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: All of us get losing positions (from time to time), and yet we still have to play on, especially when there’s some opportunity to save the game. To improve your chances at sal - vag ing such contests, try the following. Examine positions in which good players seem to play on in lost situations. See what is offered in the notes (if anything) to justify such resistance. If there aren’t any notes, try to find something that offers some hope. Do this enough, and you should naturally develop a sensitiv - ity to spotting such possibilities in your own games, when it counts the most.
PROBLEM I Pin/Fork
PROBLEM II Mating Net
Problem III Mating Net
PROBLEM IV Mating Net
PROBLEM V Mating Net
PROBLEM VI Mating Net
new piece and clears c1 for the queen-rook. 11.
…
Take that, Quinteros! Add 1 bonus point if you Qd7 Give yourself 1 bonus point if you saw the threat:
12. Bxd6. Black’s move defends d6 and gets the queen off the c-file, but once again doesn’t gain back any time. White’s lead in development is overwhelming.**
12. Nab5 Par Score 6 Accept only 3 points part credit for 12. Bg3,
avoiding any potential forking ideas (not that White had to worry about being forked too much). The text transfers the queen-knight to an ominous attacking post.
12. … e5 This may look active, but it’s terribly weakening.
It almost seems that Black had to play a move like 12. ... Kd8, but that was probably not in line with Quinteros’ style.**
13. Bxe5 … Par Score 8 It was time to crash through! No credit for any
other moves. It’s time to play like Browne! 13.
14. Rxe5+ …
14. dxe5**
Par Score 6 Be7
Black could have tried 14. ... Kd8 or 14. ... Ne7.
Give yourself 1 bonus point if you saw 14. ... Kd8 15. Qe2, with the idea of 16. Rd1; also give yourself 1 bonus point if you analyzed 14. ... Ne7 15. Nf5, and Black’s in trouble.**
15. Rd5! Par Score 8
saw the point: 15. ... Qxd5 is met by 16. Nc7+. Black’s queen is further ha rassed and must move once again.
15. … 16. Nf5 16. … Qc8** Par Score 7
Here come the guys. A number of threats are in the air, and they’re all directed against Black.
Kf8 Black chooses the get away from N(any)-d6
forking idea and defend g7 with his king. It’s not going to help, as the man totally in control soon demonstrates.**
17. Nxe7 Par Score 6 Browne goes for simple clarity, to which there
are no good answers. Give yourself 1 bonus point if you realized that 17. ... Nxe7 is crushed by 18. Rd8+.
17. … Kxe7
defense, award 1 bonus point for seeing 18. Nc7.** 18. Re5+
If you had considered 17. ... Qe6 as a possible Par Score 7 Black could delay matters by giving up his
queen, 18. ... Qe6, but that’s fairly hopeless. Award yourself 2 bonus points for analyzing 18. ... Kf6 19. Qf3+! Kxe5 20. Re1 mate (19. ... Kg6 is met by 20. Qh5+ Kf6 21. Qg5 mate); and 1 bonus point for seeing the line 18. ... Kf8 19. Qd6+ Ne7 20. Qxe7+ Kg8 21. Qe8+ Qxe8 22. Rxe8 mate. A masterful gem by Browne, so ...
18. … Black resigned.
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
Read archival copies of "Solitaire Chess" at
uschess.org by clicking on the “Archives” link below the “CHESS LIFE MAGAZINE” header and you will be taken to an archives page that dates to 2006.
www.uschess.org 47
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76