Level
5-Queen
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #205"][Date "2012.10.20"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "3r4/2q3k1/rp3bpp/2pBp3/2P1Q3/P4RP1/P2R1P1P/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
White has a nice active Bishop and hopes it is sufficient to play for a win, while Black hopes the opposite colour Bishops will maintain equality on the board. You need to:
a) Analyse the position and decide which side has more chances to reach their goal: White to win or Black to draw
b) White to move. Provide the best line you can think of
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #206.
Puzzle #204 solution:
Game Tores – Alehin, Sevilla 1922. The year starts well for James, the only one with a complete and correct answer. James:
a) Material: the material is even.
King Safety: both Kings are in the corner, but Black's King is safer because nothing is attacking it.
Centre: the position is closed for the moment and both sides shares the centre.
b) If Black needs an idea, first, he needs to bring more attackers and in this case, he should open up the position to become his advantage, because he has a Bishop for a Knight.
Here's the variation:
[Event "Puzzle #204"][Date "2012.10.13"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "3r1r1k/1b4p1/pb5p/2ppPp1q/2p1nP2/2P1BN1N/PPQ3PP/3R1R1K b - - 0 1"]1...d4 2.cxd4 cxd4 3.Bxd4? (3.Nxd4 {Same as the main line}) (3.Bg1 {This would be the only choice for white to hold on longer}) 3...Bxd4 4.Nxd4 Qxh3 5.Nf3 {Black wins} (5.gxh3?? Nf2+ 6.Kg1 Nxh3#)
Correct solutions:
James - 20 points
Derrick - 15 points
Richard - 10 points
Raymond - 5 points
a) Analyse the position and decide which side has more chances to reach their goal: White to win or Black to draw
b) White to move. Provide the best line you can think of
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #206.
Puzzle #204 solution:
Game Tores – Alehin, Sevilla 1922. The year starts well for James, the only one with a complete and correct answer. James:
a) Material: the material is even.
King Safety: both Kings are in the corner, but Black's King is safer because nothing is attacking it.
Centre: the position is closed for the moment and both sides shares the centre.
b) If Black needs an idea, first, he needs to bring more attackers and in this case, he should open up the position to become his advantage, because he has a Bishop for a Knight.
Here's the variation:
[Event "Puzzle #204"][Date "2012.10.13"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "3r1r1k/1b4p1/pb5p/2ppPp1q/2p1nP2/2P1BN1N/PPQ3PP/3R1R1K b - - 0 1"]1...d4 2.cxd4 cxd4 3.Bxd4? (3.Nxd4 {Same as the main line}) (3.Bg1 {This would be the only choice for white to hold on longer}) 3...Bxd4 4.Nxd4 Qxh3 5.Nf3 {Black wins} (5.gxh3?? Nf2+ 6.Kg1 Nxh3#)
Correct solutions:
James - 20 points
Derrick - 15 points
Richard - 10 points
Raymond - 5 points
Bishop's power