Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #25"][Date "2008.06.20"][Result "?-?"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r2q1knr/pp1bp1b1/3p2Q1/3Pp2p/3p4/6PP/PPP1P1B1/RNB1K2R w KQ - 0 13"]
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The importance of pawn structures was deeply understood by Duncan and properly highlighted in the book with its own exclusive chapter and an excellent selection of games. It is very hard to pick them apart, but for sure the game Forintos, G - Suttles, Tel Aviv Olympiad 1964 (part of the book; used with permission) must be in any selection. After 12 moves (last move was 12.Qxg6+ Kf8) they reached the following position (see diagram).
You need to:
a) analyse the position: look at the strong and weak aspects for White and for Black; each correctly identified aspect receives 1 point
b) based on the above decide who is better (if anyone); 2 points
c) suggest a possible line (no longer than 10 moves) starting with move 13 for White to demonstrate your decision; worth 5 points
The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #26.
Puzzle #24 solution:
It is interesting to note that an easier puzzle like this one gave everyone more trouble than expected. Some of the solvers adjusted their answers a couple of times, while others provided ideas but no moves. The correct answers are as shown below:
[Event "Puzzle #24"][Date "2008.06.12"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "3n3k/4r3/8/pr2P1RP/3pNP2/p2P4/6R1/3K4 b - - 0 39"]39...Rb1+ ({To see what white threatens} 39...Ne6?? 40.Rg8+ Kh7 41.Nf6+ Kh6 42.R8g6#) 40.Ke2 Rb2+ 41.Kf3 Rxg2 {Exchanges one Rook to eliminate the checkmate threat} 42.Rxg2 Nc6 43.Nf6 ({John D's idea} 43.h6 Kh7 44.Nf6+ Kxh6 45.Ng8+ {White wins}) 43...Rg7 44.Ra2 Rg1 45.Rxa3 Rc1 46.h6 a4 47.Rxa4 Nxe5+ {Hoping for stalemate (Bruce Harper, Yasser Seirawan)} 48.Kg2 {Black resigned}
Correct solutions:
John D, Jeremy, Algerd and Jacob - 10 points
Wilson, Joanne and Karl - 6 points
Nathaniel - 3 points
West - 2 points
Standings:
111.0 John D
104.0 Jeremy
99.0 Jacob
70.0 Matthew
63.0 Joanne
60.5 Karl
59.0 Katerina
58.0 Algerd and Wilson
33.0 Nathaniel
...
17 more solvers with less points
The importance of pawn structures was deeply understood by Duncan and properly highlighted in the book with its own exclusive chapter and an excellent selection of games. It is very hard to pick them apart, but for sure the game Forintos, G - Suttles, Tel Aviv Olympiad 1964 (part of the book; used with permission) must be in any selection. After 12 moves (last move was 12.Qxg6+ Kf8) they reached the following position (see diagram).
You need to:
a) analyse the position: look at the strong and weak aspects for White and for Black; each correctly identified aspect receives 1 point
b) based on the above decide who is better (if anyone); 2 points
c) suggest a possible line (no longer than 10 moves) starting with move 13 for White to demonstrate your decision; worth 5 points
The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #26.
Puzzle #24 solution:
It is interesting to note that an easier puzzle like this one gave everyone more trouble than expected. Some of the solvers adjusted their answers a couple of times, while others provided ideas but no moves. The correct answers are as shown below:
[Event "Puzzle #24"][Date "2008.06.12"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "3n3k/4r3/8/pr2P1RP/3pNP2/p2P4/6R1/3K4 b - - 0 39"]39...Rb1+ ({To see what white threatens} 39...Ne6?? 40.Rg8+ Kh7 41.Nf6+ Kh6 42.R8g6#) 40.Ke2 Rb2+ 41.Kf3 Rxg2 {Exchanges one Rook to eliminate the checkmate threat} 42.Rxg2 Nc6 43.Nf6 ({John D's idea} 43.h6 Kh7 44.Nf6+ Kxh6 45.Ng8+ {White wins}) 43...Rg7 44.Ra2 Rg1 45.Rxa3 Rc1 46.h6 a4 47.Rxa4 Nxe5+ {Hoping for stalemate (Bruce Harper, Yasser Seirawan)} 48.Kg2 {Black resigned}
Correct solutions:
John D, Jeremy, Algerd and Jacob - 10 points
Wilson, Joanne and Karl - 6 points
Nathaniel - 3 points
West - 2 points
Standings:
111.0 John D
104.0 Jeremy
99.0 Jacob
70.0 Matthew
63.0 Joanne
60.5 Karl
59.0 Katerina
58.0 Algerd and Wilson
33.0 Nathaniel
...
17 more solvers with less points
Positional advantage