Puzzle Paradise
Group 13 "Non-stop Spanish"P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1 |
Reader's Challenge P13.1.2.1
Becerra,J - Velez,N Cuba, 1992.
            |
Why was it wrong for Black to then castle at move 11?
Click here for the solution
Mr Mo's Brainteaser P13.1.1
Rabinovich,I - Savitsky,L USSR Ch, 1934.
 |
Returning again to move three, I now have in mind a certain option (not mentioned so far) for Black. Among White's many possible responses, there is only one good capture. After Black recaptures, he may then be intending to follow up with 5...Bc5, but that move can effectively be prevented by White using his light-squared "Spanish bishop". In this mystery, can you now find all the moves from Black's third to White's fifth inclusive?
Click here for the solution
Reader's Challenge P13.1.3.1
Rabinovich,I - Savitsky,L USSR Ch, 1934
|
|
Why was 10...Ne7? then a losing move for Black?
Click here for the solution
Brainteaser P13.8.1
Jose Tonoli was the Belgian Chess Champion back in 1976, a year in which his sons Walter and Peter were also respectively the Under-20 and Under-18 champions! Time-warping forward 23 years to round 10 of a 14-player all-play-all rapid tournament in Strombeek-Bever on 22 October 1999, Jose and myself are the two joint leaders each on 8½/9 thus far, and so a decisive result for either of us now could well determine the final winner of this wee championship...
At the start of round 10 in the tournament, what was the average number of points scored until then by all the OTHER players (NOT counting Mr Mo and Jose Tonoli)?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.8.2
|
|
The developing move 5...Ne7!? makes a refreshing change from the more common alternatives where Black normally defends his e5-pawn indirectly with 5...Bg4 or directly with 5...Qd6/5...Bd6/5...f6 for example. Consider the last-mentioned move, 5...f6, and the plausible continuation 6 d4 exd4 7 Nxd4 c5 8 Nb3 (I actually prefer 8 Ne2) 8...Be6 9 Qf3 c4 which I recall seeing from an international event earlier this year. White played 10 Rd1?, but can you see why it's a losing move?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.9.1
|
|
Consider the alternative 24...Bg4. Should White then play 25 Nxd6, and if he does so, should Black immediately capture the knight?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.22.1
|
|
Can you discover how White's g-pawn can be used most effectively?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.29.1
|
|
If 7...Nxd4?, then can you find a winning continuation for White?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.33.1
|
|
Continuing from the note above, consider 8 Bxc6 bxc6 9 Qf3 planning 10 e5. I've actually seen a strong International Master then playing 9...Ng4? as Black, but can you see why that's an error?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.33.2
|
|
A fun line for White is 14...c6 15 Nc3 (15 Bg5 g6 followed by ...Be6 is tricky) 15...g6, and now a beautiful move which you are invited to find.
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.35.1
|
|
Just imagine Black's knight to be on g5 instead of g6. How should you then continue for Black at move 19?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.55.1
|
|
Consider the variation 16 Nf3 Qh5 17 Kg2 Rae8. Can you demonstrate that after either 18 Bd2 or 18 Rxe8 Rxe8 19 Qd3 Black has forcing winning lines?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.61.1
|
|
White rejected the move 12 d4, but why?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.61.2
|
|
What is the 'deadly trap' mentioned in the last note?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.61.3
|
|
In response to 30...Re7, how can White win material by force?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.61.4
| |
Imagine that the c2-bishop was instead on d3 prior to the last move (and so 45 Rd3 would not be possible). How could White still force a quick win?
Click here for the Solution
Reader's Challenge P13.81.1
In game G13.81, if 9...Bf6 10 Re3, then can you discover why 10...c6 (Diagram) would be a fatal error?
|
Reader's Challenge P13.85.1
Can you see how Black will force mate within at most five more moves?
|
|
Solutions
Solution to P13.1.2.1
Becerra,J - Velez,N Cuba, 1992.
| |
Surprisingly, if Black castles on either wing at move 11, then 12 Nd5! wins immediately for White, and in the actual game Black resigned after 11...0-0-0? 12 Nd5! because of 12...Nxd5 13 exd5, intending 13...Bxd5 14 Qxe7 or 13...Rxd5 14 Qxh8+.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to Mr Mo's Brainteaser P13.1.1
Rabinovich,I - Savitsky,L USSR Ch, 1934.
| |
The solution to the mystery is 3...Nd4 (Bird's Defence) 4 Nxd4 exd4 5 Bc4, intending 5...Bc5? 6 Bxf7+! Kxf7 7 Qh5+, which "picks up" the loose c5-bishop.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.1.3.1
Rabinovich,I - Savitsky,L USSR Ch, 1934.
| |
The finish was 10...Ne7? 11 Nf4 Qf5 12 g4! 1-0, and Black resigned in view of 12...Qxe5 13 Nd3 Qd6 14 Ne4 or 13...Qd4 14 Be3 because White wins the black c5-bishop.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to Brainteaser P13.8.1
In a 14-player all-play-all tournament, we have 13 rounds, with seven games being contested in each round. So at the start of round 10 (i.e. after nine complete rounds), the total number of games played until then is 9x7=63. With 1 point at stake in each game, a total of 63 points must have been scored by the 14 players. Since Mr Mo and Jose Tonoli were each on 8½ points, that leaves 63-8½-8½=46 points scored altogether by the other 12 players. So their average score is 46 divided by 12, which is approximately 3.8 points per player.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.8.2
| |
Black wins with 10...Qc8!, threatening 11...cxb3 and the sneaky skewer 11...Bg4.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.9.1
| |
If 25 Nxd6?, then 25...Rxd6? loses to 26 Qh7+ Kf8 27 Qh8+ Ng8 28 Qxg8+! Kxg8 29 Rxe8#. However, Black could win with 25...Qh3! 26 Qh7+ (26 Qf1 loses to 26...Qxf1+ followed by 27...Rxd6) 26...Kf8 27 Qh8+ Ng8 because White can only postpone for a few moves the unstoppable ...Qg2#.
Much better instead is 25 Nf6+! gxf6 26 Rxe7!, especially in the case of 26...Rxe7?? 27 Qh7+ Kf8 28 Qh8# or 26...Qh3?? 27 Qh7+ Kf8 28 Qxf7#.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.22.1
| |
30 g5! is overwhelming, as the following variations demonstrate:
a) 30...Qxd6 31 gxf6 Ne8 32 f7+;
b) 30...Bxg5 31 Nf7 and then:
b1) 31...Rh7 32 Nxg5 (or 32 d6) 32...Qxg5 33 Nf5 Qd8 34 Nh6+ Rxh6 (after 34...Kh8 35 Nf7+ Black loses his queen) 35 Bxh6;
b2) 31...Qxf7 32 Rxf7 Kxf7 33 Ng4! Bxd2+ 34 Qxd2 Nd7 35 Rf1+ (35 Nxe5+ Nxe5 36 Qf4+ also wins for White) 35...Kg8 36 Nh6+ Kh7 37 Nf7, intending 37...Rhf8 38 Qh6+ Kg8 39 Qh8#;
b3) 31...Bxe3 32 Qxe3 Rh7 33 Nh6+ (33 Bc3 Nd7 34 Rhg1 or 34 Qg3 does the job too) 33...Kh8 34 Rf7 Qd6 35 Rhf1 (threatening 36 R1f6) 35...Nd7 36 Qg5, with a multitude of threats such as 37 R7f6 Nxf6 38 Nf7+ Kg8 39 Nxd6.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.29.1
| |
White wins material after 8 Nxd4 exd4 9 e5 because of 9...Ne4 10 Bd5 or 9...Ng8 10 Qf3.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.33.1
| |
White wins a precious pawn very simply via 10 Nxc6! Bxc6 11 Qxg4.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.33.2
| |
White has 16 Nxd5!!, intending 16...gxh5? 17 Nf6+ Kf8 18 Bh6#, a very picturesque mate.
| |
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.35.1
| |
Black could win instantly with the stunning queen sacrifice 19...Qxf2+!! because of 20 Kxf2 Bb6# or 20 Kh1 Qg2#.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.55.1
| |
Black wins after either 18 Bd2 Rxe1 19 Bxe1 Nf4+! 20 gxf4 Qh3+ 21 Kg1 Bxf3 or 18 Rxe8 Rxe8 19 Qd3 Qh3+ (19...Bh3+ 20 Kg1 Qxf3! 21 Qxf3 Re1# does the job too) 20 Kg1 Bxf3, intending 21 Qxf3 Re1#.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.61.1
| |
12 d4? loses a pawn to 12...exd4 13 cxd4 Nxd4! 14 Bxd4 Bxd2.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.61.2
| |
26...Re7? weakens the f8-rook, which allows White to win with 27 Rxg6+!!, intending:
a) 27...Kxg6 28 Rf6+ Kg7 29 Qxh6+ Kg8 30 Rg6#;
b) 27...fxg6 28 Rxf8 Kxf8 29 Qxh6+ Rg7 (29...Ke8 30 Qh8#) 30 Qh8+ Ke7 31 Qxg7+ Ke8 32 Qxg6+, with a decisive material advantage.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1
Solution to P13.61.3
| |
If 30...Re7?, then 31 h4 wins material because of:
a) 31...Ne6 32 h5! g5 (32...Ng5 33 hxg6) 33 Bxe6 Rxe6 34 Rxe6 fxe6 35 Rxf8 Qxf8 36 Qxe6.
b) 31...Nh7 32 Bxf7!! (White's 'Spanish bishop' delivers a fatal blow to Black) and now:
b1) 32...Rfxf7 33 Qxg6+ followed by 34 Rxf7;
b2) 32...Nxf6 33 Qxg6+ Kh8 34 Qxf6+ Kh7 35 Qg6+ Kh8 36 Qxh6#.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.61.4
| |
White could win beautifully, and at lightning speed, with 45 Rd4+! Qxd4 (45...Kh5 46 Qg6#) 46 g3+ Kh5 47 Be2+ Qg4 48 Bxg4#.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1
Solution to P13.81.1
|
White wins almost immediately with 11 Bxh7+!, because after 11...Kxh7 12 Qh5+ Kg8 13 Rh3 Black can only avert mate at h7 or h8 by playing 13...Bh4, which of course simply allows 14 Rxh4.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1
Solution to P13.85.1
Can you see how Black will force mate within at most five more moves?
|
|
25...Qh3+ 26 Kg1 Ne2+ 27 Kf2 Qe3+ 28 Ke1 (or 28 Kg2 Qg3+ 29 Kh1 Qh3#) 28...Nxc3#.
P13.1.2.1 P13.1.1 P13.1.3.1 P13.8.1 P13.8.2 P13.9.1 P13.22.1 P13.29.1 P13.33.1 P13.33.2 P13.35.1 P13.55.1 P13.61.1 P13.61.2 P13.61.3 P13.61.4 P13.81.1 P13.85.1