Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #02"][Date "2008.01.17"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r2q2kr/p1p2p1p/1p3p1B/2b1n3/2ppN1b1/2P2N2/PP3PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 1"]
This week's puzzle is easier and it comes from the middle game. In the middle game there are a lot of tactics during attacks and counter attacks. See above position; I have no info where it is from (a real game or study), so if you know please let me know!
White moves and mates in 5
Hint: what is more important than a Queen?... The answer will be published next week together with puzzle #3.
Puzzle #01 solution:
We have an endgame position, each side having a passed pawn. Ka2 cannot catch the g3-pawn (it is out of the square), but Kc2 is doing its best to stop the b6-pawn. The trick is how could white win a tempo instead of black as shown in the sideline starting with 1. g4 ... See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #01"][Date "2008.01.09"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/8/1p6/8/8/6P1/k1K5/8 w - - 0 1"]1.Kc3 (1.g4 {This leads only to a draw} 1...b5 2.g5 b4 3.g6 b3+ {Black manages to win an important tempo} 4.Kc3 b2 5.g7 b1=Q 6.g8=Q+ Ka1 {Draw}) 1...Ka3 2.Kc4 Ka4 {White has managed to force the Black King away from controlling the important b1-square} 3.g4 b5+ 4.Kd3!! {White wins the tempo it was looking for. The main threat is Kd3-c2-b1 and Black is lost, so the Black King has to move again. The difference is now Kd3 cannot be checked anymore} 4...Ka3 5.g5 b4 6.g6 b3 7.g7 b2 8.Kc2! {Important move to force black's response} 8...Ka2 9.g8=Q+ Ka1 10.Qa8#
Correct solutions:
Bryant - 1.0 point
Algerd, Alejandro, Nicholas, Matthew, Joanne, Vera, Jakab, Karl, Jeremy, West and Katerina - 0.5 points
White moves and mates in 5
Hint: what is more important than a Queen?... The answer will be published next week together with puzzle #3.
Puzzle #01 solution:
We have an endgame position, each side having a passed pawn. Ka2 cannot catch the g3-pawn (it is out of the square), but Kc2 is doing its best to stop the b6-pawn. The trick is how could white win a tempo instead of black as shown in the sideline starting with 1. g4 ... See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #01"][Date "2008.01.09"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/8/1p6/8/8/6P1/k1K5/8 w - - 0 1"]1.Kc3 (1.g4 {This leads only to a draw} 1...b5 2.g5 b4 3.g6 b3+ {Black manages to win an important tempo} 4.Kc3 b2 5.g7 b1=Q 6.g8=Q+ Ka1 {Draw}) 1...Ka3 2.Kc4 Ka4 {White has managed to force the Black King away from controlling the important b1-square} 3.g4 b5+ 4.Kd3!! {White wins the tempo it was looking for. The main threat is Kd3-c2-b1 and Black is lost, so the Black King has to move again. The difference is now Kd3 cannot be checked anymore} 4...Ka3 5.g5 b4 6.g6 b3 7.g7 b2 8.Kc2! {Important move to force black's response} 8...Ka2 9.g8=Q+ Ka1 10.Qa8#
Correct solutions:
Bryant - 1.0 point
Algerd, Alejandro, Nicholas, Matthew, Joanne, Vera, Jakab, Karl, Jeremy, West and Katerina - 0.5 points
Mate in 5