Level
4-Rook
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #140"][Date "2010.11.07"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/5k2/2p5/5p2/7R/4P1Kp/5P2/7r b - - 0 56"]56...Ke6 {Game line} 57.Rd4 h2 58.Kg2 Rf1 59.Kxh2 Rxf2+ 60.Kg3 Rf1 61.Kg2 Rb1 62.Kf3 Rb8 63.Kf4 c5 64.Rd1 Rg8 65.Kf3 Ke5 66.Rd2 Rh8 67.Rd7 Rc8 {White resigned}
You guys have been playing for a while and have already collected a small database of personal games. I hope you save it for future and not lose it! Later on in life you will look for it and going over those games will bring back nice memories. Of course it is very normal to have favorite games and combinations; also you will have memorable moments when you were simply lucky or blundered inexplicably. Such is the normal life of a chess player!
The above position is one to remember for me. Will not say what colour I was, but only the following: we have a very interesting Rook and pawns endgame. Black has very high hopes pinned on his c-pawn and as a result his last move to reach the above position was 56... Kf7-e6
Black's main line of thinking was that White could not take on h3 because the passed c-pawn and more active King would easily win the endgame after the Rook exchange. White seemed to reach the same conclusion and the game continued as shown.
Your task:
a) Analyse and decide the correctness of the above variation; was White dead lost no matter what?
Please provide possible variations (if necessary) to support your answer
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #141.
Puzzle #139 solution:
Game Tseshkovsky - Kasparov, 1981. Growing up, Kasparov has been my favorite player. It was not only because we are about the same age, but because of his combative style and incredible talent to come up with a brilliant combination when you would expect it the least. Going over his games still is an excellent training opportunity to improve your tactical skills and become a stronger player. Karl was the only one to come near the solution. Here is part of his answer:
a) This one took me a very long time. I had to consult with a chess engine after not being able to solve it. It gave me the first move and I thought of the rest. See solution.
b) The hints were okay:
- The first hint just said that White could lose the Queen if he takes the Bishop with it. This hints towards sacrificing the Bishop, because the Queen couldn’t take it and only the King can. If the Black Queen were still protecting the Bishop, then it would’ve been a lame trick that’s easy to see through.
- The second hint was a very hard to put into use: the Knight is vulnerable, yes, so it’s hinting for a fork of the King? After a while I thought of a way to fork the King after a long series of moves. See line with 2. Bc1-f4 ...
[Event "Puzzle #139"][Date "2010.11.01"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "2r3k1/1p4pp/p1n1p3/8/P5P1/1NP3qP/1P3bQ1/R1B2K2 b - - 0 1"]1...Qe5 {It is a seemingly normal move, but it uses the first hint and stops the King from running away. This also threatens 2... Qe1#, so the King has to take} 2.Kxf2 (2.Qxf2 Rf8) (2.Bf4 Qxf4 3.Qxf2 Qc4+ {Black wins}) 2...Rf8+ 3.Kg1 Qe1+ 4.Kh2 Rf2 {Black wins}
Correct solutions:
Karl - 14 points
Jeffrey, Nathaniel - 10 points
Alex - 5 points
Standings:
Karl - 239 points
Jeffrey - 225 points
Rick - 174 points
Frank - 122 points
Alex - 96 points
Owen - 95 points
Edwin - 72 points
Nathaniel - 60 points
The above position is one to remember for me. Will not say what colour I was, but only the following: we have a very interesting Rook and pawns endgame. Black has very high hopes pinned on his c-pawn and as a result his last move to reach the above position was 56... Kf7-e6
Black's main line of thinking was that White could not take on h3 because the passed c-pawn and more active King would easily win the endgame after the Rook exchange. White seemed to reach the same conclusion and the game continued as shown.
Your task:
a) Analyse and decide the correctness of the above variation; was White dead lost no matter what?
Please provide possible variations (if necessary) to support your answer
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #141.
Puzzle #139 solution:
Game Tseshkovsky - Kasparov, 1981. Growing up, Kasparov has been my favorite player. It was not only because we are about the same age, but because of his combative style and incredible talent to come up with a brilliant combination when you would expect it the least. Going over his games still is an excellent training opportunity to improve your tactical skills and become a stronger player. Karl was the only one to come near the solution. Here is part of his answer:
a) This one took me a very long time. I had to consult with a chess engine after not being able to solve it. It gave me the first move and I thought of the rest. See solution.
b) The hints were okay:
- The first hint just said that White could lose the Queen if he takes the Bishop with it. This hints towards sacrificing the Bishop, because the Queen couldn’t take it and only the King can. If the Black Queen were still protecting the Bishop, then it would’ve been a lame trick that’s easy to see through.
- The second hint was a very hard to put into use: the Knight is vulnerable, yes, so it’s hinting for a fork of the King? After a while I thought of a way to fork the King after a long series of moves. See line with 2. Bc1-f4 ...
[Event "Puzzle #139"][Date "2010.11.01"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "2r3k1/1p4pp/p1n1p3/8/P5P1/1NP3qP/1P3bQ1/R1B2K2 b - - 0 1"]1...Qe5 {It is a seemingly normal move, but it uses the first hint and stops the King from running away. This also threatens 2... Qe1#, so the King has to take} 2.Kxf2 (2.Qxf2 Rf8) (2.Bf4 Qxf4 3.Qxf2 Qc4+ {Black wins}) 2...Rf8+ 3.Kg1 Qe1+ 4.Kh2 Rf2 {Black wins}
Correct solutions:
Karl - 14 points
Jeffrey, Nathaniel - 10 points
Alex - 5 points
Standings:
Karl - 239 points
Jeffrey - 225 points
Rick - 174 points
Frank - 122 points
Alex - 96 points
Owen - 95 points
Edwin - 72 points
Nathaniel - 60 points
Simple comme Bonjour! (2)