Chess Problem: GM Robeson-Aditya Udeshi 2011
This one should be easy for all. I doubt Wes will need to consult Rybka. The hard part is getting such a position.
I don’t read chess life, and if I did, it would be kinda unfair to answer the challenge. I have never had a rating, and have not played competitively since high school, but as far as how good I am, I guess I would say a bit better than ok. I have no specific opening knowledge and a tendency to play impulsively which drops pieces. If I can get to the mid game in a reasonable state and slow down to think, I play well tactically; but have difficulty determining what my opponent will do, which limits the complexity of combinations. If I get a lead, I will usually attempt to simplify the position, and get to the endgame; where I have enough knowledge to win most of the games I should without coughing up a stalemate. As far as written problems go, it helps that I already know that a move is there. I think I am better at this than actual play. It especially helps if the theme or hint tells me where to look, as it focuses my attention.
As far as the problem goes, I think it is blacks turn to lose a queen. (or the game)
Posted by JW
04/08/2012 at 11:11 PM
Rook takes pawn. checkmate
Surprise… I usually miss the obvious.
And I see I did again.... nevermind.
Yeah, can’t ignore that pesky Bishop that would swoop in from B3. So deal with him.
First cup of coffee again, but I think getting the white queen to safety might be a good place to start. Or at least getting the E3 bishop to cover her.
Hmmm ... idea?
1. Bd2, Bxd4+ White covers queen, Black thinks he’s got the advantage and goes for it
2. Kh1, (a8)Rc8 White escapes, Black starts his endgame
3. Rb1, Bc2 White threatens the Bishop, Black moves it to safety plus counter threat
4. Rxf7++ Sucker punch!!This looks like politics! Hey, over here! Look at what’s going on over here!! Then, pow, from the other corner. Blindsided.
Drew, you’re taking the long, unforced road. I don’t think it works. If I were Black, I’d be trying to trade material and go for a (hopefully) drawn endgame. I’d trade Queens. When you’re in a difficult position, trading pieces relieves the pressure. At least in theory.
JimS, at least you caught the problem with your move!
I think JW has it, just based on his last sentence. That’s the only hint I’m gonna give.
If white plays
1. B-d2
As black I would take the d4 pawn, but not with the bishop
1. ...... , Qxd4+
Black wins a pawn, and all but forces a trade of queens, while maintaining initiative. I think black ends up with an easy win, whatever white chooses to do.
Posted by JW
04/09/2012 at 03:55 PM
How about P-Q5, which still threatens R X P mate?
Posted by Samoore
04/09/2012 at 07:58 PM
Here is what I see for white.
1)d5, f6 whites pawn move blocks the bishop at b3 leaving f7 unprotected - white can mate with Rxf7, black must advance the pawn to f6 where it is covered by the bishop and the knight
2)Bxb6, Ba2 White takes the black queen and threatens to take the lonely bishop which which must cover the diagonal to prevent Qf7++
3)Qxd6+, Re7 white queen has now pinned the rook
4)Bc5, Kxc5 white threatens Qxe7++ so black must take the bishop
5)Qxc5,...... white is now up a queen and knight and has the e7 rook pinned, I can’t see a move for black that prevents
6)g5 to kick the door downAlternately, black can advance the rook to e7 to protect f7 but it does not do much good.
1)d5, Re7 to cover f7
2)Bxb6, Ba2
3)Qxd6, Bd5 rook is pinned black moves bishop to threaten the queen
4)Rxf7+, Ke8
5)Qxe7++Posted by Al_in_Ottawa
04/09/2012 at 08:44 PM
Oops, in 2) the lonely bishop does not have to protect the a2 diagonal, the white pawn has blocked it.
Posted by Al_in_Ottawa
04/09/2012 at 08:46 PM
Okay, enough of this,
1. d4-d5 .. Bxd5 If black plays QxQ or fails to protect f7 it is mate by rook next move.
2. BxQ .... and the game is won. Any other move but d4-d5 and black has a fighting chance.Ahh… like instead of going for the Queen, Black replies to d4-d5 with knight-e5 or R-e7?
(Sorry… I learned the old lingo.)
If
1)d5, Ke5 the black queen is unsupported so
2)Qxb6, this gives the possibility of
3)Qxb7, which in turn raises the possibility of
4)Rxf7+, Kxf7
5)Qxf7++or
1)d5, Re7
2)Bxb6, since the knight is protecting the queen, bishop takes queen. If knight takes bishop, queen takes knight. Who wouldn’t gladly trade a bishop for a queen and a knight?Black is either going to lose his queen or the game on whites next move after the pawn advances to d5
Posted by Al_in_Ottawa
04/10/2012 at 08:26 PM
Al, I think you meant 1… Ne5 as the King can’t jump to e5. And wouldn’t want to if it could.
Black would then drop the Queen, but I wouldn’t play 2. Qxb6, I’d play 2. Bxb6. This cramps Black’s pawns while allowing White’s Queen freedom to operate with with either 3. Qxb3 or 3. Qxd6+. If you take with the Queen the same double threat exists, but then Black can try to gain some breathing room with 3… b5. Taking with the Bishop prevents that when White’s Queen moves. Not only is White up major material, White is strangling Black in amount of space available to move in.
Black’s best is probably:
1. d5 Qxe3+
2. Rxe3 and then Black at least has something for his Queen, and can play 3… b5 gain some room.That’s what I would be thinking over-the-board. The magazine stops with 1. d5, where it’s obvious it’s loss of Queen or loss of game. Black resigned.
