march 4 2014

word from the Interim Greffier


 

Following the announced defection of the Master Greffier, I once again feared to find myself alone with the Master, not that the possibility of a private lesson worried me in itself (aren't all his lessons?) but I could rightly dread not going beyond before 10.30 p.m. the resolution of the three exercises given previously and which, as a bad pupil, I had not looked for.

Fortunately, this was not the case: Gregory was waiting for us on the doorstep, Antoni announcing his arrival as soon as he had managed to park his car (thus in the first hour of the course) and Marc, our friend from the railways, also being announced as soon as he had parked his locomotive, later in the evening.

As usual, we started with the two exercises given in the previous lesson.

Cours2014030401   W(4) : Kb8, Ra3, Be8, Pf7.   B(4) : Kg4, Qf1, Be2, Ph3.  

W to play and draw.

Not too difficult a study ... if you don't get into a false lead and stop 2 moves too early.

1:Bd7+ Kh4 The study is simpler if one has noticed that from now on, if the bK goes up to the 5th rank the W's have Ra5+ followed by Rf5!

2:Ra4+ (Again, it is simpler if one notices that on 2:Rh3+ ? Kg5 wins thanks to the Bh5 threat). Kg3 3:Ra3 Kh2 4:Rh3 Kg2 5:Rf3! Qf3 (here the reader can look up which B-move is the most resistant) 6:Bc6 and it's well over but only because Qf8 controls the f3-square. 6:...Qxc6 7:f8=Q Qb6+ (the kind of classic winning manoeuvre with Q and B when the K is at the stripe) 8:Ka8! Bf3 9:Qxf3 and draw.

This study would not be suitable for an indoor resolution tournament, as the 5:...Qb1!? defence, however inadequate, gives rise to less clear continuations even if they are convincing.

Cours2014030402 Exercise 2. W(4): Kg7 Rc6 Ne5 Pd7.  B(3): Ke1, Qh1, Bg5 W to play and win.

 

Master's words


HaymannAs in the previous session, the 4 selected helpmates have the particularity that the shorter they are, the more difficult they are. I add a helpmate 5#  (whose author I don't know) presented on a German website as "exceptionally difficult". Even so! I solved it in 3 minutes, and you will do the same...
 
Loschinsky 1A spectacular 2# by the great Losch, an original 4# by the great Ukrainian-Russian duo, a charming Austrian 7# and... a 15# find in which, too bad, I forgot to remove the solution.
 
Riczu

Finally, one of the easiest long selfmates I've encountered in my life.

An extract from a recent award-winning study, to make it more human. A marriage of model stalemate and model mat.   

Sacrifices to promote, with a discreet tribute to Paulsen-Metger 1888.    

A study can sometimes be built on a single stroke. The

Carlsson 1

secondary play, then, must be simple and attractive. This composer has just passed away at the age of 87: a young man...                 

The Knight vs. 3 linked pawns fight had been the subject of an article ("Crin-blanc") on a well known forum. A simpler practical example, where the error is not in the game, which would be more excusable, but in the analysis. The GM who makes the mistake forgets a known principle: attack pawns with the Knight to force weakenings and, if necessary, embed the defensive King.   
          

An example of a "superelo" misjudging a pawn endgame: if the King does not aim at one pawn, but at the other, does it change? Yes, half a point...  

Can women also set fire to the chessboard? This is not a discovery, but here, the world champion of the time does not burn herself, or rather, she burns herself less than her opponent. And she keeps her fireproof suit until the title.

See you in a fortnight, Tuesday 18 March, if God wills. Note: the class of April 8 will be moved because of the railway championship. I propose 15 April (apparently accepted). The only drawback is that the next course will be very early, on 22 April. But you've seen more!

Have a good time.

This is in fact only the end of a study whose too dense foreground could have misled the pupils (if some had undertaken to seek the solution).

1:d8=Q Qxc6! (not very difficult to find) and there we see that the material is insufficient to win (for example after Qxg5) and the position would be null if B did not have the disadvantage of having the Q in the grip. The charming and forced continuation can (and should!) be searched for head on from here.

2:Qa5 Bd2 3:Qa1 Qc1 4:Nd3 (of course, you must not stop there!) Kd1 5:Qa4! (5:Nxc1 Bc3+! would lead to a model stalemate) Qc2 6:Qg4# the model stalemate being avoided and replaced by a model mate.

Cours2014030403   Exercise 3 ? (To tell the truth, I don't remember if it was a previously given exercise or if it was one of the studies given as usual before today's game). W(4): Kb1 Ba7 Re2 Pa6.  B(5): Ke5, Rc3, Ba5, Pa3,e3. W to play and win.

This study is much more difficult, especially because of potential false leads. It is therefore quite easy to find when guided, but less so when alone. Try 1:Rxe3? Kd5! 2:Bb8 Rxe3 3:a7 Kc4! and the draw is now clear.

1:Bb8+ Bc7 What to do when you see that on 2:a7? Rb3+! leads to a draw ?

2:Rxe3 Rxe3 3:Bxc7 Kd4 again a false lead : 4:Bb6? Kd5! 5:Be3 Kc6 6:Ka2 Kc7 7:Ba7 Kc6 and draw, wK being a square too far from b5.

4:a7 a2+ 5:Ka2 Re2 6:Kb3 Re3 7:Kb4 Re8! (7:..Re1 8:Bb6+ !) 8:Bb8 Re1 9:Be5+ and win.

Then there are some serious errors of analysis of very strong players that the Master found during his complete re-reading of the first 100 informants and which are obviously of educational interest to the audience.

Cours2014030404  W:Ka7 Pa5,b4,c5. B:Kc6, Nd7. Black to move. Draw.

What you should know in this type of position: the pawns can generally be stopped if they have not yet all reached the 5th row. Here, one is still far from it, it is thus necessary as soon as possible to force the pawns to be fixed to define the holes in which the N can organize itself. Moreover, it is quite obvious that the RN would be ill advised to come to c7 where he will allow the Bs to advance with gain of time on check whereas it is precisely when the P's advance that the B's must have the necessary freedom to organize themselves.

1:Ne5 ! b5 2:Kc5! (on 2:c5, find the very clear B move that ends the question immediately) b6 3:Nc4 (To get used to these positions, note that 3:Kxc4 is also possible because on 3:..b7 W's again have a very clear move that immediately draws) 3:..b7 4:Na5! and draw.

This is followed by an analysis error by Morozevich where he forgets the win when the Bs play the right move and misses the draw when the Bs play the wrong move. But being only the substitute clerk, I didn't have the capacity to follow the analysis and note the details at the same time. So I let the pencil cool down.Cours2014030405

Here are the 3 exercises for next session :

Cours2014030406   White to play and draw

Cours2014030407   Cours2014030408 In both cases, the Bs play and draw, both positions having been wrongly given as losing.

Game of the day.

For a change, Master presented us with a game played between two women. We don't know exactly why he made this choice. A week dedicated to women? Stefanova's physique? The tactical richness of the game? Yes, certainly the latter.

Vasilevich - Stefanova (And a world champion's doll)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Ne5 dxc4 6.Nxc4 b5 7.Ne5 Bb7 8.Bf4 e6 9.e3 Nbd7 [9...c5! 10.dxc5 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Bxc5 12.Be2 Nbd7 levels] 10.Be2 c5 11.0–0 cxd4 12.exd4 Nb6?! The Bs think that the locking of d5 makes them safe from everything, which seems to be true, and yet this position is to W's advantage, allowed by the Bs' developmental delay ... which one must be able to underline !

13.a4! Nfd5 [a4! is allowed here, as 13...b4 14.a5! bxc3 (14...Nbd7 15.Qb3 Be7 16.Nd3) 15.axb6 cxb2 16.Qa4+! and we have time to play Rb1–Rb2 with great advantage] 14.Nxd5

Here came the surprise of the evening, opened by a loud shout from the back of the room. For those of you who are used to it, the great cry coming from the back is a classic one produced by our friends who practice Qi Gong (and who precisely forbid anyone ("quiconque" in french) to concentrate during the crying phase) but here, the roar was even more powerful and could obviously only have been emitted by the Great Stone (which I could also have called Pier the Great, but I think that's already been used). A new reinforcement had therefore just arrived, which obviously led to an increase in the number of resources on offer, but which did not make note-taking any easier.

Especially since Pierre, hardened by the terrible public utility work done in the Bundesliga, was completely unleashed for once when he finally saw flesh that was a little more tender, i.e. at less than 2550 Elo.

[14.Bg3 Pierre proposed not to exchange on d5, according to the principle that if the B's have several pieces fighting for access to a square, exchanges on this square can only relieve their position. So the following was examined : 14...Nxc3 15.bxc3 bxa4 whereupon the Ws had a very active position but in which the Master showed with the Bs an ability to defend the bins which impressed the assembly greatly. This phase was too dense for the writer's copying skills !(15...Nxa4? 16.Rxa4) ]

14...Nxd5 15.Bg3 b4 16.a5 Bd6 17.Qa4+ Ke7 18.Rfe1 Bxe5 19.dxe5 g5 To prevent f4, so ... 20.f4! Kf8 21.f5 exf5 22.Rad1 Qe7 23.Rd4 Kg7 24.Bf3 Rhd8 25.Red1 Ne3 26.Rxd8 Bxf3?! It was necessary here to give a piece, for an activity which, if it is real, should not be obvious to everyone during a game ! 26...Rxd8! 27.Rxd8 Qxd8 28.Bxb7 and then ? 28...f4! 29.Qxb4 (29.Bf2? Qd2! 30.Qa1 Nd1!; 29.Be1? Qd3!!) ]

27.Rxa8? [tempting was 27.R1d7?! Qc5 28.Rxf7+! Kxf7? (28...Kg6 leads to a draw, but with a big black initiative) 29.Qe8+! Kg7 30.Rd7+ Kh6 31.Qe6+ Kh5 32.Rxh7+ Kg4 33.Rh4+! gxh4 34.Qg6#; And the best was 27.Qd7! ] 27...Bxa8 28.Qd7 Qc5 29.Qd6 Qc6 30.Qxc6 Bxc6 31.Rc1 Be4 32.Rc7 Kg6 33.Bf2 Nxg2 34.Ra7 Nf4 35.Rxa6+ Kh5 36.Rb6 Nd3 37.Bd4! Kg4 38.a6 Kf3 39.a7? [39.e6! fxe6 40.Rxe6+-] 39...Ke2 40.Rb8 Ne1= 41.a8Q? It was necessary to play Bf2 41...Nf3+ 42.Kg2 Nxd4+ 43.Qxe4+ fxe4–+ 44.Rf8 Nc6?= et la partie fut nulle après des coups que je n'ai pas notés.[Il fallait jouer 44...e3! 45.Rxf7 Kd2 46.Rd7 e2 47.Rxd4+ Ke3 48.Re4+ Kxe4 49.Kf2 Kxe5 50.Kxe2 Ke4–+].

The evening continued at the dinner as usual, where the merry gathering played fairy chess during the libations. Pierre was absolutely dazzling, but I can't give the report because it's 1pm and I have to capture the train to Bergerac in just over an hour!

Have a good read.

Here is the report of the fairy complement which took place at the table. To warm up the big Pierre, who was very fit, Antoni showed him the helpmate 2 moves 2 solutions in Take & Make by A. ARMENI that Rémy had attached in his report of last January 15. I will therefore not repeat the position so as not to bore the reader with repetitions ;-) Let us simply say that when Pierre had understood the specific workings and discovered the apparent game which, at Guy, does not work for a question of tempo, he showed himself to be very brilliant.

s#4 KoBul Kings

Vlaicu CRISAN
2012 2nd prize KoBul Chess Tournament
white Ph5 Kh7 Rd8d6 black Ke7
s#4 KoBulKings
b) bKe7→f7
{

The KoBul king is a king that takes the march of the last piece (but not pawn) of his side that has been captured, until the next capture. When a P is captured, the K of the captured P's side resumes its normal march, (until the next capture of a piece).
. So we know that the bK will play as an K until the end since the Bs will not get captured. On the other hand, if the Ws get captured a rook, their K will play (and only play) as a R.
You will see, it is easy to understand. The proof is that here is the solution in which I advise curious but uninitiated players to look for the B move each time (since it is an inverse, the B moves are limited).
} a) 1.h5-h6 ! zugzwang. 1...Ke7-f7 2.Rd8-e8 zugzwang. 2...Kf7*e8[h7=rR] {(wK plays as a R)} 3.Rd6-d7 zugzwang. 3...Ke8-f8 {(why not Kxd7? because this move would be illegal! see previous remark). } 4.Rd7-e7 {(yes, when you understand, it's easy)} 4...Kf8-g8 #{
Cours2014030409
I'll let you convince yourself that the move is well forced, that it is legal and that it makes good mate!
It is obviously a little difficult for the common amateur, but fortunately the Master guided us.
} b) bKe7-->f7 {The twin (bK in f7) shows exactly the same thing, but is more difficult to find (in my opinion).
Pierre proved to be efficient. I leave the reader to his search, indicating that the key is

} 1.Kh7-h6 ! zugzwang.
 Of course, after introducing (or having the audience review) these two genres, the Master had no choice but to conclude with a Take & Make and KoBul Kings.

h#2,5 KoBul Kings Take&Make

D. Kostadinov
2012 The Urals Problemist
white ka5 black pb2g2f3f6 kh4 bc4
h#2.5 KoBulKings + Take&MakeChess
b) -bBc4 +bRc4
{
Aidé 2 1/2 : Everyone competes for the checkmate. Ws start and checkmate on the 3rd move.
T&M : when a piece makes a capture, it must necessarily make a move with the march of this captured piece to complete its move. For example, IF there was a wR on f7, the B's could play Bc4xf7-h7 i.e. the Bf7 must make a R-move to complete its move (hence the name: Take & Make).
** One suspects that the wK, although KoBul, will keep his K march since the Ws have nothing to be captured.
** One also suspects that the T& M rule will allow the wK to get closer to the bK who is currently too far away.
** Finally, we suspect that, as the wK will have to watch, the bK will change march. Good thing he's KoBul.

To make sure I understood everything I explained above, I made the following remark:
"If the wK captured a N on g7, he would end his move with Kg7-h5 (T&M) and since the wK is KoBul, he would take the march of the N and thus be mate."
Alain validated all this and said "exactly, you saw it all".
Obviously, from then on, I got stuck on the problem and couldn't find anything else!
On the other hand, Pierre who was sitting opposite me also understood that the remark was a precious help, but he knew how to use it.
I had barely had time to drink two glasses of white wine as an aperitif when he announced that he had found the problem and his twin.
Obviously, when you know, it's easy, but when you're not good, it's less so (I speak from experience).
I have developed enough for the curious reader to have had the opportunity to search and find the problem.
For the others, here is the solution.

} a) {
} 1...Ka5-b4 2.b2-b1=S Kb4*c4-a2[h4=rB] {(le RN est un F)} 3.rBh4-e1 Ka2*b1-d2[e1=rS] # {(as the bK is a N).
}
Obviously, when you combine rules like that, the solution has to implement them intensely. Let's acknowledge that it does, and that it's lovely. I leave it to the reader to search for (and find) the twin (the Bc4 is replaced by a Rook). Take a good look at the solution of the first one and you will see that the second one follows the mechanics perfectly. As Pierre (in Michel's absence) remarked, "It's simple because the Pf6 has to serve a purpose !". Next course on Tuesday 18 March.
The course of Tuesday 8 April is postponed to 15 April because of the Ile de France championship of the Railwaymen.

The Master's clarifications


 

Just a clarification: it was only diagrams 2 & 3 that were given as homework for Tuesday 4th. And Daniel is not a "bad student", he had only lost his "text book" containing the homework.

The tact of the acting master greffier is apparent in his justification of the day's game: he dismisses a hypothesis that would seem unserious to a master, bogus or not. And yet, yes, the pretty pictures of Antoinette in the Bulgarian book are also a reason! On the other hand, the focus on the fairer sex during precisely this week in March is a coincidence. As is also the Bulgarian taste of the two fairy-tales shown at the table, with Rois Kobul (from "Ko" for Kostadinov and "Bul" for Bulgarian).

Antoa 2

Antoa 1

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