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ABCs of Chess
These problems are all related to key positions in this month ’ s game . In each case , Black is to move . The answers can be found in Solutions on page 71 .
July Exercise : Find a game score that ’ s been well annotated . Try playing over the game without seeing the notes . That may be hard , especially with the notes right in front of you . Somehow , don ’ t look at them . Then analyze the game yourself , perhaps some of it with eyes closed to help you see more . Once you ’ re done seeing , go back to the annotated game , comparing your vision with that of the expert . Don ’ t be surprised if one or both of you missed a few things , or saw some not there . As Paul Gauguin saw it , “ I shut my eyes in order to see .”
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Problem I Fork
- + - + - + k + + - + - + pzp- - + -vl-sn- + + - + p + - + - - + - + N + - + + - + L + N + - - + - + -zPP + + - + - + -mK-
Problem IV Mating net
- + - + - + k + + - + -wq-zpp - + - + - + - + + - + - + - + - - + -vLp + - + + - + lzP- + - - + - + -mKPzP + - + -wQ- + -
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Problem II Pin / fork
- + - + -trk + + - + - + -zpp - + -wQ-sn- + + - + p + - + - - + - + - + - + + - + - + P + - - + - + -mK- + + - + - + - + -
Problem V Discovery
- + - + q + k + + - + - + rzpp - + - + p + - + + - + -zP- + Q - + - + - + - + + - + - + - + - - + - + - + PzP + - + - + RmK-
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Problem III Discovery
k + - + - + - + zp- + - + - + - - + - + l + q + + - + n + - + - - + -zpL + - + + -sN- + -zP- Q + - + - + K + + - + - + - + -
Problem VI Mating net
- + - + -trk + + - + -wqrzp- - + - + - + -zp + - + -zp- + - - + - + P + - + + R + - + - + - - + - + - + RzP + -wQ- + -mK-
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20 . f4 Par Score 5
There was a threat of 20 . ... Bxe5 21 . dxe5 Qxe5 , but White ’ s last move dealt with it .
20 . … Qe7
Once again , Black unpins the c6- knight .**
21 . Bb5 Par Score 6
White pins the c6-knight and threatens to win a pawn .
21 . … Bxe5
By now , Black hasn ’ t much choice . He has to remove one of the attackers . Of course , parting with the king-bishop leaves him weak on dark squares , but that ’ s unavoidable . In a bad position one weakness leads directly to another .**
22 . fxe5 Par Score 4
22 . … Nd7
Or Black could have tried 22 . ... Ne4 23 . Nxe4 dxe4 , though this entails accepting another weakness .**
23 . Nxb7 Par Score 6
White undermines the defense of the c6-knight . If 23 . ... Bxb7 , then 24 . Bxc6 Bxc6 25 . Rxc6 . Black is provoked into a crisis .
23 . … Nxd4
The knight goes desperado to keep the pawn count even .**
24 . Bxd4 Par Score 4 24 . … Bxb7
25 . Rc7 Par Score 5
White attacks the bishop and pins the knight , in turn setting up his next move . Black has only one reply .
25 . … Bc8
26 . Bc5 Par Score 5
White infiltrates on the dark squares , made possible by the exchange of Black ’ s king-bishop . It doesn ’ t quite win the Exchange .
26 . … Qd8 Black counterattacks the c7-rook .**
27 . Bd6 Par Score 5
This holds the rook in place and threatens 28 . Rec1 , with capturing threats at c8 and f8 .
27 . … Rf7
Black removes one of the threats , but there ’ s nothing to be done about the other .**
28 . Rec1 Par Score 5
28 . … Nb6
Black offers the Exchange to hold the bishop .**
29 . Bxe8 Par Score 5
Accept full credit for 29 . Rxf7 Kxf7 30 . Qh5 + Kg8 ( or 30 . ... g6 31 . Qxh7 mate ) 31 . Qxe8 +.
29 . … Qxe8
30 . Rxf7 Par Score 5
30 . … Kxf7
Now on 30 . ... Qxf7 there follows 31 . Rf1 ( 1 bonus point ).**
31 . Rf1 + Par Score 5
Black resigns , in view of 31 . ... Kg8 32 . Rf8 + Qxf8 33 . Bxf8 Kxf8 34 . Qf2 +, picking off the knight . And if 31 . ... Kg6 , then 32 . Qg4 + Kh6 33 . Rf3 ( 1 bonus point for each line ).
31 . … Black resigned . .
Total your Solitaire Chess score to determine your approximate rating below :
Total Score |
Approx . Rating |
95 + |
2400 + |
81-94 |
2200-2399 |
66-80 |
2000-2199 |
51-65 |
1800-1999 |
36-50 |
1600-1799 |
21-35 |
1400-1599 |
06-20 |
1200-1399 |
0-05 |
under 1200 |
uschess . org Chess Life — July 2012 17