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 71.
February Exercise: Create a spe- cial book or file. Every time you play a game, or analyze through one, sum- marize the three most important ideas you’ve derived from that experience. The notations might refer to moves, maneuvers, plans, techniques, pit- falls, or anything of consequence. You may even go elsewhere, if the chess material suggests useful or intriguing matters in other areas of your life. Make a habit of reviewing this mounting register at least several times a week. Such reinforcement will naturally strengthen your game as it suggests something else: that so much of learning has to do with relearning.
Problem I Pin
-+-wq-+k+ +-+-+pzpp -+-+-+-+ +-+pzp-+- -+-+P+-+ +-+P+-+P -+-+-zPP+ +-+Q+-mK-
Problem IV Trapping
-+-+-+-mk +-+-snr+p -+-+-zppwQ +-+-+-+P -+-+-+-+ +-+-+-+- -zP-+-+-+ +K+-+-+-
No credit for 13. Bxc5 bxc5. This would
be a misuse of the dark-square bishop, which has a more important role to play.
13. … Bd7 Now it’s too late for 13. ... f5, which
would have been answered by 14. gxf5 gxf5 15. Nh5 Ng6 16. Nxg7 Kxg7 (16. ... f4 17. Bxc5) 17. Bh6+, winning the Exchange (accept 2 bonus points for so analyzing).**
14. h4 Par Score 5 White seeks contact with the g6-pawn
and the eventual opening of the h-file (1 bonus point).
14. … a4 Better 14. ... f6, to answer 15. h5 with 15.
... g5. That would have kept the lines closed. There’s also the trap 14. ... f6 15. Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Kh8 17. h5? g5, with Ne7- g8 catching the entombed queen. Add 1 bonus point if you saw through that one. On 14. ... f6 White would probably have played 15. Be2 and 16. f4 (1 bonus point). Note that 15. ... Qc8 16. f4 exf4 17. Bxf4 Bxg4 fails to 18. Bxg4 Qxg4 19. Nf5 and wins.**
15. h5 Par Score 5 White maintains the general plan of a
kingside attack, thinking of opening lines. 15. …
Qb8
Perhaps Black eyed some hope of sack- ing on a3, opening the b-file.**
uschess.org 16. Bh6
Problem II Pin
-+-mk-+r+ +-zpq+-+- -+-+-+-+ +-+-+-zp- -+-+-vL-+ +-+P+-+l -+-+-zPL+ +-+Q+RmK-
Problem V Trapping
-+k+-+r+ +-zp-+-+- -+-zpq+n+ +-+-zp-wQ- -+-+-+-zP +-+-+-+- -+P+-vL-mK +-+-+R+-
Par Score 5 White eliminates a key defender, after
which the dark squares around the black king are weak.
16. …
17. Bxg7 17. …
Par Score 5 Kxg7
18. Nf5+! Par Score 6 18. …
Nxf5 If 18. ... Kf6, then 19. g5 is mate (1
bonus point). On 18. ... gxf5 there follows 19. gxf5+ Kh8 20. Qh6 Rg8 (20. ... Ng6 21. hxg6 fxg6 22. fxg6) 21. Qf6+ Rg7 22. Qxg7 mate (2 bonus points). Better would have been 18. ... Bxf5,
since the bishop plays no role in the sub- sequent proceedings.**
19. gxf5 19. … Par Score 5 a3 There is no satisfactory way to
strengthen the kingside defenses, so Black goes all out on the queenside.**
20. f6+ Par Score 5 If 20. bxa3, then 20. ... Qxa3+ plays into
Black’s hands. The same would have been true for 20. b3 Nxb3+ 21. axb3 a2.
For scoring box, see page 71. Chess Life — February 2012 19 Qa7
If 16. ... Bxh6, then 17. Qxh6 brings the queen too close to the king.**
Problem III Skewer
-mk-tr-+-+ +pzpq+-+- -+-zpl+-+ +-+-+-+- -+-+-+-sn +-+P+-vL- -+P+-+L+ +-+Q+RmK-
Problem VI Mating net
-+-+-+-+ +-+k+-+- -+-+-+-+ +-+-zp-+- -+-zpPsn-+ +-+-+KvLq -+-wQ-zP-+ +-+RtR-+-
Deduct 2 points for making either bad choice.
20. … Kh8 If 20. ... Kxf6, then 21. Qg5+ Kg7 22.
h6+ Kg8 23. Qf6 and mate at g7 to follow (1 bonus point).**
21. Qh6
21. … 22. Kb1
22. … 23.
23. … Par Score 5
White infiltrates on the weak dark squares and threatens mate.
axb2+ Par Score 5 Here the white king is safe. Rg8 hxg6 Par Score 5
Threatening Qxh7 mate (1 bonus point). fxg6
If 23. ... Rxg6, then 24. Rxg6 (1 bonus
point).** 24. Qxh7+ Par Score 5 On 24. ... Kxh7, it’s over with 25. Rh1+
Bh3 26. Rxh3 mate (1 bonus point). This is more potent than 24. Rh1 (only 3 points part credit), allowing 24. ... Bh3 25. Rxh3 c6, delaying mate.
24. … Black resigned. .
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