Level
5-Queen
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #98"][Date "2009.12.30"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "R2b1qk1/8/3p3p/2pPp1p1/Q1P1P3/6K1/P2B2PP/1r6 b - - 0 1"]
A chess game is like a winding road with lots of twists and turns. During the game at any moment in time one side has the upper hand while both try to impose their wills on the opposition. It is not easy to keep on pressing until your plans come to a positive ending and it is even harder to come back on top after being under pressure. However the sensation of pleasure when that happens is hard to describe!
The above position is from a recent game between 2 strong Grand Masters. Black seems ready to resign because of the back rank pin. Should he resign or play ahead? Remember Grand Masters do not play ahead while down in material unless they have a good reason for it. In other words you need to decide if there is any hope for Black to play ahead or not. Your tasks:
a) Analyze the position and come up with a plan for Black
b) Black to move; play using your plan
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #99.
Puzzle #97 solution:
This was another excellent puzzle by A A Troitsky. It is impressive how each piece has a purpose and how crystal clear the solution is once you discover it. His puzzles are truly like diamonds. I got a few correct answers and had a tough time to pick one of them. Rick's answer seemed more precise and written with confidence. Enjoy it!
a) Analysis:
Material: White is up a Bishop for a pawn in this simple endgame of six pieces. However, White would only be able to draw without his remaining pawn, so he must use everything in his strength to protect it.
King safety: White's King is both safe and strong in the center of the board and has his eyes on the e6 square. Black is currently stuck on the back rank, and that could cause big problems later on.
Position: Things are looking grim for Black. He can only hope for a draw because White can trade his Bishop for a pawn anytime. However, it does not seem obvious that White can win either. His golden pawn is under attack, and White must act fast before Black takes it. Note that 1.gxh7?? Kg7 is a draw, so White's precious "g6" pawn seems to be lost.
Saving/ promoting it is White's main focus and winning plan. Black tries to do the opposite: take the pawn on "g6" for a draw. It seems that in this puzzle, a single piece is the only one that matters.
b) See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #97"][Date "2009.11.27"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "5k2/4p2p/6P1/3K4/8/4B3/8/8 w - - 0 1"]1.Bh6+ {Any other move would lose the precious g6-pawn} 1...Kg8 (1...Ke8 2.gxh7 {White wins}) 2.g7 {It wouldn't take a genius to reach this position, since every single move was forced up to now. However, Black has 3 legal moves to play, and only now did I start to think. All 3 possibilities lead to a win for White, although based on different and unique ideas} 2...Kf7 (2...e5 3.Ke6 (3.Kxe5? Kf7 {Leads to a draw}) 3...e4 4.Kf6 e3 5.Bxe3 h5 6.Bg5 h4 7.Bxh4 Kh7 8.Kf7 {White wins}) (2...e6+ 3.Kd6! (3.Kxe6 {Stalemate}) 3...e5 (3...Kf7 4.Ke5!! Kg8 5.Kf6 e5 6.Ke6 e4 7.Kf6 {And we are back to the other line}) 4.Ke6 e4 5.Kf6 {And we are back to the other line}) 3.g8=Q+!! Kxg8 4.Ke6 Kh8 5.Kf7 e5 6.Bg7#
Correct solutions:
Andy, Owen, Karl, Rick - 20 points
Alex - 19 points
Jeffrey - 15 points
Humphrey - 13 points
James - 1 point
Standings:
Karl - 244 points
Owen - 224 points
Andy Q - 206 points
Rick - 204 points
Jeffrey - 150 points
Humphrey - 101 points
Alex - 79 points
Nathaniel - 52 points
James - 40 points
Peter - 25 points
Katerina - 22 points
Wilson - 7 points
The above position is from a recent game between 2 strong Grand Masters. Black seems ready to resign because of the back rank pin. Should he resign or play ahead? Remember Grand Masters do not play ahead while down in material unless they have a good reason for it. In other words you need to decide if there is any hope for Black to play ahead or not. Your tasks:
a) Analyze the position and come up with a plan for Black
b) Black to move; play using your plan
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #99.
Puzzle #97 solution:
This was another excellent puzzle by A A Troitsky. It is impressive how each piece has a purpose and how crystal clear the solution is once you discover it. His puzzles are truly like diamonds. I got a few correct answers and had a tough time to pick one of them. Rick's answer seemed more precise and written with confidence. Enjoy it!
a) Analysis:
Material: White is up a Bishop for a pawn in this simple endgame of six pieces. However, White would only be able to draw without his remaining pawn, so he must use everything in his strength to protect it.
King safety: White's King is both safe and strong in the center of the board and has his eyes on the e6 square. Black is currently stuck on the back rank, and that could cause big problems later on.
Position: Things are looking grim for Black. He can only hope for a draw because White can trade his Bishop for a pawn anytime. However, it does not seem obvious that White can win either. His golden pawn is under attack, and White must act fast before Black takes it. Note that 1.gxh7?? Kg7 is a draw, so White's precious "g6" pawn seems to be lost.
Saving/ promoting it is White's main focus and winning plan. Black tries to do the opposite: take the pawn on "g6" for a draw. It seems that in this puzzle, a single piece is the only one that matters.
b) See solution:
[Event "Puzzle #97"][Date "2009.11.27"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "5k2/4p2p/6P1/3K4/8/4B3/8/8 w - - 0 1"]1.Bh6+ {Any other move would lose the precious g6-pawn} 1...Kg8 (1...Ke8 2.gxh7 {White wins}) 2.g7 {It wouldn't take a genius to reach this position, since every single move was forced up to now. However, Black has 3 legal moves to play, and only now did I start to think. All 3 possibilities lead to a win for White, although based on different and unique ideas} 2...Kf7 (2...e5 3.Ke6 (3.Kxe5? Kf7 {Leads to a draw}) 3...e4 4.Kf6 e3 5.Bxe3 h5 6.Bg5 h4 7.Bxh4 Kh7 8.Kf7 {White wins}) (2...e6+ 3.Kd6! (3.Kxe6 {Stalemate}) 3...e5 (3...Kf7 4.Ke5!! Kg8 5.Kf6 e5 6.Ke6 e4 7.Kf6 {And we are back to the other line}) 4.Ke6 e4 5.Kf6 {And we are back to the other line}) 3.g8=Q+!! Kxg8 4.Ke6 Kh8 5.Kf7 e5 6.Bg7#
Correct solutions:
Andy, Owen, Karl, Rick - 20 points
Alex - 19 points
Jeffrey - 15 points
Humphrey - 13 points
James - 1 point
Standings:
Karl - 244 points
Owen - 224 points
Andy Q - 206 points
Rick - 204 points
Jeffrey - 150 points
Humphrey - 101 points
Alex - 79 points
Nathaniel - 52 points
James - 40 points
Peter - 25 points
Katerina - 22 points
Wilson - 7 points
Pinning in middle game