Level
2-Knight
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #257"][Date "2014.06.03"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "2b1r3/7R/2kb1R2/B4pp1/2Pn4/8/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 1"]{White move in the game} 1.Bb4
This position arose from a championship game between a University student and a middle school one. It was played over the board with quick time controls. In this position white played the move shown, looking to take advantage of the pinned Bishop. Black defended fiercely and in time scramble the game ended in a draw (King versus King). Your tasks:
a) Decide if White's move was the best one - explain
b) If you have a better continuation please present it
Total available points for this puzzle is 15. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #258.
Puzzle #256 solution:
Puzzle by Yasser Seirawan. Best answer by Toro:
"a) Black can’t win, can only hope for a draw. White can win by moving his king around the pawn to not let it promote.
b) Ke7 begins White's plan not let the pawn promote. It takes the White King six moves to get to the 2nd rank where it can take the pawn. It takes Black five moves to get the pawn to the 2nd rank protected by the King. So all White has to do is move his king on the diagonal and then move down on the g file. White should not move his Rook.
c) After the moves played (see diagram) if Black promotes the pawn then Rxf1 and if Ke3 then Rf1 will win the pawn. After that you can mate with a Rook and King vs King. If Black tries to move his King towards the White king to block it then White uses the Rook to deliver a check to push the Black king away and proceed with the plan."
[Event "Puzzle #256"][Date "2014.05.27"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "3K4/8/8/5p2/4k3/8/8/R7 w - - 0 1"]1.Ke7 f4 2.Kf6 f3 3.Kg5 Ke3 4.Kg4 f2 5.Kg3 Ke2 6.Kg2
Correct solutions:
Brandon , Oliver, Daniel, Hyson, Toro, Anya, Coco, Bradley - 25 points
Aaron, Jalen - 20 points
Cody - 15 points
Dheera, Mrinal - 3 points
Standings:
Bradley - 108 points
Toro - 97 points
Hyson - 95 points
Jalen - 94 points
Coco - 92 points
Brandon, Oliver - 87 points
Anya - 82 points
Aaron - 67 points
Benjamin - 62 points
Cody - 60 points
Daniel - 40 points
Mrinal - 18 points
Dheera - 3 points
a) Decide if White's move was the best one - explain
b) If you have a better continuation please present it
Total available points for this puzzle is 15. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #258.
Puzzle #256 solution:
Puzzle by Yasser Seirawan. Best answer by Toro:
"a) Black can’t win, can only hope for a draw. White can win by moving his king around the pawn to not let it promote.
b) Ke7 begins White's plan not let the pawn promote. It takes the White King six moves to get to the 2nd rank where it can take the pawn. It takes Black five moves to get the pawn to the 2nd rank protected by the King. So all White has to do is move his king on the diagonal and then move down on the g file. White should not move his Rook.
c) After the moves played (see diagram) if Black promotes the pawn then Rxf1 and if Ke3 then Rf1 will win the pawn. After that you can mate with a Rook and King vs King. If Black tries to move his King towards the White king to block it then White uses the Rook to deliver a check to push the Black king away and proceed with the plan."
[Event "Puzzle #256"][Date "2014.05.27"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "3K4/8/8/5p2/4k3/8/8/R7 w - - 0 1"]1.Ke7 f4 2.Kf6 f3 3.Kg5 Ke3 4.Kg4 f2 5.Kg3 Ke2 6.Kg2
Correct solutions:
Brandon , Oliver, Daniel, Hyson, Toro, Anya, Coco, Bradley - 25 points
Aaron, Jalen - 20 points
Cody - 15 points
Dheera, Mrinal - 3 points
Standings:
Bradley - 108 points
Toro - 97 points
Hyson - 95 points
Jalen - 94 points
Coco - 92 points
Brandon, Oliver - 87 points
Anya - 82 points
Aaron - 67 points
Benjamin - 62 points
Cody - 60 points
Daniel - 40 points
Mrinal - 18 points
Dheera - 3 points
Mate in 1