Posers and Puzzles
09 Jul 05
11 Jul 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERWhat is the problem? White wins after the 5 full moves you gave. 6.Qc5+ for instance and we have a 'standard' K+Q vs K+R endgame with no built-in draw.
SPOILER:
1. c7 Rd6+
2. Kb5 Rd5+
3. Kb4 Kb2
4. c8=Q Rd4+
5. Kb5 Kb3
6. Not so pretty now, is it? 🙄
The point of the problem (I think) is that white has to play 5.Kb4 and not 5.Kb7? because Rc7 would force a draw.
11 Jul 05
Originally posted by Mephisto2This is the famous Saavedra position, the main line of which features a neat little underpromotion.
What is the problem? White wins after the 5 full moves you gave. 6.Qc5+ for instance and we have a 'standard' K+Q vs K+R endgame with no built-in draw.
The point of the problem (I think) is that white has to play 5.Kb4 and not 5.Kb7? because Rc7 would force a draw.
My 'spoiler' was merely to point out that if Black plays the best defence the solution is not so pretty.
www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess/saavedra.htm
11 Jul 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERWell, I apparently got a few wrong. And there are 23 words, not 25.
Yes, well spotted.
Having scored 24/25 on the quiz below (and 25 if we admit an alternative spelling for one question), I am quite confident that my spelling is better than Mr Bowmann's. 😛
http://books.guardian.co.uk/quiz/questions/0,5957,1303707,00.html
However, allowing for three alternative spellings and one incorrect spelling in the list itself, I did equally well.
I'm sure there are better spelling tests on the Web than this one.
11 Jul 05
Originally posted by BowmannOK, I got 22/23 and the one I got 'wrong' (#7) has an alternative spelling.
However, allowing for three alternative spellings and one incorrect spelling in the list itself, I did equally well.
Which do you claim have alternative spellings and which do you claim is wrong?
12 Jul 05
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERWell, the numbers I gave earlier where not entirerly accurate. So here's what I've concluded.
Which do you claim have alternative spellings and which do you claim is wrong?
millenium is a variant spelling of millennium
miniscule is a variant of minuscule
The following are also variants, though rarely used nowadays:
ecstacy is a variant of ecstasy
irresistable is a variant of irresistible
brocoli is a variant of broccoli
And dumbbell is incorrect. It should be either dumbell or dumb-bell.
12 Jul 05
5 edits
Originally posted by BowmannMillenium: American?
millenium is a variant spelling of millennium
miniscule is a variant of minuscule
The following are also variants, though rarely used nowadays:
ecstacy is a variant of ecstasy
i incorrect. It should be either [b]dumbell or dumb-bell.[/b]
Miniscule: Agreed.
Ecstacy: Doesn't agree with the Greek root 'ekstasis'.
Irresistable: Reference?
Brocoli: Doesn't agree with Italian root ' broccolo'.
Dumbell: Concise Oxford has 'dumb-bell'. Although dictionary.com has 'dumbbell', I am not considering any American corruptions. Neither has 'dumbell'.
12 Jul 05
1 edit
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERI used the two-volume Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. The spellings are all British.
Millenium: American?
Miniscule: Agreed.
Ecstacy: Doesn't agree with the Greek root 'ekstasis'.
Irresistable: Reference?
Brocoli: Doesn't agree with Italian root ' broccolo'.
Dumbell: Concise Oxford has 'dumb-b ...[text shortened]... considering any American corruptions. Neither has 'dumbell'.
You also failed to spot the two deliberate spelling errors in the first line of my previous post 😛
12 Jul 05
Originally posted by Bowmannentirerly and where.
I used the two-volume Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. The spellings are all British.
You also failed to spot the two deliberate spelling errors in the first line of my previous post 😛
Where wasn't really a spelling mistake so much as a word substitution.