Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #22"][Date "2008.05.29"][Result "?-?"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r1b2rk1/pp2n1bp/1q4p1/2p5/3pPP2/3Q1NP1/PPP1N1B1/R3K2R b KQ - 0 15"]15...Qxb2
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Our second stop is an Olympic game: Suttles - Hug, Nice Olympiad 1974 (part of the book; used with permission). After an opening without a name (in the book we read "Unnamed opening A00/6") and a very unusual setup for White, we reach the following position (see diagram). Questions:
a) What happens if Black plays 15... Qxb2? (5 points)
b) Identify all positives and negatives for both sides in this position; each correctly identified element receives 1 point
The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #23.
Puzzle #21 solution:
I am going to start by identifying the positives and negatives for both sides in no particular order. The reason for it is once we have them identified, it is far easier to come up with ideas on how to win the position. Positional considerations:
a) Black has Ra6 completely out of play and Rc8 not doing much;
b) White has the battery Qf4+Rf1 pointing at the weak f7-pawn;
c) All dark squares around Kg7 are weak because of the absence of the dark squares Bishop for Black; as a result White controls "f6";
d) Bd5 is placed in the center, strongly supported by a pawn and defending "f7";
e) The Black pieces are not exactly taking care of their own King;
f) Rd6+e5+Ne4 are dominant
Duncan used the above and came up with a simple plan involving the use of the "f6" square and the total control over the f-file
See solution below:
[Event "Puzzle #21"][Date "2008.05.23"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "2r5/3nqpkp/r1pR2p1/pp1bP3/4NQP1/1P6/P1P3BP/5RK1 w - - 0 30"]30.Qf6+ Nxf6 (30...Kf8?? 31.Qh8#) 31.exf6+ Kf8 32.fxe7+ Kxe7 33.Rdf6 Ra7 {Rushing to bring it back into play. However it is too late. Here the game continued with} 34.Ng5 (34.Nd6! {Stronger move discovered by Jacob and Algerd. This is attacking not only the f7-pawn like in the game, but also Rc8. White wins on the spot as Black cannot avoid losing more material} 34...Rf8 35.Bxd5 cxd5 36.Rxf7+ Rxf7 37.Rxf7+ Kxd6 38.Rxa7) 34...Kf8 35.Bxd5 cxd5 36.Rxf7+ Rxf7 37.Rxf7+ Kg8 38.Rf2 {Black resigned}
Correct solutions:
Jacob - 11 points
Algerd and Jeremy - 10 points
Wilson - 8 points
Nathaniel and John D - 6 points
Alejandro, Karl, Joanne and Katerina - 4 points
Matthew and Nicholas - 1 point
Standings:
84.0 Jacob
82.0 John D
79.0 Jeremy
55.0 Matthew
49.0 Katerina
43.5 Karl
37.0 Joanne and Wilson
34.0 Algerd
25.0 Nathaniel
...
16 more solvers with less points
Our second stop is an Olympic game: Suttles - Hug, Nice Olympiad 1974 (part of the book; used with permission). After an opening without a name (in the book we read "Unnamed opening A00/6") and a very unusual setup for White, we reach the following position (see diagram). Questions:
a) What happens if Black plays 15... Qxb2? (5 points)
b) Identify all positives and negatives for both sides in this position; each correctly identified element receives 1 point
The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #23.
Puzzle #21 solution:
I am going to start by identifying the positives and negatives for both sides in no particular order. The reason for it is once we have them identified, it is far easier to come up with ideas on how to win the position. Positional considerations:
a) Black has Ra6 completely out of play and Rc8 not doing much;
b) White has the battery Qf4+Rf1 pointing at the weak f7-pawn;
c) All dark squares around Kg7 are weak because of the absence of the dark squares Bishop for Black; as a result White controls "f6";
d) Bd5 is placed in the center, strongly supported by a pawn and defending "f7";
e) The Black pieces are not exactly taking care of their own King;
f) Rd6+e5+Ne4 are dominant
Duncan used the above and came up with a simple plan involving the use of the "f6" square and the total control over the f-file
See solution below:
[Event "Puzzle #21"][Date "2008.05.23"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "2r5/3nqpkp/r1pR2p1/pp1bP3/4NQP1/1P6/P1P3BP/5RK1 w - - 0 30"]30.Qf6+ Nxf6 (30...Kf8?? 31.Qh8#) 31.exf6+ Kf8 32.fxe7+ Kxe7 33.Rdf6 Ra7 {Rushing to bring it back into play. However it is too late. Here the game continued with} 34.Ng5 (34.Nd6! {Stronger move discovered by Jacob and Algerd. This is attacking not only the f7-pawn like in the game, but also Rc8. White wins on the spot as Black cannot avoid losing more material} 34...Rf8 35.Bxd5 cxd5 36.Rxf7+ Rxf7 37.Rxf7+ Kxd6 38.Rxa7) 34...Kf8 35.Bxd5 cxd5 36.Rxf7+ Rxf7 37.Rxf7+ Kg8 38.Rf2 {Black resigned}
Correct solutions:
Jacob - 11 points
Algerd and Jeremy - 10 points
Wilson - 8 points
Nathaniel and John D - 6 points
Alejandro, Karl, Joanne and Katerina - 4 points
Matthew and Nicholas - 1 point
Standings:
84.0 Jacob
82.0 John D
79.0 Jeremy
55.0 Matthew
49.0 Katerina
43.5 Karl
37.0 Joanne and Wilson
34.0 Algerd
25.0 Nathaniel
...
16 more solvers with less points
Storming the castle