january 4 2011
the greffier's paw
For this first session of the year, I join the Master in wishing you a good and happy one. The attendance was sparse for the beginning of the year, but nevertheless active.
We can note the absence of some renowned composers, no doubt busy preparing the ISC 2011 in Isardam.
Having had a sneak preview, it is clear that things are going to heat up!
As an appetizer, a little amusement that should not take you more than 5 minutes because the position is so light and the ideas clear:
1 - White to play and draw
5B2/8/5r2/8/5b2/1k3K2/8/5B2
W. : Kf3 Bf8f1
B. : Kb3 Rf6 Ff4
= (3+3)
It's very simple, and it all flows together beautifully.
From the same author, now that you're hot, here's a great masterpiece.
This one should take you more than 5 minutes!
Master's words
Will you be able to keep away from all the jerks around you in 2011? That's what I sincerely wish you, along with excellent health of course.
Two helpmates to get you off to a good start: one from the world champion of 3# helpmates, the other from our Guy, who is on his way to becoming the world champion of... multi-moves helpmates. That we complete with three directs
and one selfmate, in a variety of styles. Let's not start too hard: let's respect the slow digestion of end-of-year orgies.
An easy and cute study of Fritz. This is the human Fritz, of course (Jindrich Fritz, 1912-1984), the machine only inadvertently generating beauty. We extend the tribute with a masterpiece by the same man. Three extremely deep moves, perfectly exploiting the dimensions of the chessboard. A mature work, published 50 years after the first masterpieces of the great Czech composer. And whose correctness is confirmed, still 30 years later, by its silicon namesake and some other oracles.
Then, to give us a rest, a sober and recent presentation of three minor promotions. Can you finally win with the Queen against Bishop and Knight, without pawns? Don't worry, we won't ask you to prove it. But enjoy this elegant acrobatic move by Avni.
Today's game has two distinct, if not disjointed, phases. A wild fight of theoretical interest pitting the best connoisseur of this beginning against... a long-toothed killer, leading to a perfectly tenable endgame, in which however a motive for artistic study will arise. Note that Remy's brilliant double sacrifice 17 Nf6+?! is only narrowly refuted.
See you, God willing, in a week's time, on 11 January. We are not here to laugh, as traditionally in the first month of the year!
Have a good time.
AV
2 - White to play and draw
n7/8/6B1/3p1K2/1b6/8/7k/8
W. : Kf5 Bg6
B. : Kh2 Bb4 Na8 Pd5
= (2+4)
A marvel
We continue with a study of pawn endgame by the current specialist replacing Grigoriev.
3 - White to play and win
2k5/1p2p3/1P2p1p1/1P2PpP1/5P1P/1p5p/pP5P/K7
W. : Ka1 Pb6b5é5g5f4h4b2h2
B. : Kç8 Pb7é7é6g6f5b3h3a2
+ (9+9)
Of course, the first white move is clear, (by force of circumstance!) but as the Master points out, the 3 promotions are found in the minor piece, so it is worth looking for this study.
And to close the series of studies, one last bit of fun.
4 - White to play and win
5R1b/2n5/8/3P4/8/3k4/6K1/8
W. : Kg2 Rf8 Pd5
B. : Kd3 Bh8 Nç7
+ (3+3)
I think there is a black pawn missing on g4 (hello Master?) which I did not note
The game of the day takes place in two phases:
the first is a theoretical battle with a waltz of preparations
The second is an almost aerial endgame of chessboard control
5 - game of the day
1.é4 ç5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 ç×d4 4.N×d4 Nf6 5.Nç3 a6 6.Bg5 é6 7.f4 b5
7.. Qb6 or 7. .. h6 followed by Qb6 is another choice
8.é5 d×é5 9.f×é5 Qç7 10.é×f6 Qé5+ 11.Bé2 Q×g5 12.0-0
12. Qd3 Qxf6 13. Rf1 Qe5 14 Rd1 Ra7 15 Nf3 Qc7 16 Ng5 f5 17 Qd4 h5! (prevents Bh5+) 18 Rxf5 ef 19 Nd5 Qd720 Qh4 Be7 21 Kf1 Bxg5 22 Bxh5+ Kf8 23 Qxg5 Rxh5 24 Qxh5 and the worst is over for Black (Tal Polu 1980)
12 ... Qé5 13.Nf3 Bç5+ 14.Kh1 Q×f6 15.Né4 Qé7 16.Nfg5
16 Ne5 f5 17 Bh5+ g6 18 Nxg6 hg 19 Bxg6+ Kf8 20 Nxc5 Rh6 21 Qg4! with idea Qg5
16.... 0-0
16 ... f5 17 Bh5 g6 18 Nxh7 Kf7 19 Ng5+ Kg7 20 Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Bf3 Ra7 with a slight white advantage
17.N×f7! R×f7 18.R×f7 K×f7 19.Bh5+ Kg8 20.N×ç5 Nd7?
20 ... Ra7 ! is the right move. On 20.... Qxc5?? 21 Qd8+ Qf8 22 Bf7 + wins the Queen
21.N×é6! Bb7
22 ... Qxe6 23 Bf3 and Bd5
22.Bf3 B×f3 23.Q×f3
We meet again after the 62nd white move
:
W.: Kd4, Qc7; Nd5, pa2
B.: Kg3, Qh1, Na4, pa6 and g7
62....Kh4 ?
62 ... Kf2! is the right move, avoiding a compromising Knight and Queen check (Qc2+ does not lead to much)
63 Qd8+ Kg3 64 Qg5+ Kh2 65 Qh5+ Kg1 66 Qd1+ Kh2 67 Q×a4 Qa1+ 68 Kç5 Qç1+ 69 Qç4 Qa3+ 70 Kd4 Qb2+ 70 Ké4 g5 71 Kf5 Qd2 72 a4 a5 73 Qé4 Kg3 74 Qé3+ Q×é3 75 N×é3 Kf3 76 Ng4 Ké2 77 Ké4
To start the restoration part, a small mate in 1 move! (yes! yes! you read it right)
6 - White to play and mat in 1 move Equipollent Anti-Circe
8/8/8/8/8/3N2Q1/5k2/4K2R
W. : Ké1 Qg3 Rh1 Nd3
B. : Kf2
‡1 (4+1)
Equipollent Anticirce : the capturing piece is reborn on the square equipollent to the capturing square and in case this is not possible, the capture is illegal.
So, here, the black king is not in check, it is even stalemate.
We must therefore find the only move that fits
A problem of Michael follows.
7 - #2 patrol chess
R3B3/1p1N4/kp5p/7R/2N5/8/p7/K7
W. : Ka1 Ra8h5 Bé8 Nd7ç4
B. : Ka6 Pb7b6h6a2
‡2 (6+5)
Patrol : a piece can only capture if it is under the control of another piece on its side
To help you a little, there is a "set play", and the variants are of course reversed in the real play
To finish, another very nice composition by Michel
8 - inverse de série 13 coups hypervolage
5b2/P1P2P1P/8/5r2/K5b1/1Q6/3pppp1/5k2
W. : Ka4 Qb3 Pa7ç7f7h7
B. : Kf1 Rf5 Bf8g4 Pd2é2f2g2
ss‡13 (6+8)
serial selfmate : white plays n moves in a row and the only legal move for black is to checkmate white in 1 move.
Hypervolage : after a piece move, if the arrival square is not the same colour as the departure square, the piece changes colour.
This magnificent position only won a second prize.
As the first prize was not up to scratch, the greffier deliberately chose to omit it from the report so as not to disturb the digestive aspect of Michel's composition.
Hoping that the champagne bubbles of this post-festive period will not disturb too much the reception of the report, it remains for me to wish you a good reading and to give you an appointment on January 11th for the next session.
Yours sincerely
Le greffier
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