Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #33"][Date "2008.08.23"][Result "?-?"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r1b5/2P3k1/5b1p/pB3pp1/P1N1p3/3p3P/1P3PP1/2R3K1 b - - 0 32"]32...Ra7
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There are moments in a chess game when all acumulated advantages (both positional and material) need to be converted into a win. If you don't do it, the opponent will and there will not be a second chance. Let's look at the following position from a game between Wachtel - Suttles, Vancouver 1975 (part of the book; used with permission); after the move 32.c6-c7 Ra8-a7 we arrived here (see diagram). Questions:
a) Analyse the position. (3 points)
b) Was 32... Ra8-a7 a good and necessary move? Explain. (3 points)
c) Give the most probable line for both sides (no longer than 10 moves) and the result (4 points)
Total available points for this puzzle is 10. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #34.
Puzzle #32 solution:
Sorry for the delay in posting this solution and following puzzle! It was nice to get 5 detailed responses, each one of them with unique solutions for questions "b" and "c". Everyone agreed White had a decisive advantage, even being down a piece; this is a good thing! Here are 3 nice solutions I received together with the game line:
[Event "Puzzle #32"][Date "2008.08.08"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r4bk1/n2Rp1n1/1p6/1Pp1pPp1/2P1N1P1/2N4P/6K1/8 w - - 0 38"]{In the game} 38.f6 ({John's own idea} 38.Nd5 Nc8 39.Rd8 e6 {This is really the only good move to start counterplay} 40.Nc7 ({Eugen: this is better} 40.Ne7+ Nxe7 41.Rxa8) 40...Ra2+ 41.Kf1 Ra1+ ({Eugen: better is} 41...exf5 42.gxf5 Nxf5 43.Rxc8 Ne3+ 44.Kg1 g4) 42.Ke2 Ra2+ 43.Kd1 Ra1+ 44.Kc2 Ra2+ 45.Kb1 Rh2 46.Nxg5 exf5 47.Rxc8 {White wins}) ({Joshua's own idea} 38.Nxg5 Nc8 39.Nce4 Ra2+ ({Eugen: better is} 39...Ne8 40.Rd8 Nc7) 40.Kg3 Rc2 41.f6 exf6 42.Nxf6+ Kh8 43.Nf7#) 38...exf6 ({Jeremy's line} 38...Ne8 39.fxe7 Bg7 40.Rd8 Rc8 41.Nd6 {White wins}) 39.Nxf6+ Kh8 40.Nce4 Nc8 41.Nxg5 Nd6 42.Rxd6 Bxd6 43.Nf7#
Correct solutions:
Joshua and Jeremy - 9 points
John - 8 points
Nathaniel - 3 points
Wilson - 2 points
Standings:
57.0 John
52.0 Joshua
43.0 Wilson
40.0 Jeremy
15.0 Karl
13.0 Nathaniel
10.0 Jacob
There are moments in a chess game when all acumulated advantages (both positional and material) need to be converted into a win. If you don't do it, the opponent will and there will not be a second chance. Let's look at the following position from a game between Wachtel - Suttles, Vancouver 1975 (part of the book; used with permission); after the move 32.c6-c7 Ra8-a7 we arrived here (see diagram). Questions:
a) Analyse the position. (3 points)
b) Was 32... Ra8-a7 a good and necessary move? Explain. (3 points)
c) Give the most probable line for both sides (no longer than 10 moves) and the result (4 points)
Total available points for this puzzle is 10. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #34.
Puzzle #32 solution:
Sorry for the delay in posting this solution and following puzzle! It was nice to get 5 detailed responses, each one of them with unique solutions for questions "b" and "c". Everyone agreed White had a decisive advantage, even being down a piece; this is a good thing! Here are 3 nice solutions I received together with the game line:
[Event "Puzzle #32"][Date "2008.08.08"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r4bk1/n2Rp1n1/1p6/1Pp1pPp1/2P1N1P1/2N4P/6K1/8 w - - 0 38"]{In the game} 38.f6 ({John's own idea} 38.Nd5 Nc8 39.Rd8 e6 {This is really the only good move to start counterplay} 40.Nc7 ({Eugen: this is better} 40.Ne7+ Nxe7 41.Rxa8) 40...Ra2+ 41.Kf1 Ra1+ ({Eugen: better is} 41...exf5 42.gxf5 Nxf5 43.Rxc8 Ne3+ 44.Kg1 g4) 42.Ke2 Ra2+ 43.Kd1 Ra1+ 44.Kc2 Ra2+ 45.Kb1 Rh2 46.Nxg5 exf5 47.Rxc8 {White wins}) ({Joshua's own idea} 38.Nxg5 Nc8 39.Nce4 Ra2+ ({Eugen: better is} 39...Ne8 40.Rd8 Nc7) 40.Kg3 Rc2 41.f6 exf6 42.Nxf6+ Kh8 43.Nf7#) 38...exf6 ({Jeremy's line} 38...Ne8 39.fxe7 Bg7 40.Rd8 Rc8 41.Nd6 {White wins}) 39.Nxf6+ Kh8 40.Nce4 Nc8 41.Nxg5 Nd6 42.Rxd6 Bxd6 43.Nf7#
Correct solutions:
Joshua and Jeremy - 9 points
John - 8 points
Nathaniel - 3 points
Wilson - 2 points
Standings:
57.0 John
52.0 Joshua
43.0 Wilson
40.0 Jeremy
15.0 Karl
13.0 Nathaniel
10.0 Jacob
Passed pawns