02 Sep 09
I haven't got it. Sadly.
1 Qxc5 bc5 is the only move with only one response, but the king and pawn ending is better for black because his king is more active.
Perhaps 1 hg5 is the key. 1 ... fg5 2 Qxe5 looks good for white, and 1 ... Qxe3 2 fe3 fg5 3 e4 gives white a protected passed pawn, limiting black's king activity. Haven't looked far enough to see if it wins, though.
02 Sep 09
Originally posted by chessicleWithout the queens there must be a queening hidden somewhere. So how find a second new free pawn that can queen? Perhaps g2-g4 and one pawn can go free?
I haven't got it. Sadly.
1 Qxc5 bc5 is the only move with only one response, but the king and pawn ending is better for black because his king is more active.
Perhaps 1 hg5 is the key. 1 ... fg5 2 Qxe5 looks good for white, and 1 ... Qxe3 2 fe3 fg5 3 e4 gives white a protected passed pawn, limiting black's king activity. Haven't looked far enough to see if it wins, though.
02 Sep 09
1 edit
Luckily I am in the "Gets it (nearly) right away", but I could see how people could struggle with this one, since the final mechanism is maybe a little bit less familiar. Decent hint (plus Nimzo-ism) below:
Black's king is close enough to "keep this criminal under lock and key". However, can a king stop two "criminals"?
02 Sep 09
Originally posted by heinzkatHowever that also aids in the solution from a set position.
Why is it difficult? Because there is no real "tactical" pointe to it, but rather a "technical" one?
You can see nothing is on very quickly.
No tactical patterns suggest themselves at all.
So the only other key features are the passed pawn and pawn capture
on the Kingside.
Then you spot you can create another passer = bingo!
Spotting this possibilty in a game is another matter.
If it was a tactical trick involving a mate/stalemate/win of the Queen etc.
Then I'm 99% sure I'd get it OTB.
This one?
I'm cannot honestly say I'd spot it although one must consider
all Queen swaps and how it affects the game.
But would I be looking for or 'sensing' it....Who Knows?
I'd like to see the full game.
Did Black offer the Queen swap missing the trick?
Did White see the idea a few moves back and set Black up?
Was this actually played in the game?
(I not kidding. In a recent CHESS 50% of the puzzle page appeared
to be made of missed opportunities by GM's and IM's).
03 Sep 09
Originally posted by philidor positionyour hint is not necessarry true, I used like 5-8 minutes to get the solution...
I was digging my chesstempo problems history and here's one that drove me nuts back in it's time.
[fen]8/p4k2/1p3p2/2qPp1pp/7P/1P2Q3/P4PP1/6K1 w - - 0 42[/fen]
White to play.
small hint: [hidden]I think this is one of those puzzles which some people can see instantly and some will never find the answer. I was in the latter group.[/hidden]