Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Puzzlers from Round 3


diagram

Massey - Moldovan
White to play and win after 29...Qxe5?



diagram

Mazzillo - Mann
Black to play and win after 31.Red1?



diagram

Stoyko - Minkov
Black to play and win at least a pawn.



diagram

Kernighan - Wojcio
White to play and "retain his booty."



diagram

Selling - Demetrick
Black to play and win a pawn after 15.Nd4?!



diagram

Selling - Demetrick
Black to play and win after 40.Ke3


The games from Round 3 of the Kenilworth Chess Club Championship were often decided by a critical tempo that won a pawn. In all but the first diagram above, your goal is to find a way to gain (or retain) a material advantage of only a pawn or two -- but sufficient to win the game. The "solutions" can be found in the games or our notes.

3 comments:

Icepick said...

Michael, I just wanted to tell you that at least one person out here is enjoying your chess blog. (I hope many are.) I haven't looked around the rest of the Kenilworth Chess Club site yet, but soon will.

Robert Pearson said...

I know it's just a quibble, but in Selling - Demetrick how about 61. Qc2 mate?

Michael Goeller said...

Good point! Yes, I had overlooked that in annotating the game (as did the participants in playing it!) since White's idea, of course, is simply to exchange Queens and then Queen his f-pawn. Black can avoid the mate by playing Ka3 or Kb2 rather than Ka2 and Kb1?? Glad someone is paying attention!