Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #159"][Date "2011.04.10"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r2qkb1r/pppb2pp/2np1n2/5pN1/2BQP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 0 1"]
The latest test at the club was intended to see how much you understood from the chapter dedicated to openings for your level. It proved to be better overall, with more of you getting better scores; still there is work to do ahead. What I want to say is very simple: if you do not have an opening you know, play one we learnt at the club. This is your best time to learn how to play open chess, plus when and how to attack. I will add one more puzzle (the present one) for good measures. The tasks are hopefully simple:
a) Name the opening (a bit of a lucky guess) based on the position (of all pieces)
b) Analyse the position and decide what should White do now
c) Present the best line you can think of for White
Total available points for this puzzle is 25. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #160.
Puzzle #158 solution:
Game W. Ravagnati - R. Ballabio, Corsica, 1990. A surprisingly good answer came this time courtesy of Kevin. It was not the best, but the intuition and work was there; hopefully better calculation and more attention will also appear in his future answers. I have added to it a couple of lines from Philip for a complete solution.
Kevin:
a) White must be careful not to waste time and let Black's Bishops out (they are very dangerous because of the very open position) and use it wisely so it can get some other pieces such as a Bishop or a Rook to join the attack. Also White should break through Black's line of defenses.
b) See solution below:
[Event "Puzzle #158"][Date "2011.04.03"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "1rbq2kr/p1ppb1pp/1pn5/3NP1N1/6Q1/8/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 1"]1.Nf6+ gxf6 (1...Bxf6 2.Qc4+ d5 3.exd6+ Be6 4.Qxe6+ Kf8 5.Qf7#) 2.Qc4+ {Taking advantage of the now open diagonal in front of the King} 2...d5 (2...Kf8 3.Qf7#) 3.exd6+ {White won't let Black away that easily} 3...Be6 4.Qxe6+ Kg7 (4...Kf8 5.Qf7#) 5.Qf7+ Kh6 6.Nf3#
Correct solutions:
Philip, James, Harmony - 25 points
Ziyao - 23 points
Alex, Daniel, Kevin - 20 points
Leo, Frank - 16 points
Leroy, Derrick - 10 points
Standings:
Ziyao - 244 points
Harmony - 238 points
James - 208 points
Philip - 194 points
Alex - 181 points
Leo - 166 points
Derrick - 113 points
Leroy - 111 points
Jeffrey - 95 points
Daniel - 75 points
Kevin - 72 point
Frank - 64 points
Danny - 19 points
Karl - 13 points
Eric - 12 points
a) Name the opening (a bit of a lucky guess) based on the position (of all pieces)
b) Analyse the position and decide what should White do now
c) Present the best line you can think of for White
Total available points for this puzzle is 25. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #160.
Puzzle #158 solution:
Game W. Ravagnati - R. Ballabio, Corsica, 1990. A surprisingly good answer came this time courtesy of Kevin. It was not the best, but the intuition and work was there; hopefully better calculation and more attention will also appear in his future answers. I have added to it a couple of lines from Philip for a complete solution.
Kevin:
a) White must be careful not to waste time and let Black's Bishops out (they are very dangerous because of the very open position) and use it wisely so it can get some other pieces such as a Bishop or a Rook to join the attack. Also White should break through Black's line of defenses.
b) See solution below:
[Event "Puzzle #158"][Date "2011.04.03"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "1rbq2kr/p1ppb1pp/1pn5/3NP1N1/6Q1/8/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 1"]1.Nf6+ gxf6 (1...Bxf6 2.Qc4+ d5 3.exd6+ Be6 4.Qxe6+ Kf8 5.Qf7#) 2.Qc4+ {Taking advantage of the now open diagonal in front of the King} 2...d5 (2...Kf8 3.Qf7#) 3.exd6+ {White won't let Black away that easily} 3...Be6 4.Qxe6+ Kg7 (4...Kf8 5.Qf7#) 5.Qf7+ Kh6 6.Nf3#
Correct solutions:
Philip, James, Harmony - 25 points
Ziyao - 23 points
Alex, Daniel, Kevin - 20 points
Leo, Frank - 16 points
Leroy, Derrick - 10 points
Standings:
Ziyao - 244 points
Harmony - 238 points
James - 208 points
Philip - 194 points
Alex - 181 points
Leo - 166 points
Derrick - 113 points
Leroy - 111 points
Jeffrey - 95 points
Daniel - 75 points
Kevin - 72 point
Frank - 64 points
Danny - 19 points
Karl - 13 points
Eric - 12 points
Opening blunders (2)