Solitaire Chess / Instruction 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.
August Exercise: From the very beginning of learning chess we meet principles we don’t immediately understand. We tend to follow them blindly, at least for awhile, even the less reliable ones. Regardless how strong or weak a principle seems, make a big list of every single one you can recall. Then examine each of them critically, trying to think of limitations and situations where the opposite seems to apply. For each one you discover doesn’t hold absolutely, cross it off your list. “There is no rule without an exception.”
Problem I Mating net
Problem II Mating net
Problem III Mating net
Problem IV Double attack
Problem V Mating net
Problem VI Discovery
21.
Qe1
Par Score 5 This move has been in the air ever since
17. Re2 cleared the e1-square. Black’s queen gets pushed back and White takes control of e8.
21. … Qg4 Another idea was 21. ... Qg6, prevent-
ing entry at e8, though exposing the queen to potential harassment.**
22. Re8 … Par Score 5 This will trade off Black’s rook, and maybe
even queens, if White opts for 23. Qe6+. 22.
is that it stops 23. Qe6+.** 23.
Rxf8+
23. 24.
Nxd4 Desperation! The one point in its favor Par Score 5
Accept full credit for 23. Nxd4. …
Nxd4 Kxf8 Par Score 5 Blackburne is down a rook and a minor
piece. But he can still issue threats so he plays on.
24. 25.
… Qf2 Bc5 Par Score 5
White guards the knight, breaks the absolute pin (yes, there’s still a relative one), and plans to take over the e-file.
25.
…
Kg8 Black sidesteps 26. Ne6+ Qxe6 27. Qxc5.
But moving the king to g8 makes no dif- ference on the grand scheme of things. Black is still lost.**
26. b4
mind when playing 25. Qf2. 26.
… Par Score 5 Add 1 bonus point if you had this in Bxd4 Black forks queen and rook. Too bad it’s
White’s move and the bishop can be removed. Yes, Black could resign. That would have saved us some space.**
27. 27. 28.
Qxd4 …
Re1
knight to a safe square. 28.
…
Par Score 5 c6
Par Score 5 Full credit if you instead moved the cxd5 This must have been Blackburne’s way
of resigning. It’s really as good as many of the other ways.**
29.
for him. 29.
Qxd5+ … Par Score 5 The end is near. Maybe we can resign Kf8 TOTAL YOUR SCORE TO DETERMINE
YOUR APPROXIMATE RATING BELOW: Total Score
95+
81-94 66-80 51-65 36-50 21-35 06-20 0-05
Approx. Rating 2400+
2200-2399 2000-2199 1800-1999 1600-1799 1400-1599 1200-1399 under 1200
www.uschess.org 15
30.
Qd6+
Par Score 5 The right queen check. Wittek takes
control of both e7 and the sixth rank. I suspect one or two wrong queen checks would have worked in the end also.
30. 31.
… Re7+ Kf7 Black resigned. Black finally does resign, with it being
mate at d8 next move. It’s time for a soft drink.
Chess Life’s look may have changed, but the same files are still available for you on
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