Puzzle of the week #163

Submitted by eugen on Sat, 05/07/2011 - 10:52

Etouffe mate (2)

Level
3-Bishop
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #163"][Date "2011.05.07"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r7/6p1/4b1Rp/4q2k/7b/1B6/2PB2Q1/2K5 w - - 0 1"]
Remember when you started to come to a chess club, or began reading your first chess book? You had the chance to read lots of pearls of wisdom passed on from previous generations of players; some made sense right away, while others did not. Remember this following one?
"A Knight on the rim is dim"
That one was easy to prove and understand. How about a King on the rim? Look at today's position; is there anything we've been talking about at the club this position reminds you of? Your tasks:
a) Who has the advantage here? Explain
b) What is the most likely result of this position? Explain
c) White to move and get the most out of it

Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #164.

Puzzle #162 solution:
Lisitzin puzzle #653. This was one of the puzzles requiring a simple and to the point response for each task. A couple of the young ones Harmony (newest BC under 8 girls Champion) and Philip (newest BC under 8 second place) - congratulations to both of you - understood it and provided the best responses. The future looks bright for both! I challenge everyone else to follow their lead. Here is a model response from Harmony:
a) Analysis: Black’s advantage is obvious. It is up a Rook and one move away from checkmate. White’s advantage is that all its pieces are attacking and most importantly it is its turn to move!
b) It looks like any side can checkmate the other if it is its turn. Below is a combination by White to kill Black.
c) See solution:

[Event "Puzzle #162"][Date "2011.04.30"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "3n3k/2R5/2n1P3/3N2N1/8/1p6/2r3r1/K7 w - - 0 1"]1.Rh7+ Kg8 2.Nf6+ Kf8 3.e7+ Nxe7 4.Rf7+ Nxf7 5.Ne6#

Correct solutions:
Philip, Harmony - 20 points
Alex, James - 19 points
Ziyao - 17 points
Leo, Derrick - 15 points
Frank - 10 points
Daniel - 6 points
Leroy - 3 points

Standings:
Ziyao - 306 points
Harmony - 302 points
James - 266 points
Philip - 258 points
Alex - 238 points
Leo - 215 points
Derrick - 172 points
Leroy - 146 points
Jeffrey - 140 points
Daniel - 132 points
Frank - 96 points
Kevin - 92 points
Eric - 24 points
Danny - 19 points
Karl - 13 points