Another Puzzle Thread

Originally posted by Helder Octavio
In really, the best study from the brilliant Czeck GM.

I think I see what happens in the Reti one, I'll pm you to check I've got it right rather than spoil it.

Originally posted by Jusuh
I don't think there is any point to make a puzzle with something like 35 moves long solution.

Maybe, maybe not.

But this particular puzzle is a lot shorter than 35 moves.

Originally posted by Jusuh
If white does not move his bishop, which I think is the case, then he must keep black king on the edge and mate him with two knights. That could be possible, given that there are some black pieces blocking possible escape squares.

That was the part i was thinking about.. But i don't see how it could be done right away!

TommyC mentionned that Lasker described the problem as being "close to the ideal". In chess problems the ideal is that there are no pieces or pawns on the board that are not relevant to the problem. I wonder what the purpose of the black pawn on b7 is.

Originally posted by DeepThought
TommyC mentionned that Lasker described the problem as being "close to the ideal". In chess problems the ideal is that there are no pieces or pawns on the board that are not relevant to the problem. I wonder what the purpose of the black pawn on b7 is.

you mean g7? I was wondering that too. Only explanation I could come up with was that its needed for spending tempos.

Originally posted by DeepThought
TommyC mentionned that Lasker described the problem as being "close to the ideal". In chess problems the ideal is that there are no pieces or pawns on the board that are not relevant to the problem. I wonder what the purpose of the black pawn on b7 is.

I read the Lasker quote in the fascinating Levitt & Friedgood book 'Secrets of Spectacular Chess', where I also found this position. As I recall (I don't have the book with me) the book also explained how Lasker had his own ideas about the ideal in studies which were quite philosophical. But I don't recall any more detail. Anyhow. The ideal you mention applies absolutely to the white army, as Lasker in fact noted. And without the g7 pawn, there would I believe be a dual on move 2, amongst other things.

Alright, here's an easy one. But it's an easy one with a great story behind it, that Goran Urosevic of Chesslodge told me via my blog:

"It was two german players, champions of neigbhoring cities, that were playing the match. I can't remember the names now. The guy with white pieces had to hurry and catch up the last train to go home, and in this position he moved quickly Ne5. After his oponent took Bd1, he resigned and rushed to the station. On the way, he was still thinking about the "blunder" and then he found brilliant idea how to continue the game. He goes back to the caffe and resumes the game to deliever great combination. Of course, then he had quite a walk home."

Originally posted by Helder Octavio
Ricardo Reti, 1921.

[fen]7K/8/k1P5/7p/8/8/8/8 w - - - 1[/fen]

White to move. Draw.

White brings the king to f6 in 2 moves. If Black's 2 moves are:
1..h4, 2..h3 -> 3.Ke6 and white queens straight after black.
1..Kb6, 2..K*c6-> 3.Kg5 and captures black pawn
1..h4, 2..Ka7 -> 3.Ke6 and queens before black
1..h4, 2..Kb6 -> 3.Ke5. If 3..h3 -> 4.Kd6 and queens straight after black
3..K*c6 -> 4.f6 and captures blacks pawn
I think that works

EDIT: Very surprising though, im sure i would have resigned that position

Originally posted by TommyC
[fen]r2q2kr/p1p2p1p/1p3p1B/2b1n3/P1ppN1b1/5N2/1PP2PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 1 [/fen]
Alright, here's an easy one. But it's an easy one with a great story behind it, that Goran Urosevic of Chesslodge told me via my blog:

"It was two german players, champions of neigbhoring cities, that were playing the match. I can't remember the names now. The guy with white pi ...[text shortened]... esumes the game to deliever great combination. Of course, then he had quite a walk home."

easy but still pretty cool.

now back to "close to the ideal" one... I think no RHP member can solve it. How about revealing the solution? 😀

Originally posted by Jusuh
easy but still pretty cool.

now back to "close to the ideal" one... I think no RHP member can solve it. How about revealing the solution? 😀

I think someone said they'd take a week to try to solve it!

So, maybe next week . . . Let's see how they do first 🙂

Nd7! and black is DOOMED!
After
Be7, Nexf6+
Bxf6, Rd8+
Qxd8, Nxf6#

all other options are mate in less/same moves

Originally posted by hSilva
Nd7! and black is DOOMED!
After
Be7, Nexf6+
Bxf6, Rd8+
Qxd8, Nxf6#

all other options are mate in less/same moves

You garbled the notation but indeed have the right idea.

Alright, here's a rather more unusual one. I know chess players often look at these kinds of puzzles and think they're unrealistic, and therefore decide not to bother. But I think this is a mistake. There is a lot of fun to be had, even if the learning value might be low, with this kind of thing. And I'm not even sure the learning value is low.



A puzzle by the contemporary great Gregory Popov. White to play: and check mate black in 8 moves, and no more than that.

Originally posted by TommyC
You garbled the notation but indeed have the right idea.

Alright, here's a rather more unusual one. I know chess players often look at these kinds of puzzles and think they're unrealistic, and therefore decide not to bother. But I think this is a mistake. There is a lot of fun to be had, even if the learning value might be low, with this kind of thing. And ...[text shortened]... y great Gregory Popov. White to play: and check mate black in 8 moves, and no more than that.

1. Bg3 f5 2. Bxh2 Kxh2 3. Rxg1 f4 4. Qe1 Kh3 (4... d4 5. Qh4+
Kxg1 6. Kd1 Kf1 7. Qe1🙄 5. Rh1+ gxh1=Q 6. Qxh1+ Kg3 7. Qg1+ Kh3 8. b4 d4 9.
Kd1 Kh4 10. Qg4# 1-0


hmm....cant find it in 8 though....

Originally posted by Shinidoki
1. Bg3 f5 2. Bxh2 Kxh2 3. Rxg1 f4 4. Qe1 Kh3 (4... d4 5. Qh4+
Kxg1 6. Kd1 Kf1 7. Qe1🙄 5. Rh1+ gxh1=Q 6. Qxh1+ Kg3 7. Qg1+ Kh3 8. b4 d4 9.
Kd1 Kh4 10. Qg4# 1-0


hmm....cant find it in 8 though....

That's what drove me up the wall when solving this one - so many mates not quite in 8. (There's one in 9 too.)

Ercole del Rio, 1750.



White moves. Draw.