Puzzles, Positions, and...

[peter grimes]

That's a great one, Narz. I got the Move right, but for the wrong Reason. So I guess that means that I didn't get The Answer

 

[Sashie VII]

Bg4 leapt to me, but it seemed too good to be true. And it was indeed too good to be true.

EDIT: Nitpicked

 

[col]

I can see white is threatening Qh8 mating - but whats the best way of stopping that?

g6 fails to Nxg6 mating
f6? Possible. King can escape via f7 and Ng6 doesnt quite work. Doesnt look good though.

Best idea is Qh6 - do we win the endgame after Qxh6 gxh6? probably

Anything better?

edit: nice one Narz - well spotted in a game situation.

 

[Yeekim]

As I am such a nitpicker: bishop can only move to g4, not to g5. And yes, it is not such a good idea...

 

[Narz]

That's a great one, Narz.

Thanks.

I got the Move right, but for the wrong Reason. So I guess that means that I didn't get The Answer

Well it was kind of a trick question, it was more about not making the wrong move & now that you see why it's wrong your brain is more primed to notice that type of attack (both on offense & defense).

Best idea is Qh6 - do we win the endgame after Qxh6 gxh6? probably

According to the chess.com analysis engine it's roughly equal after that point (I didn't play against the odd-beat opening I was facing particularly well) but my opponent made some major blunders & I pulled off the win.

As I am such a nitpicker: bishop can only move to g4, not to g5. And yes, it is not such a good idea...

Yeah, I always get those mixed up, I was raised (well starting at age 19) on a mismash of Descriptive & Algebraic leaving my chess writing somewhat dyslexic at times.

 

[col]

I do exactly the same - probably a consequence of being reared on descriptive too cos I'm not dyslexic.

 

[peter grimes]

Here's something that's got me a little stumped... and I'm sure the answer is simple.

Assume 1... Qf1

Why can't white move 2. Kxf1?

I'm assuming it's because of the rook on f7. However, that rook is pinned, so I'm confused as to why the rook is still able to protect the f file

This is a game in progress, so please restrict your comments to the question I asked

 

[Narz]

It's all about who's king gets eaten first. If white were to take black's queen with his king the rook would eat him, yes this would put black's king in check but white's king would die first.

 

[peter grimes]

I sort of follow... but not really. After all, moving that rook is as illegal as moving a rook diagonally, no?

 

[bathsheba666]

I sort of follow... but not really. After all, moving that rook is as illegal as moving a rook diagonally, no?

Well yes, but putting your king in check is also illegal, and white would be doing this first (by trying to take on f1)

 

[peter grimes]

So I guess this is a case where a pinned piece can still control tiles. Interesting

 

[Narz]

So I guess this is a case where a pinned piece can still control tiles. Interesting

Only against the king.

 

[PreLynMax]

From a blitz game

What's white's best continuation?

Spoiler :

Nxd5!

from this game

if black doesn't take the knight he's still in trouble, try to discern how.

e6xd7 looks like a better move to me. Nxd5! seems like a good waste of a good knight.

 

[DaveShack]

e6xd7 looks like a better move to me. Nxd5! seems like a good waste of a good knight.

I think that loses to Qxe1.

 

[Narz]

Yeah, what Dave said, exd7 loses the game, ... QxR+
Qf1 QxQ
KxQ Rd8 and it's a rook vs. knight endgame that black will probably win.

 

[JonathanStrange]

That was an interesting game; the tactical trap at move 19 (from the NARZ game a few posts back where Black had to play 19...Qh6) could go into a tactics book!

 

[Sashie VII]

White to move. How do you assess this situation? Can White win it?

 

[Sashie VII]

White to move. Can Black win this?

 

[Narz]

White to move. How do you assess this situation? Can White win it?

I can't see how white can win but since you posted it as a puzzle & with a grin I imagine somehow he/she can.

Re : the 2nd puzzle, I figure black can win somehow (but again, I don't see the exact line).

 

[Sashie VII]

White to move. How do you assess this situation? Can White win it?

Spoiler :

White can win this. The trick is triangulation, White wants to get the same position but with black to move (lose a move). Then Black would be forced to allow the White king in.

1. Kd5! Kc8
2. Kc4 Kb8
3. Kd4 Kc8
4. Kd5! threatening Kd6

4. ... Kc7 forced.
5. Kc5 and White has lost a move

6. Kc8 Kb6 and it's over in a few more moves.

Spoiler :

I haven't solved the second puzzle yet, but I think it's a draw.