Christmas Chess Contest

[akots]

Here are the problems. Don't give up, it is not that difficult! Everyone is wellcome to participate!

I had this stupid idea for some time now. Here is Christmas Contest. It has 5 problems in it. Deadline for submission is January 8th midnight GMT. Take your time with these problems!

Please pm the answer to me no later than the deadline. Please do not use any chess programs to help you find the solutions. This cannot be checked and is a matter of honesty of the participants.

Now to the spot. The same problems will be posted at civ3duelzone and some other site. Whichever site has more submissions with more points, wins the competition! Of course, there will be individual awards as well! We'll specifically ask Mistfit to cast a Golden Cup for the winner!

Position number 1

White to start and give mate to the black king within a few moves (no more than 3). Solution brings 1 point. This one should be easy to solve. Taken from a practical game.

Position number 2

Black to start and to win rapidly and deadly. Solution brings 2 points. Slightly more difficult. Also taken from a practical game.

Position number 3

White to start and attack swiftly and give mate to black king. Solution brings 3 points. Might be rather well-known, so if you knew the solution, please indicate so during the submission. Also taken from an actual game.

Position number 4

Black to start and give mate to white king in about 10 moves or gain a decisive advantage. Solution brings 5 points. Might be as well somebody knew the solution, so please indicate this. A tough nut to crack; taken from an actual game.

Position number 5

White to start and to win. A very beautiful piece of chess art, rather difficult to solve. Those who succeed will receive 10 points.

Good luck and don't forget about the deadline!

 

[Richard Cribb]

Nice quiz!
I will probably submit;1-4 seems pretty easy, but the last one is a bit tricky, however I do believe that I have found the solution.

 

[Narz]

First three I am certain I solved.

The last two I will have to examine more throughly later.

I've actually got a tournament coming up (my first in four years or so). I'm enterting the Under1600 section so hopefully I can win. This will be good practice.

 

[Richard Cribb]

First three I am certain I solved.

The last two I will have to examine more throughly later.

Excellent.
I just submitted, I am quite sure that I have solved everything.

I've actually got a tournament coming up (my first in four years or so). I'm enterting the Under1600 section so hopefully I can win. This will be good practice.

Good luck! Just remember the advice of Tarrasch: "The most important thing for a chessplayer is to remember to sit on ones hands"!

 

[akots]

Just a friendly reminder that the solution is due on January 8th, midnight GMT.

 

[Narz]

Well I did my best, though #4 had my stumped.

Thanks Akots, for the challenge!

 

[akots]

Submission is now closed.

Solutions:

Position number 1

White to start and give mate to the black king within a few moves (no more than 3). Solution brings 1 point.

A grandmaster style:

1. Qd3-g6!! and mate in maximum 3 moves.

Bronshtein - Geller, 1961

Position number 2

Black to start and to win rapidly and deadly. Solution brings 2 points.

A master style:

1. ... Re8-e1!! and black wins.

Belen'ky - Pirogov, 1957

Position number 3

White to start and attack swiftly and give mate to black king. Solution brings 3 points.

A spectacular and very non-standard combination indeed, very italian and romantic:

1. Qg2-g4+!! Be6xg4
2. Rg6xh6+! g7xh6
3. Bb3-f7 checkmate!

Vakkaroni - Maccokki, 1891

Position number 4

Black to start and give mate to white king in about 10 moves or gain a decisive advantage. Solution brings 5 points.

There is obviously something wrong in this postion. What is wrong? Black has too many pieces on the 8th row. All of them have to be removed in order to win.

1. ... Be8-b5!
2. a4xb5 Nh5-g3+
3. Ne4xg3 Nf5xg3+
4. h2xg3 h4xg3+
5. Kh1-g1 Rh8-h1+
6. Kg1xh1 Rg8-h8+
7. Kh1-g1 Bf8-c5+
8. Nb3xc5 Rh8-h1+
9. Kg1xh1 Qc8-h8+
10. Kh1-g1 Qh8-h2 checkmate. Now, compare the starting position and the final one...

NN-Mason, 1948

Position number 5

White to start and to win. A very beautiful piece of chess art, rather difficult to solve. Those who succeed will receive 10 points.

Obvious goal is somehow to seize control over f1 tile so that black cannot promote their pawn. Alas, this is not possible. Good thing, white still can win even if black promotes the pawn.

1. h4-h5+ Kg6-h6
2. Nd8-f7+ and now black face a tough choice:

A:
2. ... Kh6-g7
3. Nf7-g5+ Kg7-g8
4. Re7-e8+ Kg8-g7

5. h5-h6+ Kg7-g6
6. Kf4-g4 f2-f1Q
7. Re8-e6+ Qf1-f6
8. Re6xf6+ Kg6xf6
9. Kg4-h5! and white wins

B:
2. ... Kh6xh5
3. Re7-e5+ Kh5-h4
4. Nf7-g5 f2-f1Q+
5. Ng5-f3+ Kh4-h3
6. Re5-h5+ Kh3-g2
7. Rh5-h2 checkmate, a spectacular ending:

Problem composed by Kasparyan in 1936

Thanks everyone for their submissions. The results will be announced shortly in the same thread!

 

[akots]

Now, the results:

There were total of 7 submissions for the Contest, all from very strong players. All participants were able to solve at least one problem correctly.

Individual standings:

Banzai, being the famous CDZ champion, apparently did not have enough time to devote to the competition and have submitted only a quick solution to one problem therefore getting 1 point.

kryszcztov was so busy playing Civ4 that he was only able to solve problems 1 and 3 correclty thus getting 4 points.

Narz managed to solve numbers 1-3 and had partially solved number 5 (2 points out of 10) for a total of 8 points.

col struggled without a board but managed to solve numbers 1-3 and partially solve numbers 4 (1 point out of 5) and 5 (2 points out of 10) for a total of 9 points.

Bronze award goes to Rik Meleet who solved numbers 1-4 and did not even start on number 5 thus getting 11 points total.

Silver award goes to FortyJ for solving numbers 1-3 and 5 as well for a total of 16 points.

An now may I introduce you the winner of the contest, luceafarul who is a member of CFC. He managed to solve all problems correctly providing very extensive analysis of all positions thus receiving 21!!!! points.

Congratulations, luceafarul The Morning Star!!!

Here is the gorgeous award for a winner, a delightful Christmas cup courtesy of Mistfit with a portrait on Eminescu on it:

Since this first intersite contest had been a huge success, I'm currently planning another contest in a few weeks. Stay tuned!

 

[Richard Cribb]

Thanks a lot, I am most honoured and that cup is really a fine piece of art.
I am most delighted and flattered.

 

[Rik Meleet]

Congrats Luceafarul.
Thanks Akots.