Don’t be fooled by the cover. This is a devil of a book to work through.
I’ve had this book for nearly 8 years now and I’ve still not finished it.
Compare this with Reinfeld’s 1,000 combinations which took me
on and off a month or three to complete, one chief reason being I
could go through whole pages of the Reinfeld book because I had
seen the combination before and my memory recalled the answer.
But this book cheats the memory. For example puzzle number 3.
Kan - Botvinnik, Moscow 1935, Black to play.
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
Yes this position was reached on the board in the game, but with White to play.
Hence the rather cute Black solution which if actually played in the game would
have been became famous due to Botvinnik being Black and I’d skip this puzzle.
No it’s not unfair of me to gripe because I have to work rather than remember.
The object of solving these things is so the idea sticks (that’s the theory of it.)
and you can re-produce these ideas in your own games. If you happen upon a
puzzle that you have seen before and recognise it then the theory is working.
So try it. Remember this is puzzle No.3 they get progressively harder as you go along.
The sadist who happened to pick these puzzles should have been a medieval torturer.
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
The position of the White Queen is the key factor in the position. Can Black trap it?
No.6 I did recognise. It’s a study my mate Keith Ruxton showed it to me years ago.
I forgot the solution. (so much for the idea sticking in the memory) I had to solve it.
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
White to play. Remember the golden rule in Chess ‘Check All Checks.’
Want another How about jumping ahead to puzzle 655.
I spotted this one whilst I was flicking through the book.
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
Yes it’s easy....then you remember it’s puzzle No. 655.
The puzzles from 300 onwards are tough....very tough.
Here is a mock solution which sucks the solver in.
FEN
8/6p1/Pkp3P1/4p1PK/4p3/3pP1P1/1p1P3P/8 w - - 0 1
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
1.
a7
Kxa7
2.
g4
b1=Q
3.
h4
+1
[FEN "8/6p1/Pkp3P1/4p1PK/4p3/3pP1P1/1p1P3P/8 w - - 0 1"] 1. a7 Kxa7 2. g4 b1=Q 3. h4 {And Black cannot give White a move so it is Stalemate. Easy. Yes but what happens if Black takes a Knight on move 2 and plays 3....Nc3. Then the stalemate has been lifted. Good Luck.}
The above is a study by N.Kralin 1980. Solutions at the end of this page.
Masters Euwe, Reti, Giri and Fine are having a consultation game.
They have split into two teams. You have to figure out who is who.
The Instructive Bit
Sometimes good players trap themselves by refusing to look that little bit
deeper into the position after they have played their winning combination.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b5 {The Polish Defence. It prevents a c4 from White at the cost of loose Queenside.} 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 d6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. e4 c5 {Black attacks the centre before White can comfortably arrange his pieces behind it.} 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4 {The are three pieces hitting that e5 pawn but White is not too bothered. He has an idea....} 12. e6 fxe6 13. Ng5 {There is the idea. The exchange winning Knight fork on e6. Black shows he too is good at spotting Knight Forks. Play on...} 13... Bxg2 14. Nxe6 Qb6 15. Nxf8 Rxf8 16. Kxg2 {Thus ended White’s analysis Black now takes over.} 16... Rxf2+ 17. Rxf2 Ne3+ {The winning Knight fork appears not on e6 but on e3.} 18. Kg1 Nxc2 19. Nc4 {White is going through the motions trying to complicate things.} 19... Qe6 {Perfect. When winning don't relax, always look for the best move then you won't chuck won games. White resigned. If....} 20. Rxc2 {What else? the c4 Knight and a1 Rook are being attacked.} 20... Qe1+ 21. Kg2 Qe4+ {The c2 Rook falls.}
We have a game from last year featuring a King and Queen Knight fork on e3.
Quebecji - pebbec RHP 2015
EVENT
?
SITE
?
DATE
????.??.??
ROUND
?
WHITE
?
BLACK
?
RESULT
*
FEN
r2q1rk1/1p4pp/2nbb3/p1p1pn2/2PpN3/PP1P1NP1/1BQ1PPB1/R2R2K1 w - - 0 15
15. Nfg5 {First we see how White wins the exchange and how Black could have avoided it.} 15... Bf7 {Bd7 would have stopped happens next.} 16. Nxf7 {If Black does not want to drop the exchange then the move to play here is the ugly looking Kxf7.} 16... Rxf7 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Bd5 {There goes the exchange.} 18... Qg6 {Black has gone here thinking about Nxg3 and perpetual tricks.} 19. Bxf7+ Kxf7 20. Kh2 {White has spotted this Nxg3 idea. It's the next one he misses.} 20... Rf8 21. Rh1 Kg8 22. Raf1 Rf6 {Black is quite correctly getting his pieces into position to create complications on the Kingside.} 23. Kg2 {Possibly missing Black's next move but it is not a blunder.} 23... Qxg3+ 24. fxg3 Ne3+ {The Knight fork pattern we are discussing.} 25. Kh3 {Seeking an active King for the coming endgame after Nxc2. The move Kg1 should have been considered.} 25... Rh6# {This game will have no endgame, that is checkmate.} *
White has two Rooks and a King. Black has a King....guess who wins.
IHUFFORD - mhufford RHP 2012
FEN
8/1p6/8/p2K4/P2R1p1p/8/1k6/2R5 w - - 0 44
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
1.
Rdc4
f3
2.
R4c3
f2
3.
Kc4
h3
4.
Rb3
Kxc1
5.
Rf3
h2
6.
Rc3
Kd2
7.
Rd3
Ke2
8.
Rh3
f1=Q
9.
Rxh2
Kf3
10.
Kc5
+7
[FEN "8/1p6/8/p2K4/P2R1p1p/8/1k6/2R5 w - - 0 44"] 44. Rdc4 f3 45. R4c3 f2 46. Kc4 h3 {White can now mate in two with 4.Rc3-c2+ and Ra1.} 47. Rb3+ {OOPS!} 47... Kxc1 48. Rf3 h2 {Both pawns cannot be stopped.} 49. Rc3+ Kd2 50. Rd3+ Ke2 51. Rh3 f1=Q 52. Rxh2+ Kf3+ 53. Kc5 {Black did not play Qg1+ here winning the Rook but went onto to win without too much trouble.}
White has two Rooks and a King. Black has a King......guess what happened next.
ezmorningrebel - sabirch RHP 2011
FEN
8/8/2p1k3/R7/2PP4/P4pP1/5P1P/5RK1 w - - 0 37
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
1.
Re1
Kd6
2.
c5
Kd5
3.
Ra4
+14
[FEN "8/8/2p1k3/R7/2PP4/P4pP1/5P1P/5RK1 w - - 0 37"] 37. Re1+ Kd6 38. c5+ Kd5 {Setting a stalemate trap.} 39. Ra4 {Protecting the c4 pawn so White can play Re5 Checkmate on the next move.....Wait minute there is no next move....this is Stalemate.}
Black has two Rooks and a King. White has a King....White ends up with two Queens..
christiaanj - crazyblkknight RHP.2011
FEN
6k1/5p2/2PP4/6p1/5r2/1r2K3/8/8 w - - 0 49
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
1.
Ke2
g4
2.
c7
Rc3
3.
d7
Rc2
4.
Ke3
Rfc4
5.
d8=Q
Kg7
6.
Qg5
Kf8
7.
Kd3
R2c3
8.
Kd2
g3
9.
Qh6
Ke7
10.
Qg5
Kd7
11.
Qd8
Kc6
12.
c8=Q
Kb5
13.
Qb7
Ka4
14.
Qda8
-10
[FEN "6k1/5p2/2PP4/6p1/5r2/1r2K3/8/8 w - - 0 49"] 49. Ke2 {Black can now win with a corridor mate with Rh4 - Rh2+ - Rc1 mate.} 49... g4 50. c7 Rc3 51. d7 {Now one of the pawn will promote.} 51... Rc2+ 52. Ke3 Rfc4 53. d8=Q+ Kg7 54. Qg5+ Kf8 55. Kd3 R2c3+ 56. Kd2 g3 {Black wants to take the c7 pawn but at the same time keep the g-pawn.} 57. Qh6+ Ke7 58. Qg5+ Kd7 59. Qd8+ {I don't know if Black thought his next move was forced but it wasn't.} 59... Kc6 {OOPS!} 60. c8=Q+ {White now has two Queens! (of course you can see that....don't know why I mentioned it.)} 60... Kb5 {That move was forced and White now mate in two which was of course missed. White won...eventually. The mate is.} 61. Qb7+ {Kc5 then Qd5 mate.} 61... Ka4 62. Qda8 {And it is White who the corridor mating pattern that Black missed earlier on.}
Black has two Rooks and a King. White has a King.... guess what happened next.
danrose84 - foldemfram RHP 2013
FEN
7r/1P3r2/1K6/2P5/8/6k1/8/8 b - - 0 50
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
1.
Rf6
c6
2.
Rf2
c7
3.
Rb2
Ka7
4.
Ra2
Kb6
5.
Rh6
Kc5
6.
Rc2
-8
[FEN "7r/1P3r2/1K6/2P5/8/6k1/8/8 b - - 0 50"] 50... Rf6+ 51. c6 Rf2 {This is a mistake Black can no longer win this. The two pawns hold off the two Rooks.} 52. c7 {I'll show in the next game how Black could have won.} 52... Rb2+ 53. Ka7 Ra2+ 54. Kb6 Rh6+ 55. Kc5 Rc2+ 56. Kd5 Rh5+ 57. Kd6 Rh6+ 58. Kd7 Rd2+ 59. Ke7 Rh7+ 60. Ke6 Re2+ {Here the game was abandoned as a draw.}
Here is how Black could have won this game.
danrose84 - foldemfram RHP 2013 (analysis)
FEN
7r/1P3r2/1K6/2P5/8/6k1/8/8 b - - 0 50
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
1.
Rf6
c6
2.
Kf4
Kb5
3.
Ke4
c7
4.
Rh5
Kc4
5.
Rc6
Kb4
6.
Rb6
Kc4
7.
Rh1
Kc5
8.
Rxb7
c8=Q
9.
Rc1
-8
[FEN "7r/1P3r2/1K6/2P5/8/6k1/8/8 b - - 0 50"] 50... Rf6+ 51. c6 {Instead of Rf2 Black need do nothing but bring the King across. Just be careful not to allow White to promote with a check.} 51... Kf4 {Black is going to play Kd5 and Rxc6. White cannot play Kc7 and promote the b-pawn If so Black takes on b8 and then on c6.} 52. Kb5 {This is best way to try and get a draw.} 52... Ke4 53. c7 Rh5+ 54. Kc4 {It does not matter what Black plays here the Rooks and King create mating nets.} 54... Rc6+ 55. Kb4 Rb6+ {If Ka4 then Rh1 mating on a1. If Ka3 Mate in one with Ra5.} 56. Kc4 Rh1 {Threatening mate with Rc1. It does not matter if White plays Kc4 of Kc3 the answer is the same.} 57. Kc5 Rxb7 {The easiest win.} 58. c8=Q {And because White has not promoted with a check.} 58... Rc1+ {Black should be able to win from here.}
Solutions.
Kan - Botvinnik, Moscow 1935, Black to play.
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
FEN
r2qkb1r/ppp2ppp/2n5/3pPb2/4n3/2NQ1N2/PPPP2PP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 0 7
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
1.
Nc5
Qb5
2.
Bd3
Bxd3
3.
a6
0
[FEN "r2qkb1r/ppp2ppp/2n5/3pPb2/4n3/2NQ1N2/PPPP2PP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 0 7"] 7... Nc5 8. Qb5 {Black to play and win. Remember the position is taken from a Black to play angle. Though in the game it was White's turn to move here.} 8... Bd3 {Yes. This cuts off the Queen from retreating to e2.} 9. Bxd3 a6 {The Queen is trapped.}
The solution to the first study which apparently was composed by Steinitz..
FEN
6k1/4K3/6PP/8/7B/8/8/7r w - - 0 1
8
a
7
b
6
c
5
d
4
e
3
f
2
g
1
h
1.
h7
Kg7
2.
h8=Q
Kxh8
3.
Kf7
Rf1
4.
Bf6
Rxf6
5.
Kxf6
Kg8
6.
g7
Kh7
7.
Kf7
Kh6
8.
g8=Q
Kh5
9.
Qg3
Kh6
10.
Qg6
0
[FEN "6k1/4K3/6PP/8/7B/8/8/7r w - - 0 1"] 1. h7+ Kg7 {2.Bf3 Kxg3 and the Rook takes the h-pawn. Only one other check to look at.} 2. h8=Q+ Kxh8 3. Kf7 {Threatening 5.Bf3 mate.} 3... Rf1+ 4. Bf6+ Rxf6+ {Only move.} 5. Kxf6 Kg8 {Only move.} 6. g7 Kh7 {Only move.} 7. Kf7 Kh6 {I’ll play it out to the mate.} 8. g8=Q Kh5 9. Qg3 Kh6 10. Qg6
Now that study. It’s not as easy as it first appears and is one of the cleverest
studies I have ever posted here. It is the Mona Lisa of studies. by N. Kralin.
1. a7 Kxa7 2. g4 {Taking a Queen allows the draw so....} 2... b1=N 3. h3 {Not 3.h4 this move forces Black to make a move with his King.} 3... Nc3 4. h4 {Black cannot move his Knight as it's stalemate so the King as to move.} 4... Kb7 {Going to a8, b8 or b6 will allow White to promote with a check. For 4. Ka6 see the note after Black’s 9th move.} 5. dxc3 d2 6. c4 d1=Q 7. c5 {Black needs once again to give White a move.} 7... Qd4 8. exd4 e3 9. d5 e2 {10. dxc3+ Kc8. 11.c7 e8=Q 12.c6 Qxh4+ and Black wins the c-pawns and the ending. If here the Black King was on a6 then 10.dxc3 is OK as White will promote with a check.} 10. d6 {Promoting to a Queen will not work here. White will promote to a Queen and Black will have to take it making a stalemate.} 10... e1=N 11. d7 Nd3 {Black is now threatening 12...Nf4 checkmate.} 12. d8=N+ {CHECK! the idea of h2-h3-h4 forcing the King to move b7 is now clear.} 12... Ka6 13. Ne6 {Suddenly White is threatening to win with 14. Nxg7 which gives the White King h6 to run to and the g6 pawn will win the game.} 13... Nf4+ {Black had no choice. He cannot allow Nxg7.} 14. Nxf4 exf4 {Stalemate. Brilliant. The time that must have taken to work out getting the sequence of moves just right is amazing. A wonderful piece of work.}
The Puzzle Solution
Reti and Giri were playing Euwe and Fine (it was a draw.)
If you have anything to say or add then please use Thread 168753
