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.
April Exercise: Implement this exer - cise with the aid of a strong player or coach. Playing as a consultation team, face off against an app or some other kind of chess-playing soft ware. Make sure the teacher discusses options with you and explains his or her reasoning as each game goes along. This way, suggestions are fresh and have immediate impact, as op - posed to examining moves afterward, when critical thoughts may have been forgotten. Do this often, and don’t be astonished if over time your play becomes more relevant. Win or lose, you’ll have a partner to share the gains, as well as the pains.
12. … Qe7 Black keeps his options open. For the mean -
time, he guards e6 and retains the possibility of castling queenside.**
13. Nc3 Par Score 5 Gligoric develops his last minor piece,
connecting the rooks. The open e-file is now very inviting.
13. … c6
This bolsters the d-pawn while taking away White’s possible use of b5.**
14. Rae1 Par Score 6 A serious move. Note that Black’s king and
queen are both on the e-file. Gligoric has built his game quite soundly, with his forces deployed on good strong squares.
14. … 0-0
Time to flee. Black castles, hoping to escape or blunt a dangerous e-file discovery.**
15. Bf4 Par Score 5 But it comes anyway. Black’s queen is men -
aced, and his dark-square bishop must be kept defended.
15. … Qd7
The queen moves out of attack and keeps the d6-bishop protected.**
16. Bxd6 Par Score 5
White trades bishops. But there’s more to it, as we shall soon see.
PROBLEM I Mating net
PROBLEM II Fork/Pin
Problem III Driving off
PROBLEM IV Mating net
PROBLEM V Removing the guard
PROBLEM VI Mating net
16.
…
Qxd6
Naturally, Black takes back. But the trap has already been set.**
17. Nxh7! Par Score 7
A really nice echo shot. White’s beautifully developed position explodes to resolution.
17. … Rf7 This seems to save the Exchange. Give
yourself 1 bonus point if you analyzed that 17. ... Nxh7 would have lost material to 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. Qxf8.**
18. Nxf6+ Par Score 5
Damage done, White trades knights and envisions the end.
18. … Rxf6 This recapture doesn’t quite save the day,
but neither 18. ... Qxf6 19. Re8+ (1 bonus point), nor 18. ... gxf6 19. Qh4 (1 bonus point) are any better.**
19. Qh4 Par Score 6 This is decisive. Black has no way to avoid
the loss of meaningful material. If 19. ... Bg6, then 20. Rxf6 wins a piece (1 bonus point); and if 19. ... Rxf1+, then 20. Rxf1 Bg6 21. Bxg6 Qxg6 22. Qd8+ Kh7 23. Rf8 (1 bonus point) should win on most chessboards.
19. … Rh6 It all seems to hold together—but it doesn’t.**
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
www.uschess.org 45
20. Qxh5!
Accord ingly ... 20. …
Par Score 8 If 20. ... Rxh5, then 21. Re8+ mates. Black resigned.
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