This week’s puzzle is from W. von Holzhausen composed in 1903.
White to play and draw. It looks easy enough 1. Bc6 Kxa5 2. Bg2
and White plays 3.Kxh2 a book draw.
However it is not that easy. 1. Bc6 Rd6! 2. Bg2 Rh6
White is not going to draw that so back here....
White to play and draw. (solution at the bottom)
Ask your club smart alec if they can checkmate with a Knight and Bishop from
any position with White to play and when they answer yes show them these.
White to play (it’s a draw.)
White to play (it’s a draw.)
White to play (it’s a draw.)
One late result just in. P. Keres beat R. Fine in round one at Ostend in 1937.
From the game psalmist - McAbbey RHP 2011 (Black played 17.Qxe2 OOPS!)
When I found I this game I was wondering how the Bishop ended up in h6.
Nothing mysterious. It had captured a Knight there a few moves previously.
However, and it’s funny how the chess mind works, it stirred a slumbering
memory of a game I played in the 1970’s, A game I had totally forgotten about.
I’ve no idea why, the Bishop on h6 and Queen on c3 must have twigged something.
G. Chandler - N.N. Edinburgh Chess mid 1970’s
(I can recall the moves but I cannot recall my opponent’s name.
But I’m sure it was a ‘serious’ game that I turned into a cartoon.)
1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 {In the 70's I was Gambits Galore. I often played this opening.} 3... dxc3 4. Nxc3 {This variation instead of 4.Bc4 was the way Alekhine played it.} 4... Bc5 {More common is 4...Bb5 but this move is OK. It is also me out of the 'book.'} 5. Bc4 {With Bxf7+ and Qd5+ and Qxc5 ideas.} 5... d6 {Protects the Bishop so any Bxf7+ tricks are, for now, shelved} 6. Nf3 {This position can come about in a variety of move orders.} 6... Nc6 {Now the only move to keep the game hot is....} 7. Qb3 {...tickling f7 before Nf6 and 0-0.} 7... Qd7 {If 7...Qe7 the 0-0 and Nd5} 8. Nd5 {The plan is Qc3 hitting g7 with b2-b4 tempo gainers to play Bb2.} 8... Nge7 {Probably best and the most common move in this position.} 9. Qc3 O-O {And now my star move.} 10. Bh6 {I was pleased with this (10...gxh6 11.Nf6+) I could not see how Black hold g7 without losing.} 10... Qg4 {Ahh...This is what happens when you force a player to find the only move...they find it.} 11. h3 {Black cannot play 11....Qxg2 because then 12.Rg1 is 1-0.} 11... Qxg2 {Ah....12.Rg1 Bxf2+ I was having one them days. I went on to lose.}
Before we see the solution to von Holzhausen's study let us look at the game in question.
psalmist (1124) - McAbbey RHP 2011
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 {This is a terrible way to defend the e5 pawn and now the g8 Knight has nowhere good to go.} 3. Be2 {Not the best. 3. Bc4 then d3 and Nc3 with Nd5 and Bg5 ideas.} 3... Bc5 4. O-O {The King is safe now open up the game and exploit the position of the Black Queen.} 4... Nh6 {With f6 occupied the Knight had to get developed somewhere.} 5. h3 {Ng4 was not a threat. better was 5. Nc3 and if 5...c6 Na4. chop the Bishop bang in d4.} 5... O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Qg6 {With f6 and Bxh3 ideas forming.} 8. Qd2 {I'm thinking Black now play 8...f6 9.Bxh6 gxh6. Open g-file, and target on h3.} 8... Nc6 {This move allows White to shift the Black Queen and stops any Bxh3 and Qg3 tricks.} 9. Nh4 Qe6 10. Kh1 {White planning f4 Black should now play f5.} 10... Nb4 {Was Black really going for the a2 pawn? 10....f5 was better.} 11. f4 {Good. If 11...Nxa2 12.f5 wins the Knight.} 11... exf4 {Thanks to Black's 10...Nb4 White can now win a piece with 12.d4.} 12. Rxf4 {White has missed winning the piece; this move allows Black to take over.} 12... Qe5 {Hitting the Bishop and the b2 pawn.} 13. Bxh6 {Black can ignore that h6 Bishop for now.} 13... Qxb2 {Now 14.Bxg7 Qxg7 15.c3 and 16.Bg4 looking at Nf5 and Rg4 ideas is interesting.} 14. Qc3 {Black can now play 14...Bd4 and come out of this with the exchange and a good position} 14... Qc1+ {This move is also good. White should play 15.Bf1 and the game is still in the pot.} 15. Kh2 {Not the best. Black has the best winning chances from here.} 15... Bg1+ 16. Kg3 Qe3+ {17. Bf3 Qf2 is checkmate.} 17. Rf3 {Black played 17...Qxe2 18.Qxg7 mate. We shall look at 17...Qxh6.} 17... Qxh6 {Threatening mate in one with 18....Qg5. I'll switch into two move trick mode.} 18. Rf1 {Hits the Bishop and gives f3 as a flight square.} 18... Qe3+ {Holds the g1 Bishop and hits the e2 Bishop.} 19. Bf3 {In view of what is coming 19.Nf3 maybe better.} 19... Nc6 20. Nd2 {Develops a piece and renews the attack on the g1 Bishop.} 20... Nd4 {With e2+ winning the Queen in mind.} 21. Rae1 {And with all the White pieces treading on each others toes the wrap up is....} 21... Qg5+ {Yes. 19. Nf3 would have been better but Black should still be winning.} 22. Bg4 {Only move.} 22... Qe5+ 23. Rf4 g5 {There is also 23...Ne2+ winning the Queen but this looks better. White can resign.}
Solution to the von Holzhausen study.
FEN
4B3/8/k7/P7/8/8/3r3p/7K w - - 0 1
[FEN "4B3/8/k7/P7/8/8/3r3p/7K w - - 0 1"] 1. Bf7 {The only move that draws. 1...Rd7 2.Bc4+ and 3.Kxh2 Black has to stop an eventual Bg2.} 1... Kxa5 {If 1...Re2 to stop 2. Be6 then 2. Bc4+ and Bxe2.} 2. Be6 {The Bishop makes for g2 allowing Kxh2. Black can only attack the Bishop or defend h2.} 2... Rd6 3. Bh3 Rh6 4. Kxh2 {A book draw although 535 RHP players with the Bishop have lost a Rook v Bishop ending.}
The fun in solving that one is discovering why moves other than 1.Bf7 fail.
