Level
2-Knight
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #234"][Date "2013.10.21"][Result "1-0"]1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d4 c6 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Ne2 Nxf2
Replay the opening moves available for this game. Black has managed to open up White’s position and threatens to win at least a Rook. Based on what you know about the opening, what should White do here:
a) Take the Knight - 6. Kxf2 Qh4+ 7. g3 Qxc4 and try to develop his pieces as fast as possible
b) Move the Queen - 6. Qd4 ... and sacrifice the Rook 6... Nxh1
c) Sacrifice the Queen - 6. O-O ... and continue on
Pick one choice and explain the reason; after that write a few moves to show your idea. Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #235.
Puzzle #233 solution:
Smirnov - Tikhonov, 1954. I got quite a few answers, but fewer correct ones. Probably the puzzle was too hard; still I am happy at least you guys tried it. This week's best answer was sent by Toro:
a) List all unusual moves so far and why are they like that:
7. e5! sacrifices a pawn to "open up this space" (Eugen: it is also marked as a good move)
8. Bxf7+!? "it is unusual to bring your king out like that, now he can't castle" (Eugen: it is also marked as an interesting move)
13. Nd5! "lets the knight take it" (Eugen: it is also marked as a good move)
b) What was White's main idea? It was hard for Toro to answer this question.
I don't know, to get Black in a not so nice position. To get checkmate. Trying to do a strategy. White tried to sacrifice pieces so black would be weak. (Eugen: the main idea was to take advantage of the f7-weak spot before Black could defend it)
[Event "Puzzle #233"][Date "2013.10.14"][Result "1-0"]1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.O-O gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qf6 7.e5! Qxe5 8.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 9.d4 Qxd4+ 10.Be3 Qf6 11.Bxf4 Bg7 12.Nc3 Ne7 13.Nd5! Nxd5 14.Qxd5+ Qe6 15.Bd2+ Kg8 {Solution} 16.Rae1 Qxd5 17.Re8+ Bf8 18.Bh6 Qf7 19.Rxf8+ Qxf8 20.Rxf8# {This is a beautiful checkmate}
Correct solutions:
Anya, Jalen, Toro, Bradley - 10 points
Coco, Brandon - 6 points
Cody, Oliver - 4 points
Mrinal, Eric - 3 points
Benjamin - 1 point
Standings:
Toro, Anya - 23 points
Jalen, Bradley - 21 points
Coco - 19 points
Cody, Brandon - 17 points
Mrinal, Eric - 16 points
Oliver - 15 points
Aaron, Ilya - 13 points
Brian - 10 points
Benjamin - 6 points
a) Take the Knight - 6. Kxf2 Qh4+ 7. g3 Qxc4 and try to develop his pieces as fast as possible
b) Move the Queen - 6. Qd4 ... and sacrifice the Rook 6... Nxh1
c) Sacrifice the Queen - 6. O-O ... and continue on
Pick one choice and explain the reason; after that write a few moves to show your idea. Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #235.
Puzzle #233 solution:
Smirnov - Tikhonov, 1954. I got quite a few answers, but fewer correct ones. Probably the puzzle was too hard; still I am happy at least you guys tried it. This week's best answer was sent by Toro:
a) List all unusual moves so far and why are they like that:
7. e5! sacrifices a pawn to "open up this space" (Eugen: it is also marked as a good move)
8. Bxf7+!? "it is unusual to bring your king out like that, now he can't castle" (Eugen: it is also marked as an interesting move)
13. Nd5! "lets the knight take it" (Eugen: it is also marked as a good move)
b) What was White's main idea? It was hard for Toro to answer this question.
I don't know, to get Black in a not so nice position. To get checkmate. Trying to do a strategy. White tried to sacrifice pieces so black would be weak. (Eugen: the main idea was to take advantage of the f7-weak spot before Black could defend it)
[Event "Puzzle #233"][Date "2013.10.14"][Result "1-0"]1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 g4 5.O-O gxf3 6.Qxf3 Qf6 7.e5! Qxe5 8.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 9.d4 Qxd4+ 10.Be3 Qf6 11.Bxf4 Bg7 12.Nc3 Ne7 13.Nd5! Nxd5 14.Qxd5+ Qe6 15.Bd2+ Kg8 {Solution} 16.Rae1 Qxd5 17.Re8+ Bf8 18.Bh6 Qf7 19.Rxf8+ Qxf8 20.Rxf8# {This is a beautiful checkmate}
Correct solutions:
Anya, Jalen, Toro, Bradley - 10 points
Coco, Brandon - 6 points
Cody, Oliver - 4 points
Mrinal, Eric - 3 points
Benjamin - 1 point
Standings:
Toro, Anya - 23 points
Jalen, Bradley - 21 points
Coco - 19 points
Cody, Brandon - 17 points
Mrinal, Eric - 16 points
Oliver - 15 points
Aaron, Ilya - 13 points
Brian - 10 points
Benjamin - 6 points
The f7-weak spot (2)