Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #38"][Date "2008.09.25"][Result "1/2-1/2"][SetUp "1"][FEN "1r3r2/6kp/3p1pp1/qnp1pP2/1p2P2N/3P4/PPPQ1P1P/1K1R2R1 w - - 0 1"]
Attacking on opposite sides makes for a very exciting game, as both sides rush to reach the other King first. In general the faster attack wins, but there are always surprising combination waiting to be discovered and turn the game around.
Players from the past were of tremendous skill. Their games are striking especially since there were no chess books or instructions at the time. Most of them were doing their best to come up with new openings and plans to dominate their opponents. The art of attack was far more highly regarded than defence and coming up with beautiful attacks and combinations (in a time without computers) was indeed like art.
Today we go back to the game Walbrodt - Mieses, 1894 at the following position (see diagram). It is White to move. The attacks on opposite sides are easy to see: White is attacking on the King side, while Black is giving its best shot on the Queen side. Questions:
a) Which attack looks more dangerous? What is White threatening and what is Black? (5 points)
b) Please propose the best line (no longer than 5 moves) based on your answer to question "a" (5 points)
Total available points for this puzzle is 10. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #39.
Puzzle #37 solution:
Steiner (like all but two solvers) played 22... Rfe8 after which white resigned. See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #37"][Date "2008.09.18"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "5rk1/ppp3pp/8/3p2P1/1P1NrP2/P2p2P1/1B1P3P/R2K3b b - - 0 22"]{This is a better way that makes checkmate unavoidable} 22...Rfxf4! ({In the game} 22...Rfe8 {White resigned since he must sacrifice his Knight on e2 and place his Bishop on e5 to avoid checkmate}) 23.gxf4 Rxf4 24.Ke1 Bg2 25.Nf3 Rxf3 {Followed by checkmate at the next move}
Correct solutions:
Joanne, John - 5 points
Wilson, Andy Q, James, Karl, Mark, Nathaniel, Jeremy and Joshua - 1 point
Standings:
John - 20 points
Joshua - 13 points
Andy Q - 12 points
Karl and Jeremy - 11 points
Joanne and Katerina - 10 points
Wilson - 4 points
Nathaniel - 3 points
James and Mark - 1 point
Players from the past were of tremendous skill. Their games are striking especially since there were no chess books or instructions at the time. Most of them were doing their best to come up with new openings and plans to dominate their opponents. The art of attack was far more highly regarded than defence and coming up with beautiful attacks and combinations (in a time without computers) was indeed like art.
Today we go back to the game Walbrodt - Mieses, 1894 at the following position (see diagram). It is White to move. The attacks on opposite sides are easy to see: White is attacking on the King side, while Black is giving its best shot on the Queen side. Questions:
a) Which attack looks more dangerous? What is White threatening and what is Black? (5 points)
b) Please propose the best line (no longer than 5 moves) based on your answer to question "a" (5 points)
Total available points for this puzzle is 10. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #39.
Puzzle #37 solution:
Steiner (like all but two solvers) played 22... Rfe8 after which white resigned. See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #37"][Date "2008.09.18"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "5rk1/ppp3pp/8/3p2P1/1P1NrP2/P2p2P1/1B1P3P/R2K3b b - - 0 22"]{This is a better way that makes checkmate unavoidable} 22...Rfxf4! ({In the game} 22...Rfe8 {White resigned since he must sacrifice his Knight on e2 and place his Bishop on e5 to avoid checkmate}) 23.gxf4 Rxf4 24.Ke1 Bg2 25.Nf3 Rxf3 {Followed by checkmate at the next move}
Correct solutions:
Joanne, John - 5 points
Wilson, Andy Q, James, Karl, Mark, Nathaniel, Jeremy and Joshua - 1 point
Standings:
John - 20 points
Joshua - 13 points
Andy Q - 12 points
Karl and Jeremy - 11 points
Joanne and Katerina - 10 points
Wilson - 4 points
Nathaniel - 3 points
James and Mark - 1 point
Opposite sides attack