Originally posted by wittywonkaIf you can see blunders:
Just figured it was about time to start up another thread for chess puzzles...
Just post one whenever you get a chance 🙂
http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess2/resigntxt.htm
If you can see great games:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/ChessTutor/pgnview.htm
some endgame problems (like this one and the previous one) are "somehow" easier to solve because the first move(s) are somehow too natural...I did find Kg5(or Kg7 in the other problem) imediately, as being the only moves that would give me some counterchances...
yes, I know that there are tricks later, but I still prefer the problems where the moves are not natural(like the interposition ones if I am not wrong)...
Originally posted by vipiuIt's a lot harder to do in the context of a game though.
some endgame problems (like this one and the previous one) are "somehow" easier to solve because the first move(s) are somehow too natural...I did find Kg5(or Kg7 in the other problem) imediately, as being the only moves that would give me some counterchances...
yes, I know that there are tricks later, but I still prefer the problems where the moves are not natural(like the interposition ones if I am not wrong)...
It took me ages to calculate my thematic move as black here, for instance, especially I guess as I'd been slightly worse for most of the game and my opponent was higher graded.
I bet the forum solves this one in a minute, tops, though.
Originally posted by TommyCB sack is very "thematic" here...but yes, you have to spend some time to calculate it...anyway, when it is a "puzzle" you know it will work 😛
It's a lot harder to do in the context of a game though.
It took me ages to calculate my thematic move as black here, for instance, especially I guess as I'd been slightly worse for most of the game and my opponent was higher graded.
[fen]4k3/6b1/6p1/1p1p4/p1pP1PpB/P1P5/1P4K1/8 b - - 0 1 [/fen]
I bet the forum solves this one in a minute, tops, though.
Actually I did not check it at all, just saying:
"B sack is very "thematic" here...but yes, you have to spend some time to calculate it..."
By spending time to calculate it, it means you should check any escaping moves, reversing order of your moves in your attack if your first idea doesn't work-like Lev Alburt advices in his book...
It happened to me OTB a couple of times...in not a very good position for me, to think: look, my opponent has that "natural" move, and if he does it, I have this nice tricky combination...and to wait, and in a couple of minutes my opponent did that "natural" move...I love this, especially when the opponent is 2000+ ELO rated 🙂.
I am trying not to base my play on such tricks, but I saw that they are very importantin OTB (more important than in RHP)
Originally posted by vipiuTrue, but by not going into the detail you miss a nice part of the puzzle where white saves (perhaps even wins) the game with a counter bishop sac.
Actually I did not check it at all, just saying:
"B sack is very "thematic" here...but yes, you have to spend some time to calculate it..."
By spending time to calculate it, it means you should check any escaping moves, reversing order of your moves in your attack if your first idea doesn't work-like Lev Alburt advices in his book...
It happened to me OTB ...[text shortened]... such tricks, but I saw that they are very importantin OTB (more important than in RHP)
Originally posted by Mephisto2Looks draw to me.
True, but by not going into the detail you miss a nice part of the puzzle where white saves (perhaps even wins) the game with a counter bishop sac.
I have to admit that had this position occurred in one of my blitz games, I would have played the bishop sac almost instantly. Its so tempting.
For vipiu.
Furman-Smejkal, Tallinn, 1971.
White moves.
Furman despondently played 1.Ne4+ and resigned after 1...Kf3 2.Nxc5 a2 3.Nb3 Ke4 4.Kg2 Kd5. When the game ended, Tahl, who had been watching, asked Smejkal: "What were you going to play on 1.Nb3?". Smejkal said: "1...a2, of course". "Then you would only have drawn". Smejkal: "?????????????".
A puzzle after a real game.
Originally posted by Helder OctavioTal was right, of course. After 1.Nb3, a2 was probably the only non-winning move.
For vipiu.
Furman-Smejkal, Tallinn, 1971.
[fen]8/8/8/2b4p/8/p5k1/3N4/7K w - - - 1[/fen]
White moves.
Furman despondently played 1.Ne4+ and resigned after 1...Kf3 2.Nxc5 a2 3.Nb3 Ke4 4.Kg2 Kd5. When the game ended, Tahl, who had been watching, asked Smejkal: "What were you going to play on 1.Nb3?". Smejkal said: "1...a2, of course". "Then you would only have drawn". Smejkal: "?????????????".
A puzzle after a real game.
Originally posted by Mephisto2Endgames are not my strong point. So Black cannot win if he underpromotes to knight (the B+N+K+hpawn vs N+K)? Obviously if the knights would then go off the board, Black cannot win...
Tal was right, of course. After 1.Nb3, a2 was probably the only non-winning move.
(I'm basically asking if there was any way to facilitate advancement of the h-pawn.)
(Edit: Ah, Nb3 again with the stalemate threat, never mind. 🙂 )
Originally posted by TommyCLooking at this for a sec....it has to be Bc4
Well everyone found that too easy, eh?
Ok, here is the hardest puzzle I ever encountered. I don't think it's especially beautiful, compared say to Andersen-Anonymous, but heh. That got complaints.
So this stumped two IM friends of mine for over a week. And Lasker called it 'close to the ideal', for a study. White to play. How should the game go?
[fen]8/b1p3p1/Bk6/4N3/8/8/8/N5K1 w - - 0 1[/fen]