Sunday, September 23, 2007

September 2007 solutions






September 07 solutions

Here are the solutions of the 10 puzzles posted during the month of September.

Go back to each post to see the positions and compare your findings with the posted solutions.

Feel free to post a comment if you have a refutation or a question about the combinations.

October 07 will feature 10 new positions to solve, solutions to appear by end of October.

Play and Calculate Well !


1. 1 Rd8!! Bf2+ (1..Rd8 2 Rd5!!) 2 Kf2 Qb5 3 Qd6 Re8 4 a4! Qa4 5Qe7!! and the back row proves to weak for Black to resist.


2. 1..Bd7! ( Deviation) 2 Bd7 Qf3+ 3 Kg1 Rg3+ followed by checkmate.


3. 1Ne4! Re7 2 Nf6+ gf6 3 Qg4+ wins while 2..Kh8 3 Ne7 Qe7 4 Qe4 gives White a winning ending . 1..Ne4 2 Rdd7 or 2 Qe4 wins for White.


4. 1 Rc8! ( Again the back rank is weak ) Qd7 2 Qf8!+ followed by checkmate. 1..Rxc8 is met by the fantastic 2 Qe7!!


5. 1 Bh6! gh6 2 Bh7+ Kh8 3 Qg6 with a devastating attack. 3..Qb2+ 4 Kh1 Nf6 5 Ng5! followed in the game. The initial position comes right after a french defense opening.


6. 1 Nde6 fe6 2 Qh4 Nf8 3 Rf2!! wins : threats are 4 Rf8+ or 4 Ref1 with deadly threats on Qh7-h8 mate following.


7. 1Rg7+! Kg7 2. Rg1+ Kh7 3 Nf7! ( the point, destroying the last defensive move ..f5 ) Bf7 4 Bd3+ wins. Brilliant attack by the genius Alekhine


8. 1..Qg1+ 2 Ka2 Bb2!! ( double attack on e2 and on a1 ). 3 Qe6 4 Qa1+ 5 Kb3 Qa3+ 6 Kc4 Qc3+ 7 Kd5 Qd4 #. The double attack is one of the most frequent themes in tactics. Look for unprotected pieces.


9. 1..Ne6+ (the most precise ) 2 Ke4 Ng5+ 3 Kf4 e5+! 4 Kxg5 Kg7!! and ..h6 giving mate is the threat. The king has been thrown into a checkmate net.


10. 1..Rf3!! 2 Bc6 Raf8 with a strong attack. It followed 3 gf3 Nd2! 4 Qd3 Nf3+ 5 Kg2 Qg5+ 6 Kh1 Qh5 winning for Black. Note that 2 gf3 leads to 2..Nd2 3 Qc2 Nf3+ 4 Kg2 Rf8 with Qg5+ coming next . Nice attack by the topGM Bacrot ( 2700+). You'll find more tactical positions on his new blog http://www.chess22.fr (the site has an english and french version)


Saturday, September 8, 2007

September 2007 , Puzzle Hints & Help

You will find 10 tactical positions to solve for the month of September, in the September 07 posts.
Below are hints for each position. Feel free to post what you think is the answer of each puzzle in the comments section underneath each position.
Solutions will be posted by September 28th 2007.
Good luck and calculate well !
September 2007, Tactical positions hints for each position

1. You got the exploit the back rank weakness right away

2. h1-a8 is the Achille's heel. Try a subtle deviation

3. Alekhine increased the pressure. There is no simple, 2 moves win. Black can try to get an inferior ending, which happened in the game

4. Alekhine ( a true master of attack and genius ahead of his time ) wrapped up the game in 2 moves, thanks to the last rank theme

5. White launched a furious attack in this french defense position

6. White opened the lines to get to the king. Sacrifice one knight somewhere !

7. Alekhine started logically with move 1, but had a surprise on move 3

8. Black can combines threat and sacrifice his bishop at some point

9. Look to give checkmate by bringing the white king into the net

10. Bacrot launched a classic attack and concluded the game brilliantly. Do not hesitate to open lines around the king. Material is not important here

September 2007, Puzzle 10

Position 10, September 2007


Black to play and win



Koneru-Bacrot 2006
Solutions for all 10 puzzles will be given at the end of the month of September.
Feel free to post your questions/answers to each puzzle. Play and calculate well !

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Monday, September 3, 2007