Red Hot Pawn Christmas Quiz. 2024

As always we start with some festive Christmas silliness.
Who are these famous players. Put the pictures into words.
They are easy, just be thankful I’ve only done seven. I have
taken a minor liberty with pronunciation but it is Christmas.


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First of all a bit of education in bridge building and then onto the puzzles.

How to win a simple Rook ending. (all solutions at the bottom)




So here is the first question what happens if we give White an extra pawn.


Now the White King cannot reach the b6 square. That makes a difference.
There is no bridge building this time. How does White win this one?

Let us invite Mr. Bergkvist to the Christmas party, he composed this in 1916.

White to play and win.

We pull a cracker and out falls...The Four Knights Puzzle (White to play)


Checkmate in four moves, you are only allowed to move each Knight just once.
I’ve coloured in each Knight so you can keep track of which Knight goes where.

We end with a Christmas tale by V and M. Platov (1914)

So far everything has been easy. This one will require some thought.
Just scribble down. Kh5, Bf7, Nd8 / Kf5, Ne5, Ng4, Pe3 on a piece
of paper and take it to your board to solve right after Christmas dinner.


White to play and draw. As White you have to catch that Black e3 pawn.
Black cannot win with two lone Knights so spare no expense. Good Luck.



The quickest way to win this as White is you simply sacrifice the Rook.




The Mr. Bergkvist study. White to play and win.



The Four Coloured Knights Problem


1. Blue Knight to d6+ Kf8
2. Yellow Knight to e6+ Kg8
3. Red Knight to f6+ Kh8
4. White Knight to g6 mate.


The Platov brothers Study



Merry Christmas Everyone. I’ll see you all in the New Year

The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 201571