Solution to Sudoku no 726

Sudoku no 726 (Diabolical)

Here is a string which you can copy to work on this puzzle online:

030006000000020800050000100000000007040608001700510690620090000900000050803000070  

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Chess Solution no 25

The game continued as follows:

1. g3  Qxa4

2. Nxb5+

Black resigned at this point.

If he had not done so, the game might have continued as follows:

1. g3  Qxa4

2. Nxb5+  Ke7

3. Qxa4

However, whatever he did, black was going to lose his queen. His best (or least worst) option seems to be:

1. g3  Qe5

2. Nf7+  Ke7

3. Nxe5  Nxe5

Chess Puzzle no 25

The position below is from Alekhine versus Isakov, Moscow, 1907. It is white's move. What should he play?

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Solution to Sudoku no 725

Sudoku no 725 (Extreme)

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Chess Solution no 24

 

1. Qb1+  Ka3

2. Qb3#

 

or

 

1. Qb1+  Kc3

2. Qb3+  Kd2

3. Qd5+  Ke2

4. Qd1#

 

or

 

1. Qb1+ Kc3

2. Qb3+  Kd2

3. Qd5+  Kc3

4. Qd4#

Chess Puzzle no 24

This position is from Lile Koridze versus Valentina Golubenko, Batumi, Georgia, 2019. White to play and checkmate in 4 moves:

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Solution to Sudoku no 724

Sudoku no 724 (Easy)

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Chess Solution no 23

1. ...  f6+

At this point, white appears to have resigned. If he had not done so, the game might have continued as follows:

2. Kxf6  Rf4+

3. Ke5  Rxf8

or

2. Qxf6  R7c5+

3. Qe5  Rxe5+

Chess Puzzle no 23

The position below is from Carlos Alberto Vinas Guerrero versus Anton Aaberg, Gibraltar, 2007. It is black's turn to play. What is his best move?

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Solution to Sudoku no 723

Sudoku no 723 (Tough)

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Solution to Definition no 1

A purdonium is a coal scuttle made to look like an elegant piece of furniture. It has a removable metal lining to hold the coal. They were popular in the 19th century. I found the picture below on the Yola Gray Antiques web site:

Definition no 1

What is a purdonium?

(1) A musical instrument.

(2) A coal scuttle.

(3) An Australian flower.

(4) A steam engine.

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