Wednesday, December 30, 2009

New Year's Eve Puzzles

As we close the end of the year (okay it's not New Year's Eve yet - I know, it's time to stretch our brain muscles! (Answers can be found by highlighting between the brackets)

Puzzle #1: White to move. Evaluate 1. Bg8+ - Do you see a mating attack?

[Yes. 1. Bg8+ Kh8 (if ...Kh6, 2. Qf7 with mate on h7) 2. Qf7 Bg7 (forced) 3. Nxe5! and Black cannot avoid mate]

Puzzle #2: Black to Move. Endgame technique time! What is Black's best move here?[The adage "do not hurry" comes to mind here. 1. ...g4! Now White's pawns are completely paralyzed. Any pawn move and the g-pawn captures and queens easily]
Posted by

6 comments:

  1. LinuxGuyDecember 31, 2009 at 12:07 PM

    ...g4, f3 c4+ looks like where the win is.

    Nice mate in diagram #1. I did not find it after a short look, but usually don't anyway; I'm not quick at tactics. diagram #2 I found quickly, though.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2010 at 1:10 AM

    Thanks for the opportunity to exercise my chess brain. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  3. tanchJanuary 5, 2010 at 11:54 PM

    Linux Guy: Well done! The first one is indeed quite hard to find.

    Greg: And a Happy New Year to you too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. es_trickJanuary 6, 2010 at 3:52 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. es_trickJanuary 6, 2010 at 3:54 PM

    If 1 . . . Kh6
    2. Qf7 Bg7

    How does White mate?

    ReplyDelete
  6. es_trickJanuary 6, 2010 at 3:57 PM

    Never mind.
    3. Qe7 and there's no defense to Qg5 mate.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)