Wednesday - February 15, 2012

Chess problem #64

Allegedly this one is based on a pin also. Damn if I can find one. I’m sure Drew or Wes will come up with the answer.

…?

Yes, that’s Black to move and win. Probably magically which will tick Drew off!

I’m a little upset. I’ve owned this book for over 20 years, and I solved this once. I check marked it as solved. Now I’ve no idea. Must be in the early stages of Alzhiemer’s.

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)

UPDATE 2/27/12

CenTexTim got it right (assuming he meant 3…Ng3+ and not 3…Kg3+ as written)

Solution:

1… Bg4! and White resigned.

See CenTexTim’s answer (comment #5)

Posted by Christopher     on 02/15/2012 at 01:49 PM   
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   Sunday - February 12, 2012

Chess problem #63

Drew will like this one. No ‘and White (or Black) magicially wins.’ We’re talking mate-in-2 here.

?

Yep. It’s White to move and win!

Solution. Posted 2/14/12

1. Rb1 and Black magically resigns. (book gives 1…Qxc5, 2. Rxb7#)

Sorry Drew and Wes, they didn’t mention 1…Nd7. Which might save Black.At least for awhile. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve found the book wrong.

Posted by Christopher     on 02/12/2012 at 03:23 PM   
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   Saturday - February 11, 2012

Chess problem #62

I’m afraid this one is easy. Again, the motif is pinning. White to move and win!

?

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)

Solution. Posted 2/13/12

1. Qa3+ Qe7

if 1. … Kg8, 2. Bxh7 wins Blacks Queen.

2. Bc6!

and if 2. … Qxa3, 3. Re8 mates.

Posted by Christopher     on 02/11/2012 at 11:57 AM   
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   Thursday - February 09, 2012

Chess problem #61

I’ve not posted the solution to the last problem (#60) mainly because Drew is so close to solving it himself. Go check the comments.

This one is actually a little easier. Again, the pin is the motif. It’s also more obvious in this position.

…?

Now, you’d think White has the game. White’s up two pawns, his remaining pieces are all lined up on an open file. But that’s a nasty pin Black’s Queen has…an absolute pin. White can’t break the pin unless he spends a tempo moving his King. But it’s not White’s turn.

Black to move and win!

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)

Solution–posted 2/11/12

This one is much easier than #60. Black plays

1. … Rxc5

White replies with

2. Qxc5

Now Black uncorks

2. … Rc8! Remember that nasty pin. It’s still there. So White’s best is

3. Qxb6

Black replies with

3. … Rxc1+
4. Kf2 (only move)

And now Black takes

4. … axb6. And now Black is up a Rook vs. two pawns.

Posted by Christopher     on 02/09/2012 at 08:24 PM   
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   Wednesday - February 08, 2012

Chess problem #60

Back to some chess problems. I’ve skipped to the next section. These problems are based on the pin. Pins can be relative or absolute. A relative pin means yes, you can take the piece, but you will lose a piece of higher value. An absolute pin means you can’t take the piece because it exposes your King to attack.

Also, just to remind everyone: if it says ‘?’ it’s White to move and win; if it says ‘…?’ it’s Black to move and win.

?

Yes, that’s a ‘?’, which means White to move and win.

Taken from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and USCF Senior Master John Hall (2520)

Solution. Posted 2/11/12

1. Nxh7 Kxh7
2. Rh5+ Kg7

I should mention that Drew did get this far.

3. Be5+ f6
4. Rg5! and White magically wins.

I know Drew hates these magical wins. I’m not fond of them myself. But John Hall is rated 2520, and I’m a lowly 1823. What do I know?

Posted by Christopher     on 02/08/2012 at 06:39 PM   
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   Sunday - October 30, 2011

Today’s Chess Problem

Haven’t done this for awhile. I think Drew solved the last one. If I’m wrong, I’m sure Wes will correct me.

Anyway, here it is! This is problem #17 if you have the book.

1. … ?

Black to move.

graphics courtesy of ExaChess. Problems from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and John Hall.

Posted by Christopher     on 10/30/2011 at 12:47 PM   
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   Thursday - October 13, 2011

Today’s Chess Problem 10/13/11

I’ve updated the last chess problem. Wes got it right.

Today’s problem:

1. … Black to move.

Wes, Drew, this one is easy.

graphics courtesy of ExaChess. Problems from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and John Hall.

Posted by Christopher     on 10/13/2011 at 11:25 PM   
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   Sunday - October 09, 2011

Today’s Chess Problem 10/09/11

I updated the last problem with the solution. Kudos to Wes. Though I think I should give myself some kudos: never had to drop a tactical nuke on a chess problem before!

1. … ? Black to move.

And yes, we’re still in the ‘weak back rank’ section. White is at risk. You’ll note that Black’s King has ‘luft’.

graphics courtesy of ExaChess. Problems from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and John Hall.

UPDATE!

Wes got it right. Here is the ‘book’ solution:

1. … Rxc2
2. Rxc2 Rxc2
3. Qd1 Qxa2 and Black is winning.

After 3. … Qxa2

True, but let me explain, because Drew will ask me…

Winning meaning that Black holds most of the cards. (Cards? Chess? Mixed metaphors?)

Black has a Q and R on White’s second rank. White’s bishop is tied down to defending White’s King.
Black has two connected passed pawns on the queenside. One of them will Queen.
Or White will sacrifice mucho material to stop the pawns. Which means that White will not be able to stop Black from mating.

I can win this against any World Chess Champ.
The trick is to get this position against a World Chess Champ.

Posted by Christopher     on 10/09/2011 at 11:31 AM   
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   Saturday - October 08, 2011

Today’s Chess Problem 10/08/11

I’ve updated the last problem with the alleged solution and why it’s wrong. Today’s problem:

graphics courtesy of ExaChess. Problems from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and John Hall.

UPDATE:

Wes got the solution. I’d also like to commend Wes for his succinct analysis of the situation:

In most problems you would like to look for a mate by force, one where everything is determined.  To do that your first move must be a check.  The only one to do that in today’s problem is 1… QxR+ white is forced to play KxQ.  Then black can get his rooks into the game.  Unfortunately white will move Ke3 and black chases him but can’t quite him and the loss of his Queen will eventually do him in.

Black is fortunate in having time.  The white Queen and Knight are locked up on the wrong side of the board (emphasis added) and not an immediate threat to do much harm but for the white Knight aimed at the Rook on c8.  So black plays:

1. … Rc1!

Threatening, as Wes said above, QxRf1+ and mate. White has two choices. He can drop the R and create ‘luft’ by playing 2. h3, or he can continue as the books says:
2. Rxc1 Qd1+
3. Rxd1 Rxd1#

This was a relatively easy one. Again, I want to commend Wes for his analysis of the situation. That’s even more important than finding the right move. Can’t find the right move if you can’t define the problem(s).

Posted by Christopher     on 10/08/2011 at 06:39 AM   
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   Thursday - October 06, 2011

Today’s Chess Problem 10/06/11

First the solution to the last problem:

1 … Bf5!
2. Nxf5 Qxf5
3. Qxf5 Nxd2+
4. Ka1 Rc1+
5. Qb1 Rxb1# (# is the symbol for mate.)

Drew and Wes both got this one. Drew also asked a good question:

PS - just what defines a “weak back rank”? Two rooks and a knight in place, some pawns in the way, and a bishop or a knight just one move out make white’s back rank look pretty sturdy to me.

My answer:

A weak back rank? Some of this comes with experience. In this case, sure White has two rooks and a knight on the back rank, but it’s the knight that is the problem. Both rooks are on the wrong side. They are cut off from protecting the king by their own knight. If White’s knight wasn’t there, there’s no mate with Black’s rook and knight. As for the pawns, well, they are blocking possible escape routes for White’s king. The king has no ‘luft’. (For an explanation of luft, see the Wikipedia entry ‘luft’.)

Now, today’s problem is ‘White to move and win…’ Sorry, there’s a cook. So, see if you can find the ‘book’ solution, then find the refutation.

1. ? … White to move and win. (sure… )

UPDATE: The alleged solution. The book gives:
1. Rxe8 Rxe8
2. Rg7 Rxg7
3. Qxe8+ Rg8
4. f7 and wins

Very pretty, and completely wrong. It ignores
4. … Qd5+
5. Bg2 Qxg2#

I’m assuming a typo in the book. Perhaps there’s still a White pawn on g2. Or White’s B is on g2 instead of h3. I can’t believe that John Hall (one of the authors, rated 2520) would have missed that.

Posted by Christopher     on 10/06/2011 at 06:31 PM   
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   Wednesday - October 05, 2011

Today’s Chess Problem 10/05/11

I’m betting this one even confuses Wes…

1. … ? Black to move

We’re working through the first part of the book. Weak back ranks. In this instance, White is the loser.

graphics courtesy of ExaChess. Problems from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and John Hall.

Posted by Christopher     on 10/05/2011 at 12:26 AM   
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   Saturday - October 01, 2011

Today’s Chess Problem 10/01/11

Solution to the last problem will have to wait. Wes said he solved it, but was holding off to let others weigh in. Wes, post your solution.

Today’s problem:

1. … ?

Black to move. White’s back rank is weak.

graphics courtesy of ExaChess. Problems from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and John Hall.

Posted by Christopher     on 10/01/2011 at 11:26 AM   
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   Thursday - September 29, 2011

We’ll Call It A Draw!

Posted by Christopher     on 09/29/2011 at 10:52 PM   
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Today’s Chess Problem 9/29/11

Solution from the the previous chess problem (btw: kudos to Wes, he got the first move right!):

1. … Nc5
2. Rxe8+ Qxe8
3. Qf3 Bg4!

Winning, so the book says since Qxg4 allows Qe1 mate.

Been dealing with the fallout of my bank getting bought out. What a pain! The new bank’s online bill payment software sucks! I couldn’t even verify I had any money for some days. Hence my lack of posting.

Today’s problem:

1. … ? Black to move. White’s back rank is weak.

graphics courtesy of ExaChess. Problems from Combination Challenge by Lou Hayes and John Hall.

Posted by Christopher     on 09/29/2011 at 03:25 PM   
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