A lot of weeks we start off with what chess treasure I have found in a junk shop This week is no different except here is something my wife picked up for £2.00 a few days ago. Never pass a junk shop!
Quite smart and in a very good condition, what was inside?
An eight level Novag chess computer. I put the batteries in and it fired up!
A Novag computer found in a wooden box (on level 4) v Me, Scotland, 2026
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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 {A Latvian played just to see how it handles it.} 3. Bc4 {One of the mainlines.} 3... fxe4 4. Nxe5 d5 {Now all the sharp stuff happens with 5.Qh5+} 5. Bb5+ {A known cute line, putting a pawn on a square the b8 Knight would like to be on.} 5... c6 {Now 6.Qh5+ is still on.} 6. Ba4 {Not good. Black can get a good game with 6....Qg5.} 6... Nf6 {Played this because it I'm wondering where else this thing would go astray.} 7. d4 Bd6 8. Be3 {It was moving pretty quickly.} 8... O-O 9. O-O Nbd7 {It should now play 9.Nxd7.} 10. Ng4 {Opening itself up to all kinds of tactical tricks.} 10... Nxg4 11. Qxg4 {11...Nb6 wins a piece, but this thing does not inspire confidence in its ability, at this level, to handle a kingside attack.} 11... Ne5 12. Qg5 {It wants the Queens off, I'll try to dissuade it. That White Queen is a liability.} 12... Ng4 {A bit of a bluff. It should trade Queens.} 13. g3 {Instead it saves a pawn.} 13... Be7 {Now the Queen is in trouble.} 14. Qh5 g6 15. Qh3 Nxe3 16. Qh6 Bg5 {The Queen is gone. I played on to checkmate it. Stay tuned, I wrap it up with a Double Bishop Sac.} 17. Qxf8+ Qxf8 18. fxe3 Bxe3+ 19. Kg2 Bh3+ 20. Kxh3 Qxf1+ 21. Kh4 Bg5+ 22. Kxg5 Qf5+ 23. Kh4 Qh5
I’ll get rid of it but I will keep the box it came in.
Look at this, I picked them up for 10p each. (the cover price is £5.95)
The Guardian Weekly and each one has a chess column by Leonard Barden. So this weeks three puzzle all come from there (chosen for you, by Leonard!)
S. Fedorchuk - R. Buhmann Spain 1999 (White to play)
From a game played in Warsaw 1981 (White to play) .
From the 10th April 2026. Only one move wins. Solution follows next.
White has to cut out all of Black checks and at the same time restrict the Black Queen.
1. Qc3 (Black has no checks and cannot stray away from g7 or allow Qc8+ )
1... Qb7 2. Qa1 Black is now in Zugzwang. If 2...Kf8 3.Qh8+ and Qh7+ etc.
2... Qe7 3. Qa8+ Qf8+ 4. Qxf8+ Kxf8 5. Kh7
A White win, thank you Mr. Barden.
The RHP trap game I have chosen this week is a from a Blumenfled’ Attack in the Scotch Game (not to be confused with the Blumenfeld Gambit in a Q.P. game) The Blumenfled Attack is from The Scotch Game and in this well known position.
White plays 6 Nb5. A tricky trappy move for both sides. If going for it try to back it up with a bit of prep. I can never cover everything, all I can do is give you ideas, hints and if we are lucky, some handy instruction. A bit of spade work is needed so you will have an idea what is going on. There is no need to jump in blind and playing it off the cuff.
Did you say we will have to do some work?
Yes I did, you will have to at least look at it.
It has appeared on RHP 240+ times with White winning most games, usually because Black has never seen 6.Nb5 before and does not know what to do. It is off beat and does not appear to be mentioned in a couple of well known books on the Scotch (I wonder why?)
One RHP game will give you a flavour, it is not the sharpest line but it was played by RookGrabber and he never grabbed a Rook, so how can one resist not using that game.
This position from the opening has appeared three times on RHP (Black to play)
In 2010 White won the game, in 2011, the following game, and in 2012, Black won.
feufollet RookGrabber RHP 2011 We will also see mentioned in the notes a piece dropping blunder that has been played well over 400 times on RHP.
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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 {5...Nf6 6.Nxc6 and Black has lost a piece. A very common type of blunder on RHP.} 5... Qf6 {A position reach over 4.800 times on RHP so you will get a chance to play this} 6. Nb5 Bxe3 7. fxe3 {Here a few players have taken on b2. 7...Qxb2 8.Nbc3. Black now realised their Queen is in danger of being trapped with 9.Rb1 and end up already with a grim position.} 7... Qh4+ 8. g3 {8...Qxe4 9.Nc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 Qxh1 is the fun line you really do need to know for both sides. If you are Black here then there is a good chance your opponent will know what is going on.} 8... Qd8 {Rook Grabber never grabbed the Rook, This is the safer line.} 9. Qg4 {Theoretically given as best.} 9... g6 {The move 9...g5 is a good looking alternative. It prevents White's next move, though Black also scores OK with 9...g6} 10. Qf4 {The move 9...g5 would have prevented, it up to you if you want to allow it.} 10... d6 {6.Nc3 with 0-0-0 in the wind should kick up some dust but the most natural move is.} 11. Bc4 Ne5 12. O-O {Now 12...f6 and leave White to wonder what to do with that c4 Bishop.} 12... Bh3 {Ignores the attack on f7. This line is playable, Black just needs to be a bit careful. For the pawn they will get a load of counter play.} 13. Bxf7+ Kd7 14. Rd1 {In the first RHP game I mentioned Black played 14...Nf6 15.Qxe5 1-0.} 14... Qe7 {Black is looking very good here, White's moves up to here looking very natural. The threat is Rf8 pinning the Bishop.} 15. Bc4 {Missing the real threat.} 15... Rf8 {Rook Grabber did not grab the Rook, but here a Queen is trapped and will soon be grabbing that 0-1.}
