Solution to Chess Puzzle no 29

1. ... Qxd5+

2. Kc2 Qa2+

3. Kc1 Qa1+

4. Kc2 Qxc3+

5. Kb1 Qb2#

or

1. ... Qxd5+

2. Kc2 Qa2+

3. Kd3 Qc4+

4. Kc2 Qxc3+

5. Kb1 Qb2#

 

There are other minor variations. If you think you can see a way out for white, please comment below and I will add extra analysis.

Chess Solution no 28

White played 1. Nd4.

The black knight was pinned against the black queen, attacked 3 times and protected twice so could be lost. At this point the game was declared as 1-0 so I assume that black resigned.

It could have continued as follows:

1. ... Rb4

2. Bxb4 Qxb4

3. Nxc6 Qxa4

4. Rxa4 Rxc6

5. cxd5

This would leave the position as follows, which is hopeless for black:

Chess Solution no 27

1. f3 captures the black rook on the next move.

If

1. ... Rg8

2. Qh7+ also captures the black rook on the next move.

Chess Solution no 26

 

1. ... Rd1+

2. Rxd1 Rxd1+

3. Kf2 Qxh2+

4. Ke3 Qg1+

5. Ke4 f5+

6. Kxf5 Qg6#

 

There is one slight variation on this sequence of moves. If you cannot see it, post a comment below and I will add it.

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 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 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 Solution no 22

 

1. Rc8+  Kg7

2. Bf6+  Kh7

3. Rh8+  Kg6

4. Rg8+ 1-0 (as black will lose her bishop)

Chess Puzzle no 22

The position below is from Anna Muzychuk versus Zhongyi Tan, FIDE Women's World Cup, 2023, Baku, Azerbaijan. It is white's turn to play. Try to work out how the game continued:

See answer

Chess Solution no 21

The game continued as follows: 

1 …  Rg1+

2 Bd1  Rxc2+

3 Kb1  Rxd1+

4 Nxd1  Rc5+

5 Ka1  Rc1# 

Here is a slightly different solution:

1 …  Rxc2+

2 Kb1  Rg1+

3 Bd1  Rxd1+

4 Nxd1  Rc5+

5 Ka1  Rc1#

Chess Puzzle no 21

This position is from Tore Colas versus James C Mansson, Hastings 2005. Black to play and checkmate in five moves. There are two possible solutions:

 

 See answer

Chess Solution no 20

1. ...  Rb2

2. g4  Na5

3. Rxa5  bxa5

winning the exchange.

Note that if:

4. Nxa5

then:

4. ...  Kb6

or:

4. ...  Rb5

and white's knight is lost.

Chess Solution no 19

1. Bb6!

Black then resigned.

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

1. ...  Qxb6

2. Nxe7+  Kh8

3. Nxc8  Qb7

4. Nxd6  Nxd6

5. exd6

or:

1. ...  exf5

2. Bxc7  Rxc7

or:

1. ...  Qd7

2. Nxe7+  Qxe7

3. Bxa5

Chess Puzzle no 19

The position below is from Feliks J Kwiatkowski (a member of Haywards Heath chess club) versus Jerry Humphreys, Birmingham, 2005. It is white's turn to play. What is his best move?

 See answer

Chess Solution no 18

 

Analysis suggests the following solution: 

 

1. ...  Qxf2+

2. Kh1  Qf3+

3. Kg1 (or Kh2)  Qxg3+

4. Kh1  Qh2#

 

However, the game continued like this:

 

1. ...  Qxf2+

2. Kh1  Qe1+

 

... and white resigned. It is not clear whether he thought he was going to lose his bishop by:

 

3. Kh2  Qxc1

 

... or whether he spotted two further solutions to my original problem:

 

1. ...  Qxf2+

2. Kh1  Qe1+

3. Kh2  Qxg3+

4. Kh1  Qh2#

... and:

1. ...  Qxf2+

2. Kh1  Qe1+

3. Qf1  Qxf1+

4. Kh2  Rf2#

Chess Puzzle no 18

This position is from Pierre Fox versus James C Mansson, Hastings, 2006. Black to play and checkmate in 4 moves:

See answer

Chess Solution no 17

1. b8=N+ 

Black then resigned.

You get no marks for the following answer:

1. b8=Q  Nc6+

2. Kd5  Nxb8

Chess Puzzle no 17

This position is from Ilya Smirin versus Tal Baron, Acre, 2013. It is white to play. What should he do?

See answer

Chess Solution no 16

 

1. Qe8+  Kg7

2. Nf5+  Kf6

3. Qe6#

Chess Puzzle no 16

This position is from jaeger1 versus seanhoran. It was played on Gameknot in 2019. White to play and checkmate in 3 moves:

See answer