Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Chess Puzzle

Isn't it great to see the Irish team representing us in Russia. Sam Collins had a great result yesterday, and thankfully everyone performed today to get a 4-0 score against Papua New Guinea. If we can just win against the weaker teams and get the odd unexpected point against the stronger teams: I for one will be very happy.

Today's puzzle:

I decided to stick to the K.I.S.S. formula this time. Just a simple White to play and win.

The last puzzle I presented again caused problems for me. I took the article directly from the BCM of 1866 where the problems were presented without solutions. On running the positions through fritz I discovered that the first and last problem were faulty. The positions must have been given incorrectly. 

Solutions:
Problem 1:
1.Na3+ Kd4 2.Bg7+ f6 3.Bxf6#
1.Bg8 Nd3 2.Bf7+ Kc3 3.Bg7#

Problem 2:
1.Ne4 Rxe4 2.Qc5#

Problem 3:
1.Rc7 h6 2.Nxe6 Kxd5 3.Qf5#

Problem 4:
1.Qc1+ Kb5 2.Ba3 d4 3.Qc5+ Ka4 4.Rxa6#
1.Rc7+ Kb5 2.Qd5+ Ka4 3.Qb3+ Ka5 4.Bc3#

David McAlister may be able to shed some light on the issue!

1 comment:

David McAlister said...

I think the problem may be your fritz not the BCM :-)

Here's the solutions, I hope!

(Tried using a few html tags - hope they work OK)

Planck 2-move 1st prize:
1.e5
Doesn't threaten mate in one, but Black has to make a move. 1...Bd4
[1...Bc3 2.Qxf7#;
1...Bb2 2.Rxb4#;
1...Rb3 2.Qc6#;
1...Rb2 2.Rh4#;
1...Bxe5 2.Nxe5#;
1...Na2 or any Knight move 2.Qd3#;
1...f5 2.Bg8#;
1...c5 2.Nxb6#]
2.Na3#

Walsh 3-move 2nd prize:
1.Ba3
Changing diagonals 1...Kd4
[1...Kc3 2.Qe3+ Kc4 (2...Kc2 3.Qc1#; 2...Bd3 3.Qxd3#) 3.Qc5#;
1...Kb5 2.Qxd5+ Kb6 (2...Ka4 3.Rxa6#) 3.Qc5#;
1...Bc8 2.Qe3 threatening Qd3# and Qc5# (but there is also 2.Qc1+ Kd4 (2...Kb5 3.Qc5#) 3.Ra4#) 2...d4 3.Qb3#;
1...Bb5 2.Qe3 d4 3.Qb3#]
2.Qd2+ Ke4
[2...Kc4 3.Qd3#;
2...Bd3 3.Qxd3#]
3.Re7#
(I've left out a few duals)

I think the Planck 3-mover is the best of the four. His 2-mover has some nice touches but some of the play is a bit pedestrian.