Puzzle of the week #150

Submitted by eugen on Mon, 02/07/2011 - 00:28

Helm's Deep

Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #150"][Date "2011.02.07"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/4p1kp/4p1p1/4pPP1/4P2Q/6NP/1r1q4/1n3R1K w - - 0 1"]
Don't know how many of you have been curious and saw the movie (or read the book trilogy) "Lord of the rings". It is one of my all time favorites! There is a nice scene near the end of the second movie (or book III) when the fortress of Helm's Deep is ready to fall into the hands of the orcs army. Aragorn, King Theoden, Legolas, Gimli and their close friends are surrounded in the last room free of orcs and the enemy ready to torn down the doors. They decide to make one last run for it, head on into the heart of the orcs army; in the same time Gandalf appears out of nowhere with a fresh new army of horsemen and the orcs are defeated.
Think about this position the same way: it looks really grim for White with the end possible at every single move. Should I add that in the real game (played in Australia) White resigned here? It is clear he did not see the movie, nor read the book. Your tasks:
1. Save the game for White
2. Explain why this was possible

Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #151.

Puzzle #149 solution:
This was one of my games played over the internet during summer of 2010. See the entire game below. Out of all the answers received, the one by Ziyao was the most to the point one:
Name of opening is Ponziani Opening, Jaenisch Counterattack.
Analysis of Position:
Material: material is equal
King Safety: White's King is safer than Black's since his King is castled, while Black's is not. It is Black's turn to move and not much attacks are pointed towards the Kings though since most of the play is happening on the Queenside.
Position of pieces: both Black Bishops are active and one of his Knights is posted past his side of the board. White's Queen is pretty weak under potential danger from both Black Knight and the light-coloured Bishop.
Development: White prematurly developed his Queen putting it in danger. Development in this position is even, but it is White's turn to move.
Center: white has both Knights pointed towards the center and two pawns in the center. Black has 2 Knights defending the d5 pawn which is in the center and he has a Bishop in the center. White has a small advantage since pawns in the center are better than pieces.

[Event "Puzzle #149"][Date "2011.01.30"][Result "0-1"]1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 Nd5 6.Qb3 Nb6 7.cxd4 d5 8.Be2 Bf5 9.O-O Be7 10.Nc3 Nb4 11.Bd2 {Solution from the game} (11.Ne1 {The best move for white}) (11.Bg5 {Another move exploiting the weak position of Nb4. The bishop defending it is now overloaded}) 11...Bc2 12.Qa3 Nd3 13.Qa5 (13.b4 Bxb4 {White loses his Queen}) 13...Bb4 14.Qb5+ c6 {White loses his Queen} 15.Qxd3 Bxd3 16.Bxd3 Nc4 17.Bg5 Qd7 18.Rab1 h6 19.e6 fxe6 20.Bg6+ Kf8 21.Bf4 Bd6 22.Bxd6+ Qxd6 23.b3 Nb6 24.Rbe1 Nd7 25.Ne5 Ke7 26.Bf5 Rhe8 27.Bxe6 Nxe5 28.Rxe5 Qb4 29.Rfe1 Qxc3 30.Bc8+ Kd6 31.Rxe8 Rxc8 32.R1e6+ Kc7 33.R8e7+ Kb6

Correct solutions:
Ziyao - 30 points
Harmony - 29 points
Philip, Alex - 25 points
James - 19 points
Kevin - 15 points
Derrick, Leo, Jeffrey - 13 points
Frank - 10 points
Leroy - 5 points

Standings:
Ziyao - 77 points
Harmony - 70 points
James - 59 points
Alex - 54 points
Philip - 49 points
Frank - 43 points
Leo - 34 points
Jeffrey - 32 points
Leroy - 23 points
Derrick - 13 points
Danny - 19 points
Karl - 13 points
Kevin - 11 point