Level
4-Rook
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #104"][Date "2010.02.12"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/5p2/3pp1k1/3P2bR/4P1P1/3K4/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
Let's try something new and interesting this week. It is important for you to accept the reality from the beginning. Look at the position while reading this and quickly decide on White's first move. Write it down or remember it now! This first move you have saved is your first reaction based on your chess intuition. Chess intuition plays a big role in any game and in most cases gives you the right decision especially when you are short on time and need to move fast. Your tasks:
a) Write your intuitive first move you have saved (5 points)
b) Analyse the position seriously and show how White moves and wins; at this point you might play a different first move from the one written above (10 points)
Do not change the first move from your first response if it is different!
Total available points for this puzzle is 15. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #105.
Puzzle #103 solution:
This is a position from a real game between Bondarevski - Ufimtev, Unional Championship, Leningrad 1936. The interesting part is the fact Black played superficial and moved the Bishop away as shown below by Karl.
Owen's analysis:
a) 1. Material.
White: 1x King; 1x Rook; 1x Bishop; 1x Knight; 2x Pawns
Black: 1x King; 1x Rook; 1x Bishop; 1x Knight; 4x Pawns
So black has a material advantage of two Pawns.
2. King safety.
Black’s King is safer than the White King. It is protected by the pawn on g7, Nf6 and Bh3 which is under attack from the White Rh1.
White’s king is open to black’s attack.
3. Position
Even though that white is down by two pawns, it seems to have a better position than Black.
White controls the center of the board with two pawns and also is attacking Bh3. If Black gives up the "h-" file, Rh1 has a chance to reach the 8th line and it will be able to attack the Black pawns. Black has a choice to defend the Bishop or move it to a safer place.
Black has the advantage by two pawns. The pawns are not under attack.
Black has an open "c-" file. It helps Black to move the Rook on the 8th line to support his own pawns.
Black has to defend the Bishop on h3 or move it.
Karl's lines:
b) See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #103"][Date "2010.02.05"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "6k1/p5p1/1p1p1nN1/1B1P4/4PK2/7b/2r5/7R b - - 0 1"]{Black protects its Bishop} 1...Rc3 (1...Bg2?? 2.Rh8+ Kf7 3.Be8+! Nxe8 4.Kg5 {Checkmate to follow 1-0}) 2.Rh2 Kh7 3.Nf8+ Kh6 {Threatening mate in two different ways} 4.Rxh3+ Rxh3 {Black wins}
Correct solutions:
Andy Y, Owen, Karl - 30 points
Alex, Andy Q, Edwin - 29 points
Amir - 25 points
Humphrey, Jeffrey - 15 points
Standings:
Owen, Karl, Andy Y - 80 points
Andy Q - 79 points
Amir - 72 points
Alex - 66 points
Edwin - 58 points
Humphrey - 65 points
Jeffrey - 47 points
James - 31 points
Rick, Marko - 10 points
a) Write your intuitive first move you have saved (5 points)
b) Analyse the position seriously and show how White moves and wins; at this point you might play a different first move from the one written above (10 points)
Do not change the first move from your first response if it is different!
Total available points for this puzzle is 15. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #105.
Puzzle #103 solution:
This is a position from a real game between Bondarevski - Ufimtev, Unional Championship, Leningrad 1936. The interesting part is the fact Black played superficial and moved the Bishop away as shown below by Karl.
Owen's analysis:
a) 1. Material.
White: 1x King; 1x Rook; 1x Bishop; 1x Knight; 2x Pawns
Black: 1x King; 1x Rook; 1x Bishop; 1x Knight; 4x Pawns
So black has a material advantage of two Pawns.
2. King safety.
Black’s King is safer than the White King. It is protected by the pawn on g7, Nf6 and Bh3 which is under attack from the White Rh1.
White’s king is open to black’s attack.
3. Position
Even though that white is down by two pawns, it seems to have a better position than Black.
White controls the center of the board with two pawns and also is attacking Bh3. If Black gives up the "h-" file, Rh1 has a chance to reach the 8th line and it will be able to attack the Black pawns. Black has a choice to defend the Bishop or move it to a safer place.
Black has the advantage by two pawns. The pawns are not under attack.
Black has an open "c-" file. It helps Black to move the Rook on the 8th line to support his own pawns.
Black has to defend the Bishop on h3 or move it.
Karl's lines:
b) See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #103"][Date "2010.02.05"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "6k1/p5p1/1p1p1nN1/1B1P4/4PK2/7b/2r5/7R b - - 0 1"]{Black protects its Bishop} 1...Rc3 (1...Bg2?? 2.Rh8+ Kf7 3.Be8+! Nxe8 4.Kg5 {Checkmate to follow 1-0}) 2.Rh2 Kh7 3.Nf8+ Kh6 {Threatening mate in two different ways} 4.Rxh3+ Rxh3 {Black wins}
Correct solutions:
Andy Y, Owen, Karl - 30 points
Alex, Andy Q, Edwin - 29 points
Amir - 25 points
Humphrey, Jeffrey - 15 points
Standings:
Owen, Karl, Andy Y - 80 points
Andy Q - 79 points
Amir - 72 points
Alex - 66 points
Edwin - 58 points
Humphrey - 65 points
Jeffrey - 47 points
James - 31 points
Rick, Marko - 10 points
Endgame intuition (part 1)