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As always we start with some festive Christmas silliness. Who are these famous players. Put the pictures into words. They are easy, just be thankful I’ve only done seven. I have taken a minor liberty with pronunciation but it is Christmas.
Mag Nose Car Son - Magnus Carlsen
Bough Rice Elf Hand - Boris Gelfand
Two Macs A Sheep - Max Euwe
How! Ward Chess set - Staunton
Head Car Bag of Coal - Edgar Colle
MVL M = the 13th letter of the alphabet etc...
David Arch Eye Bald - David Archibald
(David is a friend of mine who wanted to be in the Christmas Quiz).
First of all a bit of education in bridge building and then onto the puzzles.
How to win a simple Rook ending. (all solutions at the bottom)
Header
FEN
1K6/1P1k4/8/8/8/r7/2R5/8 w - - 0 1
PGN
[FEN "1K6/1P1k4/8/8/8/r7/2R5/8 w - - 0 1"] 1. Rd2+ {1...Kc6 2. Kc8 and b-pawn promotes. 2...Rh3 3.b8=Q Rh8+ 4.Rd8.} 1... Ke7 2. Rd4 {The building the bridge method.} 2... Rb3 3. Ka7 Ra3+ 4. Kb6 Rb3+ 5. Kc6 Rc3+ 6. Kb5 Rb3+ 7. Rb4 {And the b-pawn promotes. But you all knew this right?}
So here is the first question what happens if we give White an extra pawn.
Now the White King cannot reach the b6 square. That makes a difference. There is no bridge building this time. How does White win this one?
Let us invite Mr. Bergkvist to the Christmas party, he composed this in 1916.
White to play and win.
We pull a cracker and out falls...The Four Knights Puzzle (White to play)
Checkmate in four moves, you are only allowed to move each Knight just once. I’ve coloured in each Knight so you can keep track of which Knight goes where.
We end with a Christmas tale by V and M. Platov (1914)
So far everything has been easy. This one will require some thought. Just scribble down. Kh5, Bf7, Nd8 / Kf5, Ne5, Ng4, Pe3 on a piece of paper and take it to your board to solve right after Christmas dinner.
White to play and draw. As White you have to catch that Black e3 pawn. Black cannot win with two lone Knights so spare no expense. Good Luck.
The quickest way to win this as White is you simply sacrifice the Rook.
Header
FEN
1K6/1P1k4/1P6/8/8/r7/2R5/8 w - - 0 2
PGN
[FEN "1K6/1P1k4/1P6/8/8/r7/2R5/8 w - - 0 2"] 2. Rd2+ {If 1...Ke8 2. Kc7 Rc3+ 3.Kd6 the b-pawn promotes.} 2... Ke7 3. Rd6 {The other Rook sacrifice is if 3...Rc3 4.Rc6 Rxc6 5.Ka7.} 3... Kxd6 4. Kc8 Rc3+ 5. Kd8 {And 5...Rh3 with Rh8 mate in mind will not work 6.b8=Q is a check.}
The Mr. Bergkvist study. White to play and win.
Header
FEN
8/1k3K2/8/8/2R1R3/q6p/8/8 w - - 0 1
PGN
[FEN "8/1k3K2/8/8/2R1R3/q6p/8/8 w - - 0 1"] 1. Rb4+ Kc8 {1...Kc6 will transpose} 2. Ke8 {Threatening 3.Rec4 mate} 2... Kc7 3. Ke7 {Again threatening Rec4 mate.} 3... Kc6 {We now see what would have happened if Black had played 1...Kc6,} 4. Ke6 {Black can give their Queen up to stop the mate then it is a simple win.} 4... Kc7 5. Rec4+ Kd8 {Only move.} 6. Rb8 {Checkmate.}
The Four Coloured Knights Problem
1. Blue Knight to d6+ Kf8 2. Yellow Knight to e6+ Kg8 3. Red Knight to f6+ Kh8 4. White Knight to g6 mate.
The Platov brothers Study
Header
FEN
2N5/5B2/8/4nk1K/6n1/4p3/8/8 w - - 0 1
PGN
[FEN "2N5/5B2/8/4nk1K/6n1/4p3/8/8 w - - 0 1"] 1. Ne7+ {1...Kf6 or 1...Kf4 then a Knight check picks up the e3 pawn.} 1... Ke4 2. Bg6+ {2...Kf4 or 2...Kd4 a Knight check wins the pawn. 2...Kf3 3.Nf4 e2 4.Nd4+ wins the pawn.} 2... Nxg6 3. Nf5 {Threatening Nxe3 and if 3...e2 4.Ng3+ and 5.Nxe2 so Black removes this annoying Knight.} 3... Kxf5 {Stalemate!}
Merry Christmas Everyone. I’ll see you all in the New Year