Level
4-Rook
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #194"][Date "2012.04.23"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r1b1r2k/p2p2b1/3P1q1p/1ppQ1pN1/1n4pP/3B2B1/PP1R1PP1/2K4R w - - 0 1"]1.Qxa8 Nxd3+ 2.Kb1 Nxb2 {Followed by Nb2-c4})
Black has analyzed the position very carefully and decided to start the attack with "Nc6-b4". The White Queen is under attack and the sacrifice of the Black Rook cannot be accepted because after:
1.Qxa8 Nxd3+ 2.Kb1 Nxb2 with the decisive threat "Nb2-c4", Black is simply winning. Your tasks:
a) Analyze the position and propose the best plan of action for both sides
b) White to move; can you find an escape from this desperate situation?
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #195.
Puzzle #193 solution:
Reshevsky - Simonsson, New York 1938. Lots of good answers all around; some answers were more complete than others, but everyone got the winning idea and how to execute it. Ziyao had a nice answer this time around:
a) Material: Black is up a pawn
King Acitivty: Black's King is under threat by a Queen and Rook battery; luckily his Rook is there to protect him though for now; he is also exposed by the moved g6-pawn, the likely result of a fianchetto-ed bishop who was once there. This causes a fatal weakness in Black's position. White has a pawn that could be used to attack Black's King and a Queen and Rook battery that can cause some serious damage, White's King is under no immediate threat if any and will likely be free from torment for the foreseeable future.
Center: White has central control and can stop Black's Queen from interfering in the action by pushing his d-pawn.
Black has a passer but its still in its starting position; due to White's presence near Black's King though, he will likely not be able to take advantage of his passer for now. White has a quite nice Queen and Rook battery and a nicely and safely placed King, his triple connected pawns fully control the center and he takes advantage of the g7 gap in Black's position.
b) Solution:
[Event "Puzzle #193"][Date "2012.04.16"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "6k1/p2r1p1p/1pp2Qp1/4P3/3P1R2/2P4P/q5PK/8 w - - 0 1"]1.d5! Qxd5 (1...cxd5 2.e6 Rc7 3.exf7+ Kf8 4.Qd8+ Kg7 5.f8=Q#) (1...Rxd5 2.Qxf7+ Kh8 3.Qf8#) 2.Rd4 Qe6 3.Qxe6 fxe6 4.Rxd7 {White is winning}
Correct solutions:
Leo, James, Daniel, Philip, Ziyao - 20 points
Leroy, Justin, Alex - 18 points
Derrick, Coco - 16 points
Standings:
Philip - 317 points
Ziyao - 255 points
James - 237 points
Jeffrey, Daniel - 206 points
Leo - 201 points
Derrick - 193 points
Harmony - 187 points
Coco - 174 points
Leroy - 169 points
Alex - 159 points
Justin - 69 points
Kevin - 42 points
1.Qxa8 Nxd3+ 2.Kb1 Nxb2 with the decisive threat "Nb2-c4", Black is simply winning. Your tasks:
a) Analyze the position and propose the best plan of action for both sides
b) White to move; can you find an escape from this desperate situation?
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #195.
Puzzle #193 solution:
Reshevsky - Simonsson, New York 1938. Lots of good answers all around; some answers were more complete than others, but everyone got the winning idea and how to execute it. Ziyao had a nice answer this time around:
a) Material: Black is up a pawn
King Acitivty: Black's King is under threat by a Queen and Rook battery; luckily his Rook is there to protect him though for now; he is also exposed by the moved g6-pawn, the likely result of a fianchetto-ed bishop who was once there. This causes a fatal weakness in Black's position. White has a pawn that could be used to attack Black's King and a Queen and Rook battery that can cause some serious damage, White's King is under no immediate threat if any and will likely be free from torment for the foreseeable future.
Center: White has central control and can stop Black's Queen from interfering in the action by pushing his d-pawn.
Black has a passer but its still in its starting position; due to White's presence near Black's King though, he will likely not be able to take advantage of his passer for now. White has a quite nice Queen and Rook battery and a nicely and safely placed King, his triple connected pawns fully control the center and he takes advantage of the g7 gap in Black's position.
b) Solution:
[Event "Puzzle #193"][Date "2012.04.16"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "6k1/p2r1p1p/1pp2Qp1/4P3/3P1R2/2P4P/q5PK/8 w - - 0 1"]1.d5! Qxd5 (1...cxd5 2.e6 Rc7 3.exf7+ Kf8 4.Qd8+ Kg7 5.f8=Q#) (1...Rxd5 2.Qxf7+ Kh8 3.Qf8#) 2.Rd4 Qe6 3.Qxe6 fxe6 4.Rxd7 {White is winning}
Correct solutions:
Leo, James, Daniel, Philip, Ziyao - 20 points
Leroy, Justin, Alex - 18 points
Derrick, Coco - 16 points
Standings:
Philip - 317 points
Ziyao - 255 points
James - 237 points
Jeffrey, Daniel - 206 points
Leo - 201 points
Derrick - 193 points
Harmony - 187 points
Coco - 174 points
Leroy - 169 points
Alex - 159 points
Justin - 69 points
Kevin - 42 points
Interference (4)