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ABCs of Chess These problems are all related to


key positions in this month’s game. In each case, Black is to move. The answers can be found in Solutions on page 79.


July Exercise:Much of chess think- ing has to do with making com- parisons, whether it’s deciding be- tween plausiblemoves or balancing pluses and minuses. To that end, whenever you encounter a position to evaluate, practice the same steps in an analytic chain. Comparemate- rial. Note differences in pawn struc- ture, highlighting of weaknesses, strengths, targets, and potential advances. Determine space and time edges, as well as general king safety. Also find the proper worth of intangi- bles, such as control of certain lines and having the better minor piece. It may sound routine, but such good habits are the foundational circuitry of higher thought process.


Problem I Skewer


r+ +k+ + + +lp + + + + +


+ + + + +L+ + +


+ + + + + + + + + L K +


Problem IV Mating net


p + + + + +pn +


+ qp+ + + + + +


+ + + + P QPN + + R K +


+ +k+ r


Problem II Pin


+ + lp+p + + + +


+ + +P+ + + +L+


+ + + + + + + P + + K L


Problem V Back rank


+ + + p + + + p


+ + + + + + + +


+ +R+R+ + + +PP


+ r rk+ + +k+ r


Problem III Back rank


r+ + +k+ + + + p + + + p


+ + + + P+ + + + +p+ + + + + +PP R + + +K


Problem VI Removing the guard


+p+ + p +p+p+ p


+ + + + +rlP+ +


+ + + +K + + + K


P N + + P L P P


+ + +k+


Defending by 16. ... Rad8 proves awk-


ward. Themove 17. Ng5 would packmore of a punch. There’s also 17. Rd6 and 18. Rcd1, doubling up on the file.**


17. Bd5 Par Score: 5 Fine intends 18. Rc5, with 19. Bxc6


Bxc6 20. Rxe5 to follow (1 bonus point). 17. …


Rd8 Now on 18. Rc5 the bishop is pinned.


And if 18. Bxc6, then 18. ... Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Bxc6 20. Nxe5 Bxe4.**


18. Rf1 Par Score: 6 This is an unexpected switch of files,


taking advantage of the undefended f8- square. White threatens 19. Bxc6 Bxc6 20. Nxe5, or 19. Nxe5 directly.


18. …


is the best he can do.** 19. Bxc6


19. … Rf6 Placing the rook on a protected square Par Score: 5


White sets about winning the e5-pawn. bxc6


Accept 1 bonus point if you realized the


intermediate check, 19. ... Rg6+, changes nothing after 20. Kf2. Also: 19. ... Bxc6 20. Nxe5 Bxe4 fails to 21. Nf7+.**


20. Nxe5 uschess.org Par Score: 5


20. …


Rd2 This is an attempt at counterplay. If 21.


Rf6, then 21. ... gxf6 22. Nxc6 Bxc6 23. Rxc6 Rxb2 24. Rxf6 Rxa2. Black at any rate gets a bunch of pawns off the board.**


21. Rcd1 Par Score: 6 White challenges for control of the d-file.


If 21. ... Rxb2, then 22. Rd8 wins on the spot.


21. … Rxd1 He has to concede the file. If 21. ...


Rdd6, then 22. Rxd6 Rxd6 23. Rf8 is mate (1 bonus point).**


22. Rxd1 22. …


Par Score: 4 Re6 Black skewers e5 and e4, but mainly


plays this move to guard the bishop.** 23. Kf4


Par Score: 5 White protects the knight and the e4-


pawn. Deduct 1 point if you moved the knight, allowing the rook to take on e4.


23. … Kg8 Black prepares to unpin his bishop,


since he cannot prevent White’s next move. Accept 1 bonus point if you saw in advance that 23. ... g5+ is simply answered by 24. Kf5.**


“Solitaire Chess” scores:


Total your score to determine your approximate rating below:


Total Score Approx. Rating 95+


2400+


81-94 66-80 51-65 36-50 21-35 06-20 0-05


Chess Life — July 2011


2200-2399 2000-2199 1800-1999 1600-1799 1400-1599 1200-1399 under 1200


15


24. Rd8 24. … 25. Nc4


Par Score: 5 Kf8 Par Score: 5 This is a good general purpose move,


which threatens simplification after 26. Nd6. Also it vacates e5 for the pawn (or the king) to advance.


25. … 26. Ra8


Ke7 Par Score: 4 The threatened rook moves away with


tempo, giving an attack on the a-pawn which cannot be defended. The pending two-pawn minus endgame brings about O’Kelly’s resignation.


26. … Black resigned .


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