Thursday - May 17, 2012

Chess Problem #237

I know, the chess problems have been conspicuous by their absence. But here’s a new one. And a difficult one. #237 is White to move. Theme is ‘overload’. I’ll quote:

Overloading involves the exploitation of an enemy unit which must protect at least two other important pieces (or squares). The object of the attacker is to force the overloaded defending piece to relinquish its necessary defensive functions.

White to move and win

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

Also, for any who are interested, I’ve posted another amusing game of mine. This was in the second round of the 1993 Gem City Open. My opponent out-rated me by 162 points. He should have kicked my @ss. Indeed he was kicking my @ss. I was down a Bishop and two pawns, but my 27th move really confused him, and I won. I still don’t know if my 27th move was brilliant, bluff, or a brilliant bluff. I do know that if I’d lost, I’d have annotated it as ??, as in losing move. As things turned out, I gave it a !? which is chessic for interesting.

Here’s the link: Christopher (1809) - Friedman (1971), 1993 Gem City Open, Rd. 2.

It’s a javascript animated link. You can play through it right on the webpage.

UPDATE: 5/22/12 Solution to #237. Yes, this is what the book gives.

1. Nxg6! hxg6
2. Rxe6 Qd7

if 2 … fxe6
3. Qxg6+ winning.

3. Rxg6+ Kh7
4. Ree6 Bf6

if 4 … fxe6
5. Rg7+ Kh8
6. Qg6 and wins

5. Rgxf6 Rg8
6. Bg5 Rg7
7. Rh6+ Kg8
8. Qh5 and White wins. 

Posted by Christopher     on 05/17/2012 at 09:43 PM   
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   Wednesday - April 11, 2012

Your Move! e1: Wehnert-Leiss, Sassnitz 1962

Again changing sources. This one is from Your Move! by Yakov Neishtadt, published in 1990.

A little bit of a different format, as you will see.

With the move 1. Rb2 White offers an exchange of Rooks. Your reply?

See, a bit different. We have to reply to a move that hasn’t happened on the board. Yes, it is Black to move, but we’re only told what White’s next move is going to be. Almost like playing over-the-board.

I’ve got to start using this book. It was printed on cheap pulp paper and already shows about the same amount of deterioration that my Amazing Stories magazines from the ‘20s and ‘30s show. Combination Challenge was printed in the same year, but printed on acid-free paper stock. Granted that Combination Challenge is falling apart due to lousy binding, but the pages aren’t turning yellow and brittle due to acid content.

Posted by Christopher     on 04/11/2012 at 10:37 PM   
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Christopher-Wagner 1988

I’ve finally found some of my old games. This one was played in the last round of the 1988 Gem City Open. I out-rated my opponent by over 200 points. He came on so strong that the tournament director had recorded the game as a win for BLACK before the game was over. Black played well and I sucked.

Black surprised me with 15 … f4!

I never even considered that move. Black continued to surprise me. The next unpleasant surprise was 20 … Nf4!

By the time we got to 25 … gxf3 I was prepared to resign after 26 … Bg4. But Black faltered with 26 … g4 which allowed me to block his attack and even used Black’s pawns to shelter my King.

I did learn something from this game: in the Dutch Defense, the square f4 is a problem for White.

I’m leaving my comments here because if you click on the link, you will go to the game. Feel free to play through it and ask questions. I couldn’t figure out how to post this directly on BMEWS. I think I need ftp access. That’s the only way I got on my own blog.

Christopher-Wagner 1988

Posted by Christopher     on 04/11/2012 at 07:45 PM   
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   Sunday - April 08, 2012

Chess Problem: GM Robeson-Aditya Udeshi 2011

Sticking with my April issue of Chess Life, here is another position from the 2011 World Junior in India. White to move and win.

GM Robeson-Aditya Udeshi

1.?

UPDATE: 4/11/12

This is a one move answer, several got it, starting I think with Al_in_Ottawa.

1. d5

That is all. Black resigned. I wouldn’t have personally. I know I’m lost, but I rarely get to play a GM. I’d keep going just for the instructional value.

Posted by Christopher     on 04/08/2012 at 10:24 PM   
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   Thursday - April 05, 2012

Chess Problem from April’s Chess Life

Thought I’d switch sources. I got my April issue of Chess Life today. GM Andy Soltis has a column every month on some obscure chess facts. He also features problems from fairly recent tournaments, like the 2011 World Junior in India. American GM Robson tied for fourth place. This position is from IM Priyadharshan-GM Robson, 2011. Black to move and win. If there’s a theme, I’d call it sacrifice. Or possibly attraction. Oh hell, it’s both!

1…?

I suppose I should explain: IM is an International Master (2200+), GM is a Grandmaster (2400+). The difference is like me (an 1800 player) going against an Expert (a 2000 player).

UPDATE 4/8/12
JW solved this one too. I’m beginning to think JW is either very good and/or a subscriber to Chess Life. Or both.

1… Qxa2+!

and either:

2. Kxa2 Ra4+ (White can’t take because of the pin by Black’s e6 Bishop)
3. Kb1 Ra1#

or:

2. Kc1 Bf4

Resulting in what we used to call a LOQA (Loss Of Queen Accident) in my chess club.

Posted by Christopher     on 04/05/2012 at 07:34 PM   
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   Sunday - April 01, 2012

Chess Problem #809

Again, the theme here is attraction. White to move and win.

1. ?

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

Posted by Christopher     on 04/01/2012 at 06:59 PM   
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   Saturday - March 31, 2012

Chess Problem #808

The theme here is ‘attraction’:

This device is usually employed to attract an enemy piece onto an unfavorable square. Sometimes this implies that the piece being so distracted is placed under attack.

White to move and win.

1. ?

I’m happy to report that my copy of this book is falling apart.  I’ve been using it too much in the last year or two.

Also, and I have to thank Wes for reminding me, I have Lazlo Polgar’s book. The one that he used to train his daughters Susan, Judit, and Sofia. Susan was the Women’s World Champ for a while. All of them qualified as Grandmasters using the men’s scale. Well, not sure about Sofia. I think she got interested in being a wife and mother. But I’m certain she was Master level…which means she would kick my @ss over-the-board. (yes, unfortunately, FIDE rates women differently. Sad, but true. The Polgar sisters have been trying to change that. Has caused problems for the Polgars, there are politics in the chess world.)

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

Wes finally got it right, though he ‘cheated’ and used Rybka. I do have to agree with Wes; I’d have never played 3. Ra3 either.

Solution:

1. Nf7 Kxf7
2. Qf6+ Kg8
3. Ra3! f4

if 3… Be8
4. Rg3+ Kh7
5. Qh6# or

3… Nxa3
4. Qg6+ Kf8
5. Bxa3+

4. Bxf4 Nxa3
5. Re3 Be8
6. Rg3+ and White wins.

Posted by Christopher     on 03/31/2012 at 12:15 PM   
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   Tuesday - March 20, 2012

Chess Problem #299

Another Knight fork. This time it’s White to move and win.

1.?

UPDATE 3/21/12

CenTexTim got this one right.

1. Qg7+ Qxg7.
2. fxg7+ Kg8
3. Ne7+ winning a Rook and the game.

Posted by Christopher     on 03/20/2012 at 09:01 AM   
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   Sunday - March 18, 2012

Chess Problem #298

Today’s problem features the Knight fork:

The late Dr. Robert R. McCready, a strong expert and beloved chessplayer in Dallas for many years used to jokingly say ‘Were it not for those darned Knights, I would have been a Grandmaster.’ Indeed, of all of the chess pieces the Knight is the most fascinating and mysterious.

1…?

Black to move and win.

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

UPDATE 3/19/12

Well Drew, I’ve got to find and post one of my tournament games. I was White, on the ropes, so bad that the tournament director had already recorded my game as a loss. I was gratified to correct him; I won. It did feature a classic Knight fork–I forked both of Black’s Rooks and his Queen. If I find that game score I will post it. A classic example of what Drew says: Never give up.

Here’s the ‘book’ solution to this problem:

1. … Bxg2+
2. Qxg2 Rxd1
3. Rxd1 if 3. Qxc6 Rxe1+ and wins
3. … Nf2+
4. Kg1 Qxg2+
5. Kxg2 Nxd1 And Black wins.

Yes Drew, sorry. It’s one of those ‘magical wins’. Black is up substantial material. The win shouldn’t be a problem.

Posted by Christopher     on 03/18/2012 at 08:53 AM   
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   Saturday - March 03, 2012

Chess Problem #236

I’ve not solved this one. I haven’t peeked at the answer either. But it’s another case of ‘overload’ but this time it’s Black to move and win. I can’t even find a piece to overload. And I’m not gonna peek at the answer until tomorrow, when I’ll post the solution.

1. … ?

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

UPDATE 3/4/112

Guess l was wrong. Seems Drew got it right.

1. … Bh3
2. Re1 Bg2 winning material.

My keyboard isn’t working. I spilled Mountain Dew on it last night. I’m gonna go to Best Buy and buy a new keyboard. Fortunately I’ve got a virtual keyboard that I can hit with my mouse. But let’s face it, I type much faster than my mouse moves. My shift keys don’t work, my ‘a’ key also doesn’t work, nor does my delete key work. I really should quit putting vodka in my Mountain Dew.

Posted by Christopher     on 03/03/2012 at 06:22 AM   
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   Friday - March 02, 2012

Chess Problem #235

This problem’s theme is overload.

Overloading involves the exploitation of an enemy unit which must protect at least two other important pieces (or squares).

White to move and win.

1. ?

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

UPDATE 3/3/12

I am going to quote the book, just so Drew will be happy. JW pretty much solved this, after my ‘hint’.

1. Qc5!! (Black had the ugly threat of Rh1+!! which is now impossible because of Bxh1 and there is no mate on f2. Besides this defensive function, 1. Qc5 overloads the Bishop on d7 by threatening 2. Qc8+ Bxc8 3. Re8#. Black must defend against the mate and in so doing loses a Rook)

1. … h5
2. Bxg4 hg4
3. Kxh2 Qh6+
4. Kg1 Bc6
5. f3 Bxf3
6. Re8+ Kh7
7. Qc2+! and Black resigns, as a trade of Queens will be forced by 8. Qh2.

Posted by Christopher     on 03/02/2012 at 08:30 AM   
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   Thursday - March 01, 2012

Chess Problem #494

There are 1154 problems in this book. They are categorized by theme: pin, weak back rank, or, as in this problem, discovered attack.

The discovery is one of the most powerful types of move possible in a game of chess. The term ‘discovery’ simply means that a piece is moved from a rank, file, or diagonal while uncovering an attack by friendly forces behind it on the line, thereby giving both pieces a chance to simultaneously threaten the opponent.

I’ve decided to start ‘hopping’ through the book. We spent some time on ‘weak back ranks’, and most recently on ‘pins’. Now I’m going to ‘hop’ to different themes. In this case, discovery. (Drew should like this one, White wins in all variations that I’ve found. Nothing magical…)

Theme: Discovery
White to move and win:

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

UPDATE 3/2/12

Drew, JW, and Al_in_Ottawa all got this one right.

1. Qh6+ Bxh6
2. Ng5+ Kh8
3. Rh7#

Posted by Christopher     on 03/01/2012 at 04:07 AM   
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   Tuesday - February 28, 2012

Chess Problem #66

Motif is the pin.
Black to move and win!

1. … ?

I better get #67 ready, this one is too easy.

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

UPDATE 3/1/12

Two people got this close enough that I’m calling it. It actually went:

1. … Bg5!
2. f4 Bxf4 and White resigned as 3. Qxf4 is met by 3. … Qxb2# mate.

I know, Drew, you don’t like this sort of ‘magical win’ by either side. Let us just say that a ‘loss of Queen accident’ is usually enough to win for the other side. Not always, as the next problem will show. But then, in the next problem, the Queen is bait, her loss is not an accident.

Posted by Christopher     on 02/28/2012 at 03:43 PM   
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   Monday - February 27, 2012

Chess Problem #65

I updated the last problem. CenTexTim got it exactly right. Good job!

The next one is White to move and win. Remember, the pin is still the motif.

?

I haven’t been posting because I was ill again. Another brief hospital stay where they verified that whatever is wrong, it isn’t my heart. They sent me home with a new prescription. Take three times a day for five days. I took two the first day and was sicker than before! I almost went back to the hospital for a bad reaction to the drug. Took me almost a week to get over that. I’ll never touch that stuff again. Once that wore off I found I’ve now got a touch of the flu. Haven’t had the flu for almost twenty years. Not a bad case of the flu, hardly running a fever, mostly shows up as the squirts, so I’m drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)
Graphics courtesy of Exachess.

UPDATE 2/28/12
Solution:

It actually went

1. Ne6 fxe6
2. Rxg6+ Kf7 (Black declines to lose his Queen)
3. Rg7+ with mate to follow.

Posted by Christopher     on 02/27/2012 at 02:37 PM   
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