CHESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24935, 6 June 1942, Page 8

CHESS

Conducted by E. W. B. How are problems solved? In No. 43 below White has 45 possible moves, counting the four promotions as one, yet only one will solve the problem. If moves which look unlikely are discarded at once the key move is missed at the outset. A good starting point is the Black King,- a tell-tale piece, who in this position has no legal moves. The other Black pieces also have few safe moves, because they are defending against the threats. For example, Rds-e5 allows RxP mate, and Rfs-e5 allows Bd7 mate, yet some other moves by these Rooks are safe. The experienced solver notes that the other Black pieces must similarly avoid e 5, and that, although the lurking White pieces are waiting to inflict a series of mates, the White Queen is not one of them, because, for example, she cannot reach e 8 in one move. And so the key is revealed. To find the correct White move, the rule in some problems is to look at the Black moves, especially those of the King. Solutions.—No. 39, bv G. J. Nietvelt, 1928; key Qb6. Since the threat is Qb4, the Black Rooks think they can capture the Pawn, expecting to be unpinned, but then Ihe Knight mates. No. 40, by T. B. Rowland, about 1890; key Qa4, with eight continuations by the Nd 4. No. 41, ending by W. E. Schimpff, about 1939; main line, avoiding stalemate, 1 Rg4, Rfs eh; 2 Ka4, *RfB: 3 Rg2, Ral; 4 Rb2, Raß; 5 Kg 3, ana Black cannot defend both wings. No. 42 requires the position 48. PIPPPPPP. kNBQKBNR. to be reached after White's twentieth move, the main clue to the solution being the delay in Pd 6, for a reason seen in the sixteenth move. 1 Pb 3. Pcs; 2 Ba 3, Pb 6; 3 BxP. Pes; 4 BxP, Pf 6; 5 BxP, Ph 6; 6 BxN, Ne 7; 7 BxP, Pd 6: 8 BxPf, Bd7; 9 BxP, Ba 4; leading to 15 Pxß ch., KxP; 16 Nc3 ch.. Ka3; 17 Nbl ch., Kb2; 18 BxP, Ra 3; 19 BxR ch„ KxR; 20 Bel, a strategic retreat after inflicting heavy losses. Acknowledgments.—R. G. W. (29 revised, 35, 36, 37, 38); J. J. M. (35, 36); J. A. C. (35); R. H. S. (35). Correspondence.—E. H. K. (Canterbury): Have written. Problems.—No. 43: IKNR4, P5bR, lßkp2nl. lpPrlr2. 4P3. 2Qn3B. 2Nlb3. q 7. mate in two. No. 44: 4NRBK. 2p5. 8. Ip2kp2. Irplp3. bp2BlPl. 3P4. Ib6, mate in three. If the White pieces seem too few, try sacrificing one. No. 45, ending: 5K2. k 7. 4Plpl. 24. 4b3. 8, White to play and win, a Reti masterpiece which A. Cheron, the end-game expert, rightly describes as a little marvel.