Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - September 27, 2008

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - September 27, 2008 from the Winnipeg Free Press

White to move and mate in 3 (Jacobs)

A most unusual position.
I immediately saw a mate in 5 with

1.Qd1 axb1(Q) 2.Nc2+ Ka2 3.Nb4+ Ka1 4.Qa4+

1. Nc2+ Kxb1 2. Na3+ Ka1 obviously doesn't work.

I tried a line (which I forgot now except that the Q was mating on e4 except for the pawn on d5.
So, let's try something nonintuitive (like some of the other problems we have looked at). With the idea of Q having access to the h7-b2 diagonal.
1. Qe8
one line ...axb1(Q) 2. Nb3+ Ka2 3.Qa4#

1.Qe8 Kxc1 2. Qb3+ Ka1 3. Nb3#

so the bishop must move 1. Qe8 Bc3 2. Nb3+ Kxb1 3. Qg6#

Is that it ?

Two questions to answer. What is the difference between Qe8 and Qd7 ?
Both give access to the same diagonal even after e6. And what if Black plays the bishop to b4 and block a mate by Ba3. Because otherwise the bishop is rather useless as all the mating lines involve white squares. But that doesn't appear to be a factor.

Speaking of blocking...what if instead of axb1(Q), Black tries axb1(N) to block on a3 - I think that ruins all my efforts.

But 1. Qd7 axb1(N) 2. Nxc2+ Ka2 3. Qxd5# works !
and the other lines work with the Q going to f5 or h7 instead of g6.

September TNT Round 3

Rutter - Bince DRAW
When initially going through the early part of the game I thought the players must have missed a tactic, but I couldn't find anything substantial.
However later 41 (or 42)...Rd3 looks good for an advantage. After missing this, White is able to drum up sufficient play to draw.

Lipnowski - Greenberg 1-0
Black equalizes early and then gradually increases his advantage.
Harley tries to win a pawn with a tactic - but it is a trap that loses a piece. Apparently.
But 28...f5 with the idea 28. Qxf5 Rf8, or 28. Qh4 Qd6 with the idea Qxd5 + and Black may have enough pawns for the piece.

Trueman - Van Wyk 0-1


Khedkar - Liu DRAW
Black could try to win the a pawn by exchanging on d4 and threatening mate on g2, by something like 18...Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Be5.
Black sets a trap as 26. Qxb2 is answered by ....Qd1+ 27. Kg2 Ne5.
There is still lots of play in the position when the draw was agreed.

Kernetsky - Kong DRAW
Black plays a nice tactic 19...Nxe3 ! but white reacts well and may be slightly better when the draw was agreed.

Aaron Green - D. Wiebe 1-0
Aaron receives a gift.

Daase - Mandusic 1-0

September TNT Round 2

Liu-Lipnowski DRAW
For the second time within 2 weeks, these two draw.
Black had an advantage, but took time out for 28...h5 which may be wasting a precious tempo.
In the game, Black will draw with 34...c4+ and then Qc3+

VanWyk-Khedkar DRAW
White offers a pawn early, but it can dangerous to accept after
6...Nxe4 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7.

Bince - Kernetsky 1-0
14...Ra7 is rather strange and it comes back to bite Black.

D. Wiebe - Rutter 0-1
White seemed unprepared to face the French.

Greenberg - Aaron Green 1-0
White dominates the queenside before Black can get rolling. 18...Rxa7 must be a mistake.

Milord - Ott 0-1
White misses 19. Bf3 with a winning advantage.

Truman - Mandusic 1-0
Black get in big trouble by neglecting defence of his kingside.

Pang- Dasse 1-0
White wins a pawn with a standard tactic (but it turns out to be a full piece after Black responds incorrectly; he had to bail out with something like 12...Ng6)

George Anderson Tribute Tournament photos

Rolando Bince tied for first, but captured the "trophy" (a black T-shirt, a George Anderson trademark)

Jim Green very happy to win the U1750 prize.

John Remillard also won a U1750 prize

Blair Rutter tied for first and won the thematic prize.

Rutter - Schulz

Alex Nikouline making pairings

Alex and Sam

Jim Green gave Schulz and other higher rated players headaches all day.

TD Lorne Gibbons assesses a position.

Last round action

Crowds gather around the last games to complete

Jim Green - Michael Pang, with one second remaining on the clock.

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - September 13, 2008

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - September 13, 2008 from the Winnipeg Free Press

White to mate in 3 (Eugene Cook)

Well, we can rule out 1. e8(Q) as it is stalemate.

We can rule out 1. f8(Q) and the king runs away to c6 and White needs 3 more moves to mate.
I tried underpromoting with knights but that didn't lead anywhere quick enough.

I think the key is keeping the king out of c6.
1. e8(B) Ke6 2.Ke4 (to keep the K from running to f5) Kd6 3. f1(Q) and mate in a total of 4
1. e8(B) Ke6 2.f8(Q) stalemate

1. e8(B) Ke6 2.f8(B) (avoids stalemate, but keeps the K out of d6) Kf5 3. Bd7 mate
(ha, we didn't have to fear the king going to f5)

Dwight Vincent on Slotin

Not chess related, but Dwight Vincent quoted today in a article about Louis Slotin.

September TNT Round 1

As Alex indicates at chessmanitoba.com there is still time to join the tournament next week (with a first round half point bye)

Lipnowski - Milord 1-0

It looked like White dominated throughout, but the silicon beast finds a a surprising shot after 19. Qe2
19...Rxd4 ! 20. Bxd4 Nxd4 21. Qe4 Qxd2
but 20. Nb3 Qxe5 21. Nxd4 Nxd4 is somewhat unclear.

Magnusson - Van Wyk 0-1
White could have been only a pawn down with 9. Bxc6+, or 11. Bc3, or 12. Nxd7 Kxd7 13. Bc3

Kernetsky - Pang 1-0
White had the shot 27. Nxg6 available, but decided to go slower with his advantage.
37...d4+ would have required White to play very accurately.

Khedkar - Mandusic 1-0

Lorne Gibbons - Bince 0-1

Rutter - Deese 1-0
White blunders the exchange with 13. Qc2 but can not convert into a huge upset. 20...Rde8 was one way to stay even.

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - August 30, 2008

Cecil's Saturday Puzzle - August 30, 2008 from the Winnipeg Free Press

White to move and mate in 3
Louis Rothstein

I'll try 1. Bf4+ Kxf4 2. Qxd6+ Ke3 3. Qd2# ..but 2...Kg5 and no mate
How about 1. c5 Kd4 2. Qxd6+ Kc4 3. and the K runs away.
how about 1. b3 to prevent Kc4
1. b3 Ba4 2.c5 Bxb3 3. Qxd6#
but 1...Kd4 2. Kc2 Kc5 and no mate. This is more frustrating than trying to beat Sasha Nikouline in an endgame.

As reader Zarko points out in the comments - 1. Qc7 is the move.

Matveeva (and Shipov) in Nalchik

Former Yanofsky participants Svetlana Matveeva and Sergei Shipov are in Nalchik.
View a video at chessbase
Scroll to near the bottom and select the Matveeva (Eng) video on the right.

Trevor Vincent wins AY 2008 !

clear first with 4.5

CONGRATULATIONS !

http://www.chessmanitoba.com/tournaments/2008/ay08_open.htm

http://www.chessmanitoba.com/tournaments/2008/ay08_u1800.htm