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.
October Exercise: For this exercise you’ll need a chess set, a timer, and a chess book, one with tons of positions. Open the book at random and focus on whichever position catches your eye. In 10 seconds, do your best at determining the complete setup. Then slam the book shut and try to set up the position you’ve just seen. Over time, you should get better and better at doing this. But there is a final step you’ll also have to master. To check your effort, you’ll need to find the page on which you’ve closed the book. I suggest you use a bookmark.
threat, 24. Rh4, to be followed by 25. Bxf4+ exf4 26. Rxf4+. If 23. ... Bd8, vacat- ing e7 for the king at e7, then 24. Bxf4! (anyway) 24. ... exf4 25. Rh4 Ke7 26. Rxf4, and Black is hard pressed to save his f8- knight. If 26. ... Nd7, then 27. Rxe8+ Kxe8 28. Qxg7 recovers material and threatens mate.
23. 24.
… Bxf4! Rb8 Par Score 6 This is more accurate than 24. Rh4
(accept only 5 points part credit), which lim- its the options of the white queen.
24. … Qc7 If 24. ... exf4, then 25. Rh4 and 26.
Rxf4+; so Black tries to deter 25. Bf4xe5. The alternative 24. ... Nd7 is answered by 25. Qh3! (threatening 26. Qe6 mate) 25. ... Nb6 26. Bxe5!, and, if 26. ... dxe5, then 27. Nxe5 is mate.**
25. Qh2! Par Score 5 Had White played Rh4 earlier, this move
would not be available. This is why Aver- bakh gave preference to the immediate sacrifice of the bishop. Naturally, if 25. ... exf4, then 26. Qxf4+ is brutal.
25. … 26. Qh3 Nd7
This offers additional coverage of e5, but now e6 is undefendable.**
Par Score 5
White threatens mate (1 bonus point), which Black now stops.
Problem I Pin
Problem II Mating Net
Problem III Removing the Guard
Problem IV Back Rank Mate
Problem V Mating Net
Problem VI Fork
26. 27.
… Rxf8+!
Nf8 Par Score 6
Averbakh eliminates the knight, enabling the queen to penetrate. If 27. ... Bxf8, then 28. Qe6 is mate (1 bonus point).
27. 28.
… Qe6 Kxf8 Par Score 4 The threat now is 29. Rh8+, and if 29.
... Rg8, its mate next move. Black covers the back row, looking forward to 29. ... Ng7.
28. 29.
… Nh4! Rg8 Par Score 6 White breaks in at g6: (1) 29. ... exf4 30.
Nxg6+ Kg7 (30. ... Rxg6 31. Rh8+) 31. Nxe7 and unavoidable mate (1 bonus point); (2) 29. ... Ng7 30. Nxg6+ Ke8 31. Qxg8+ etc. (1 bonus point).
29. … Bd8 So the queen can defend via the seventh
rank. Unfortunately, the queen cannot block a knight check.**
30. Nxg6+ Par Score 4 On the capture, 30. ... Rxg6, White has
31. Rh8+ Rg8 32. Rxg8 mate (1 bonus point). So Black moves his king.
30. … 31. Nxe5 Kg7 Par Score 5
www.uschess.org 45
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
2200-2399 2000-2199 1800-1999 1600-1799 1400-1599 1200-1399 under 1200
This threatens 32. Qh6 mate (1 bonus
point). If 31. ... Kf8, then 32. Nd7+ Kg7 33. Rh7+ Kxh7 34. Qh6 mate (2 bonus points). And 31. ... dxe5 avoids mate, but at the cost of the queen, 32. Bxe5+ (1 bonus point). So ...
31. … Black resigned
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