Level
2-Knight
Chess Diagram
[Event "Puzzle #246"][Date "2014.02.17"][Result "0-1"][SetUp "1"][FEN "r4rk1/ppb2ppp/2p1q3/8/3P4/4PB2/PP3P1P/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 1"]
The position shows equal material for both sides; on top of it White has a light squares Bishop, while Black has a dark squares Bishop. Having opposite colour Bishops on the board, increases the chances for draws since each side is strong on the squares its Bishop controls and it is weak on the other squares. Black to move. Your tasks:
a) Should this be a draw?
b) If Black should continue:
- explain why
- show what Black should do
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #247.
Puzzle #245 solution:
Ceteras, 2007. Toro’s answers:
a) White is strong because he has a discovered attack on Black’s queen. White’s knight is very active. White has a battery of rooks, they are doubled. Moving the white knight is a dangerous move for Black because it is a double discovered attack. White’s king has castled and black has also but white’s is better than Black’s as he has an escape space. If white moves’s his rook then black can take the h3 pawn. Black’s castle is worse than white’s. Black’s bishops are really powerful as they are next to each other and blocking white’s luft. The black rook is threatening the f3 rook. Black’s queen is in action and is attacking the pawn in front of the king. White’s queen is kind of stuck and more protected as well. White’s bishop is threatening the h7 pawn. If Black could put his bishop on g3 it would be really strong because it would block white’s escape squares.
b) Solution:
[Event "Puzzle #245"][Date "2014.02.09"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "5rk1/pp1b2pp/3bp3/3p2q1/3P1N1r/2PB1R1P/PP1Q2P1/5RK1 w - - 0 1"]1.Nxe6 {After this all the ways go wrong for Black} 1...Qxd2 (1...Bxe6 2.Rxf8+ Bxf8 3.Qxg5) (1...Rxf3 2.Qxg5 Rxf1+ 3.Kxf1) 2.Rxf8+ Bxf8 3.Rxf8#
Correct solutions:
Coco, Toro - 20 points
Benjamin - 18 points
Brandon, Oliver, Ken, Bradley - 15 points
Hyson, Anya, Cody - 12 points
Eric, Jalen - 10 points
Mrinal - 6 points
Illya - 2 points
Standings:
Coco - 111 points
Bradley - 105 points
Benjamin - 85 points
Anya - 82 points
Ken - 75 points
Jalen - 73 points
Toro - 66 points
Hyson - 65 points
Brandon, Oliver - 64 points
Cody - 34 points
Jeffrey - 31 points
Mrinal, Illya - 27 points
Eric - 22 points
Aaron - 21 points
Dheera - 10 points
a) Should this be a draw?
b) If Black should continue:
- explain why
- show what Black should do
Total available points for this puzzle is 20. The answers will be published next week together with puzzle #247.
Puzzle #245 solution:
Ceteras, 2007. Toro’s answers:
a) White is strong because he has a discovered attack on Black’s queen. White’s knight is very active. White has a battery of rooks, they are doubled. Moving the white knight is a dangerous move for Black because it is a double discovered attack. White’s king has castled and black has also but white’s is better than Black’s as he has an escape space. If white moves’s his rook then black can take the h3 pawn. Black’s castle is worse than white’s. Black’s bishops are really powerful as they are next to each other and blocking white’s luft. The black rook is threatening the f3 rook. Black’s queen is in action and is attacking the pawn in front of the king. White’s queen is kind of stuck and more protected as well. White’s bishop is threatening the h7 pawn. If Black could put his bishop on g3 it would be really strong because it would block white’s escape squares.
b) Solution:
[Event "Puzzle #245"][Date "2014.02.09"][Result "1-0"][SetUp "1"][FEN "5rk1/pp1b2pp/3bp3/3p2q1/3P1N1r/2PB1R1P/PP1Q2P1/5RK1 w - - 0 1"]1.Nxe6 {After this all the ways go wrong for Black} 1...Qxd2 (1...Bxe6 2.Rxf8+ Bxf8 3.Qxg5) (1...Rxf3 2.Qxg5 Rxf1+ 3.Kxf1) 2.Rxf8+ Bxf8 3.Rxf8#
Correct solutions:
Coco, Toro - 20 points
Benjamin - 18 points
Brandon, Oliver, Ken, Bradley - 15 points
Hyson, Anya, Cody - 12 points
Eric, Jalen - 10 points
Mrinal - 6 points
Illya - 2 points
Standings:
Coco - 111 points
Bradley - 105 points
Benjamin - 85 points
Anya - 82 points
Ken - 75 points
Jalen - 73 points
Toro - 66 points
Hyson - 65 points
Brandon, Oliver - 64 points
Cody - 34 points
Jeffrey - 31 points
Mrinal, Illya - 27 points
Eric - 22 points
Aaron - 21 points
Dheera - 10 points
Discovered check