A Spectacular Study: The Solution
Friday, July 22, 2005
A Spectacular Study
Give this one a try - the solution will give you goose bumps!
White to move and win.
White to move and win.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Outtrapping the Trapper: Solution Time
Yesterday I offered an easy puzzle: figure out the consequences of 64...Kxc3 from this position:
Worked it out? All is revealed below:
64...Kxc3! 65.a5
The pawn runs, but although it can become a queen, it will cost the White king his life.
65...Kd3 66.a6 Ke3! and now White faces a grim choice:
(a) 67.Kf1 g2+ 68.Kg1 Ke2 69.a7 f2+ 70.Kxg2 f1Q+ and wins.
(b) 67.a7 g2 68.a8Q g1Q/R#.
The lesson to be learned from this problem is that in a position where you have your trumps but are missing the one extra piece you need to bring those advantages to bear, take a look at pieces performing seemingly essential defensive duties. Sometimes, as here, it turns out that they can switch to attack from defense, with decisive effect.
File this one under both mental flexibility and Seirawan's attacking maxim, "Invite everyone to the party!"
Worked it out? All is revealed below:
64...Kxc3! 65.a5
The pawn runs, but although it can become a queen, it will cost the White king his life.
65...Kd3 66.a6 Ke3! and now White faces a grim choice:
(a) 67.Kf1 g2+ 68.Kg1 Ke2 69.a7 f2+ 70.Kxg2 f1Q+ and wins.
(b) 67.a7 g2 68.a8Q g1Q/R#.
The lesson to be learned from this problem is that in a position where you have your trumps but are missing the one extra piece you need to bring those advantages to bear, take a look at pieces performing seemingly essential defensive duties. Sometimes, as here, it turns out that they can switch to attack from defense, with decisive effect.
File this one under both mental flexibility and Seirawan's attacking maxim, "Invite everyone to the party!"
A Little Tactical Puzzle: Solution Time
On Monday I presented this position
and challenged the readers to figure out what Black ought to do. White is up two pawns, and although Black's pieces are active, both 12...Ng4 and 12...Bg4 seem to be adequately repulsed by 13.f3.
Think you've got the answer? If so, or if you're giving up after giving it your best shot, click here.
and challenged the readers to figure out what Black ought to do. White is up two pawns, and although Black's pieces are active, both 12...Ng4 and 12...Bg4 seem to be adequately repulsed by 13.f3.
Think you've got the answer? If so, or if you're giving up after giving it your best shot, click here.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Outtrapping the Trapper
In at least one of his books, Mikhail Tal wrote of a favorite trick: spot an opponent's trap, "fall for it", and then reveal that the real victim is the opponent.
That idea came to mind as I watched the end of the game Sakaev-Cech this afternoon. Black played very well against his much higher-rated opponent, and by the time the following position occurred, the draw was clear:
Black is going to eliminate the White a-pawn, after which White cannot win with B+N vs. N (or, of course, with bare knight vs. king), and that's just what happened: 62.Nxf3 Nb6 63.Kf1 Nxa4 and drawn.
But what if White tried to win from the diagrammed position with 62.Bxc4? 62...Kxa4?? loses - as White will round up the kingside pawns and mate with a bishop and knight. So 62...Kxc4 must be played, and now if White wants any winning chances, he'd need to try 63.Ne4 Kb4 64.Nc3.
Of course, this still doesn't provide any real winning chances, as Black can just shuffle his king from a5 to b4, waiting for White to accept the draw or to self-destruct. But what if Black "blunders" into White's trap and takes the knight?
Consider it homework! It's as easy as my puzzles get, but it demonstrates a valuable endgame motif. Have fun; solution tomorrow.
That idea came to mind as I watched the end of the game Sakaev-Cech this afternoon. Black played very well against his much higher-rated opponent, and by the time the following position occurred, the draw was clear:
Black is going to eliminate the White a-pawn, after which White cannot win with B+N vs. N (or, of course, with bare knight vs. king), and that's just what happened: 62.Nxf3 Nb6 63.Kf1 Nxa4 and drawn.
But what if White tried to win from the diagrammed position with 62.Bxc4? 62...Kxa4?? loses - as White will round up the kingside pawns and mate with a bishop and knight. So 62...Kxc4 must be played, and now if White wants any winning chances, he'd need to try 63.Ne4 Kb4 64.Nc3.
Of course, this still doesn't provide any real winning chances, as Black can just shuffle his king from a5 to b4, waiting for White to accept the draw or to self-destruct. But what if Black "blunders" into White's trap and takes the knight?
Consider it homework! It's as easy as my puzzles get, but it demonstrates a valuable endgame motif. Have fun; solution tomorrow.
Monday, July 18, 2005
A Little Tactical Puzzle
Here's our starting position:
It's Black's move, and although he's two pawns down his position looks promising. But how is he going to make progress? If 12...Ng4, then 13.f3 Nf2 14.Rf1 repels Black's overeager attack, while 12...Bg4 also seems conclusively met by 13.f3.
So what's Black to do? The answer will come in a day or two. Remember: no computers!
It's Black's move, and although he's two pawns down his position looks promising. But how is he going to make progress? If 12...Ng4, then 13.f3 Nf2 14.Rf1 repels Black's overeager attack, while 12...Bg4 also seems conclusively met by 13.f3.
So what's Black to do? The answer will come in a day or two. Remember: no computers!