
----- Original Message -----
From: R Dinger
To: chess
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 10:47 AM
Subject: [blind-chess] Answers to last week's end game problems
Good Morning Puzzlers,
These problems are from Larry Evans' book "Chess: Beginner to Expert"
available on tape from your NLS library. Note the book uses descriptive
notation not algebraic.
Below are the problems once again along with my comments. If you have
additional comments or questions, post them here to our discussion list. And
keep track of your score.
Problem 16:
r1bk2nr/
p2p1pNp/
n2B4/
1p1NP2P/
6P1/
3P1Q2/
P1P1KP2/
q5b1
Points 3
White to mate in two.
Solution:
1. Qf6+ Nxf6
2. Be7#
Principle:
The Black King is not in check, but cannot move because the White Knights
cover all his flight squares. So if White can check him he is toast! Looking
at all available checks and captures, White notices that he can check Black
along the black diagonal leading away from the King along e7 and f6, but those
squares are garded by the Knight. The Black Knight is overworked and must be
lured away. If you try 1. Be7+ Black takes the Bishop, which you can pin with
your Queen. But if you play the Queen first the Knight is distracted and the
Bishop moves to e7 for the mate.
Problem 17:
1r1k3r/
2pb1pp1/
3p1P2/
p4PBp/
P2p2P1/
1qNP3P/
4Q3/
2KR3R
Points 3
Black mates in two.
Solution:
1... Qa3+
2. Kd2 Qxc3#
Principle:
Black has a strong position with both Rook and Queen on the open B-File,
but the White Queen gards b2 and the Knight gards b1, preventing mate on the
move. Further the Queen protects the Knight. So once again looking at checks
Black sees that checcking the White King at a3 forces him to move to the second
rank blocking the Queen's protection.
Problem 18:
R6R/
1r3pp1/
6k1/
3pPp1p/
1r1pq1P1/
7P/
1P1Q3K/
8
Points 3
White mates in two.
Solution:
1. Qh6+ gxh6
2. Rag8#
Principle:
The Black King is unable to move right or left and if the Pawn at g7 were
gone the White Rook at a8 could mate Black at g8. So how does White move the
g7 Pawn? Again, we look at forcing moves like checks or captures, which limit
Black's responses. So if White checks with his Queen, Black is forced to
capture with the Pawn and the Rook finishes the game.
Problem 19:
r3r1k1/
ppp1bpp1/
2bp3p/
4Pp2/
3BnP2/
3B3P/
PPP4P/
R2Q1R1K
Points 3
Black to mate in two.
Solution:
1... Nf2+
2. Kg1 Nxh3#
Principle:
First, notice that the White King and the Black Bishop and Knight all sit
along the same diagonal. That is a good position for a discovered attack from
the Bishop. Second notice that the Black Knight, the White King and the White
Queen all sit on squares of the same color suggesting a Knight fork is
possible. So at the very least Black can fork the king and Queen winning the
queen. But if you look further, you see the King is restricted and after the
Knight fork, Black can win instead of taking the Queen.
Problem 20 revised:
1r3rk1/
pp4pp/
2p3n1/
3p2N1/
2P2PK1/
3B2P1/
PP5q/
R1BQ1R2
Points 4
Black mates in two.
Solution:
1... Ne5+
2. fxe5 h5#
Principle:
The White King is once again boxed in and mostly unable to move. If Black
can remove the Pawn at f4, the King would be even more restricted, but a Rook
protects that Pawn. So Black removes the Pawn by checking the King forcing the
Pawn to capture and once completely trapped the H-Pawn administers the Coup De
Grace.
Other related posts:
