Puzzle Paradise
Group 9 "The independent Scotch" |
Reader's Challenge P9.2.1
Landa,K - Ibragimov,I St Petersburg, 1998.
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Is 11 Be3 OK for White?
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Reader's Challenge P9.2.2
Landa,K - Ibragimov,I St Petersburg, 1998.
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Would 18 Nc4 have been playable for White?
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Reader's Challenge P9.3.1
Minchin,J - Wayte,W London 1900.
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6 exd5? has been played before, but can you discover the main reason why it's bad?
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Reader's Challenge P9.5.1
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Imagine altering the position by shifting White's e1-rook to f3 and Black's f- and g-pawns to f5 and g5. What then would be the absolute strongest 20th move for Black?
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Reader's Challenge P9.7.1
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How should Black continue after 22 Qf5 by White?
Reader's Challenge P9.8.1.1
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Can you see why 18 Nf5? was a blunder?
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Solutions
Solution to P9.2.1
Landa,K - Ibragimov,I St Petersburg, 1998
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11 Be3? actually loses quickly to 11...Bd6!, intending 12 f4 Nh5 (one of several very strong possibilities for Black here) or 12 Qf3 Bg4, neatly trapping White's queen.
P9.2.1 P9.2.2 P9.3.1 P9.5.1 P9.7.1 P9.8.1.1
Solution to P9.2.2
Landa,K - Ibragimov,I St Petersburg, 1998
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18 Nc4? would lose by force to 18...Bxc4 19 Bxc4 Nxg3!! and then: a) 20 fxg3 Qxg3+ 21 Kf1 Rd1+! 22 Qxd1 Qf2#;
b) 20 Qxg4+ f5 21 Qxg3 Qxe4+, attacking White's loose pieces on c4 and h1.
P9.2.1 P9.2.2 P9.3.1 P9.5.1 P9.7.1 P9.8.1.1
Solution to P9.3.1
Minchin,J - Wayte,W London 1900.
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6 exd5? Bxf5 7 dxc6?? (White also loses after 7 Bb5? a6, but the only chance is 7 Qe2+, intending 7...Nce7 8 Qb5+, although 7...Nge7 8 dxc6 0-0 gives Black a huge lead in development) 7...Bxf2+! wins for Black because of 8 Ke2 Bg4+ or 8 Kxf2 Qxd1 9 cxb7 Qxc2+.
P9.2.1 P9.2.2 P9.3.1 P9.5.1 P9.7.1 P9.8.1.1
Solution to P9.5.1
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20...Qh3+!! forces mate by 21 Kxh3 Bf1#, or 21...Qf1# if White declines Black's beautiful queen sacrifice.
P9.2.1 P9.2.2 P9.3.1 P9.5.1 P9.7.1
Solution to P9.7.1
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Of course not 22...Rxf5?? because of 23 Re8+, but instead 22...Qh4+! 23 Re4 (23 Kc5 Qc4#) 23...Qxe4+ 24 Qxe4 dxe4 wins easily for Black, whose deadly duo of passed g- and h-pawns will be unstoppable.
P9.2.1 P9.2.2 P9.3.1 P9.5.1 P9.7.1 P9.8.1.1
Solution to P9.8.1.1
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Black won instantly with 18...Bxf5 19 exf5 Nd3+! 20 Rxd3 Rxe1+ 21 Rd1 Bf4+ 22 Kc2 Rdxd1 0-1.
P9.2.1 P9.2.2 P9.3.1 P9.5.1 P9.7.1 P9.8.1.1