Level
4-Rook
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #35"][Date "2008.09.05"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "2r2qk1/6r1/2Ppp1pQ/p1n2pP1/1p1B4/1P5P/P1P3B1/4R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
Whenever the top GMs get together in a strong tournament the chess World can expect a spectacle. Now if you add to this recipe a blitz format, you will be entertained by brilliancies and blunders all together.
The "Tal Memorial" blitz tournament, Moscow, Aug 2008 paid tribute to the tactical genius which was Misha Tal by displaying very entertaining games for such a short time control. 18 players competed in a double round robin format. In the end top 3 were:
1. Vassily Ivanchuk 23.0/ 33
2. Vladimir Kramnik 21.5/ 33
3. Magnus Carlsen 20.5/ 33
Let's enjoy the unexpected way the game Carlsen - Ponomariov (source: Susan Polgar chess blog) ended after reaching the following position (see diagram). Remember they were playing a blitz game! However you get the chance to analyse it from your home and without any time pressure. Question:
a) Can you find the best line for White? Also please write how long it took you to come up with the chosen solution.
Total available points for this puzzle is 5 points. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #36.
Puzzle #34 solution:
This puzzle was somewhat tricky because there were so many Queens on the board. Of course it is perfectly possible to have more than 1 Queen per side on the board, but you could never have them aligned as in the puzzle. The main solution of the author is shown, together with the best ones I have received:
[Event "Puzzle #34"][Date "2008.08.28"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "4k3/4P3/4q3/4Q3/4q3/4Q3/4p3/4K3 w - - 0 1"]1.Q3xe4 Kxe7 {Main solution} (1...Qxe5 2.Qxe5 Kd7 {Joshua's solution} (2...Kf7 {Jeremy's solution} 3.e8=Q#) 3.e8=Q#) ({John's solution} 1...Qa2 2.Qb8+ Kf7 3.Qf8#) (1...Qg8 {Wilson's solution} 2.Qc6+ Kf7 3.Qef6#) 2.Qxe6+ Kd8 3.Qb6+ Kd7 4.Qee6#
Correct solutions:
Jeremy, John and Joshua - 5 points
Wilson - 2 points
FINAL STANDINGS (summer vacation)
68.0 John
63.0 Joshua
55.0 Jeremy
49.0 Wilson
17.0 Nathaniel
15.0 Karl
10.0 Jacob
The "Tal Memorial" blitz tournament, Moscow, Aug 2008 paid tribute to the tactical genius which was Misha Tal by displaying very entertaining games for such a short time control. 18 players competed in a double round robin format. In the end top 3 were:
1. Vassily Ivanchuk 23.0/ 33
2. Vladimir Kramnik 21.5/ 33
3. Magnus Carlsen 20.5/ 33
Let's enjoy the unexpected way the game Carlsen - Ponomariov (source: Susan Polgar chess blog) ended after reaching the following position (see diagram). Remember they were playing a blitz game! However you get the chance to analyse it from your home and without any time pressure. Question:
a) Can you find the best line for White? Also please write how long it took you to come up with the chosen solution.
Total available points for this puzzle is 5 points. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #36.
Puzzle #34 solution:
This puzzle was somewhat tricky because there were so many Queens on the board. Of course it is perfectly possible to have more than 1 Queen per side on the board, but you could never have them aligned as in the puzzle. The main solution of the author is shown, together with the best ones I have received:
[Event "Puzzle #34"][Date "2008.08.28"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "4k3/4P3/4q3/4Q3/4q3/4Q3/4p3/4K3 w - - 0 1"]1.Q3xe4 Kxe7 {Main solution} (1...Qxe5 2.Qxe5 Kd7 {Joshua's solution} (2...Kf7 {Jeremy's solution} 3.e8=Q#) 3.e8=Q#) ({John's solution} 1...Qa2 2.Qb8+ Kf7 3.Qf8#) (1...Qg8 {Wilson's solution} 2.Qc6+ Kf7 3.Qef6#) 2.Qxe6+ Kd8 3.Qb6+ Kd7 4.Qee6#
Correct solutions:
Jeremy, John and Joshua - 5 points
Wilson - 2 points
FINAL STANDINGS (summer vacation)
68.0 John
63.0 Joshua
55.0 Jeremy
49.0 Wilson
17.0 Nathaniel
15.0 Karl
10.0 Jacob
Open lines and diagonals