Level
5-Queen
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #93"][Date "2009.10.30"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/2p2k1P/4p1N1/p5pb/7p/b7/P4P1P/1K4N1 w - - 0 1"]
Every chess game is a battle of clever minds; sometimes you have to play your main idea all the way to the end, while other times you have to be flexible and adjust your plans in response to what your opponent does. In the above position published in 1935 White's idea is easy to see: promote and get a Queen to turn the tide in its favour. However it looks like the pair of Bishops is showing its legendary powers to counter that. Can you see how? Should White continue its plans, or should it try a new one? Your tasks:
a) Analyse the position (10 points)
b) White to move and win (10 points)
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #94.
Puzzle #92 solution:
This puzzle is a study by Mandler & Konig published back in 1924. It is not an easy one to solve even if the solution looks quite simple after you see it. All of you sending answers did an excellent job working on it and coming up with interesting answers.
Karl's analysis focuses on the important aspects of the position and goes like this:
a) Material: same King safety: about the same, since the Black King can be attacked by both White Rooks, while if the c3-square isn't protected, Black can perpetual check White or force him into a bad position and checkmate him.
WHITE: Rooks: Whites Rooks definitely stop Black's pawn from promoting, and they can support the White pawn towards promotion. They can also attack the Black King or keep it away from the White pawn. White must move "Re2" on the first move if he doesn't want it to get taken. Pawn: has two more spaces until promotion. Might need to be supported due to Black's possible Rook attacks. Is a little bit vulnerable to the King, since it's in the square.
BLACK: Rooks: aren't really doing much, since they are being attacked and the only one to defend them is themselves. The only thing they're good for is defending White's attacks, towards the Black King and White's guidance and support to his f6-pawn. Pawn: has little chance of promoting since "a2" and "a1" are both defended by the White Rooks. Doesn't really do anything. Conclusion: it looks like White is better, but just by a little bit. White is in an attacking position and is eager to promote, while Black's pieces aren't doing a lot. Black is in a defensive position, due to the bad location of his Rooks. White's plan is to promote or attack the King with the Rooks. Black's plan, on the other hand is to capture the f6-pawn, and battle it out. I think that Black is hoping for a draw.
b) The best solution I received after a couple of tries is from Owen. See it below:
[Event "Puzzle #92"][Date "2009.10.23"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/8/5P1k/8/2K5/pr2r3/4R3/2R5 w - - 0 1"]1.f7 (1.Rg2 {Karl's idea} 1...Rh3 2.Rcg1 Rbf3?? ({Much better is} 2...a2 3.Kd5 Rbd3+ 4.Ke4 Rhe3+ 5.Kf4 Rf3+ {Draw}) 3.Rg8 Kh7 4.R1g7+ Kh6 5.Rh8#) 1...Kg7 (1...Rf3? 2.f8=Q+ Rxf8 3.Kxb3 {White has winning material advantage. Black can not check the White King because they will lose one of their Rooks. No perpetual check to have a draw}) 2.f8=Q+ Kxf8 3.Rf1+ Ke7 (3...Kg7 4.Rg2+ Kh6 5.Rh1+ Rh3 6.Rgh2 Rc3+ 7.Kb4 Rb3+ 8.Ka4 Rb2 9.Rxh3+ {White wins}) 4.Rfe1 Rxe2 5.Rxe2+ Kd6 6.Kxb3 {White wins}
Correct solutions:
Owen - 18 points
Andy Q, Nathaniel, Karl - 12 points
Humphrey, Jeffrey - 10 points
Alex, James - 5 points
Standings:
Karl - 135 points
Owen - 117 points
Rick - 115 points
Andy Q - 107 points
Jeffrey - 75 points
Humphrey - 36 points
Nathaniel - 32 points
Alex - 25 points
James - 24 points
Katerina - 22 points
Wilson - 2 points
a) Analyse the position (10 points)
b) White to move and win (10 points)
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #94.
Puzzle #92 solution:
This puzzle is a study by Mandler & Konig published back in 1924. It is not an easy one to solve even if the solution looks quite simple after you see it. All of you sending answers did an excellent job working on it and coming up with interesting answers.
Karl's analysis focuses on the important aspects of the position and goes like this:
a) Material: same King safety: about the same, since the Black King can be attacked by both White Rooks, while if the c3-square isn't protected, Black can perpetual check White or force him into a bad position and checkmate him.
WHITE: Rooks: Whites Rooks definitely stop Black's pawn from promoting, and they can support the White pawn towards promotion. They can also attack the Black King or keep it away from the White pawn. White must move "Re2" on the first move if he doesn't want it to get taken. Pawn: has two more spaces until promotion. Might need to be supported due to Black's possible Rook attacks. Is a little bit vulnerable to the King, since it's in the square.
BLACK: Rooks: aren't really doing much, since they are being attacked and the only one to defend them is themselves. The only thing they're good for is defending White's attacks, towards the Black King and White's guidance and support to his f6-pawn. Pawn: has little chance of promoting since "a2" and "a1" are both defended by the White Rooks. Doesn't really do anything. Conclusion: it looks like White is better, but just by a little bit. White is in an attacking position and is eager to promote, while Black's pieces aren't doing a lot. Black is in a defensive position, due to the bad location of his Rooks. White's plan is to promote or attack the King with the Rooks. Black's plan, on the other hand is to capture the f6-pawn, and battle it out. I think that Black is hoping for a draw.
b) The best solution I received after a couple of tries is from Owen. See it below:
[Event "Puzzle #92"][Date "2009.10.23"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "8/8/5P1k/8/2K5/pr2r3/4R3/2R5 w - - 0 1"]1.f7 (1.Rg2 {Karl's idea} 1...Rh3 2.Rcg1 Rbf3?? ({Much better is} 2...a2 3.Kd5 Rbd3+ 4.Ke4 Rhe3+ 5.Kf4 Rf3+ {Draw}) 3.Rg8 Kh7 4.R1g7+ Kh6 5.Rh8#) 1...Kg7 (1...Rf3? 2.f8=Q+ Rxf8 3.Kxb3 {White has winning material advantage. Black can not check the White King because they will lose one of their Rooks. No perpetual check to have a draw}) 2.f8=Q+ Kxf8 3.Rf1+ Ke7 (3...Kg7 4.Rg2+ Kh6 5.Rh1+ Rh3 6.Rgh2 Rc3+ 7.Kb4 Rb3+ 8.Ka4 Rb2 9.Rxh3+ {White wins}) 4.Rfe1 Rxe2 5.Rxe2+ Kd6 6.Kxb3 {White wins}
Correct solutions:
Owen - 18 points
Andy Q, Nathaniel, Karl - 12 points
Humphrey, Jeffrey - 10 points
Alex, James - 5 points
Standings:
Karl - 135 points
Owen - 117 points
Rick - 115 points
Andy Q - 107 points
Jeffrey - 75 points
Humphrey - 36 points
Nathaniel - 32 points
Alex - 25 points
James - 24 points
Katerina - 22 points
Wilson - 2 points
Save the Queen!