The Chess Problems Thread

[Kyng]

…g5+

That is possible - but, White can take en passant, and then the passed pawn on g6 is so strong that White has the advantage, even if Black finds a way to save both pieces!

So, good guess, but try again .

My alternate was b5.

Indeed, that's the correct first move .

So, if White attacks the knight with 2. b3, what next?

[JHG]

…Nb6. At this point, taking the bishop is now a blunder and Davis has to back down.
Checkmate Kyngites!

[Kyng]

…Nb6. At this point, taking the bishop is now a blunder and Davis has to back down.
Checkmate Kyngites!

Correct! Taking the bishop allows 3...Nxd5+, forking the king and rook .

[Kyng]

A tactical pattern worth remembering here:



White to play and achieve a major advantage. Once again, I'll leave it to you guys for a couple of days, before posting the solution .

[JHG]

1. Qd5

[Kyng]

1. Qd5

That is a good move (in fact, it's the second-best move). At the very least, you'll either win the rook or have a massive attack on the king.

Still, there is an even better move, with the same sort of idea. What might that be?

[JHG]

1. Qd5

That is a good move (in fact, it's the second-best move). At the very least, you'll either win the rook or have a massive attack on the king.

Still, there is an even better move, with the same sort of idea. What might that be?

1. Bg5(which I once dismissed as madness)

[Kyng]

1. Qd5

That is a good move (in fact, it's the second-best move). At the very least, you'll either win the rook or have a massive attack on the king.

Still, there is an even better move, with the same sort of idea. What might that be?

1. Bg5(which I once dismissed as madness)

Interesting idea, but after 1...Bxg5, I'm not sure what the follow-up is .

But yes, the correct move is one that some players might dismiss as 'madness', because it does look a bit mad at first !

[JHG]

That is a good move (in fact, it's the second-best move). At the very least, you'll either win the rook or have a massive attack on the king.

Still, there is an even better move, with the same sort of idea. What might that be?

1. Bg5(which I once dismissed as madness)

Interesting idea, but after 1...Bxg5, I'm not sure what the follow-up is .

But yes, the correct move is one that some players might dismiss as 'madness', because it does look a bit mad at first !

Re1+ followed by…Be6. This was a mistake.
Maybe 1. Bxf7+ instead?

[Kyng]

1. Bg5(which I once dismissed as madness)

Interesting idea, but after 1...Bxg5, I'm not sure what the follow-up is .

But yes, the correct move is one that some players might dismiss as 'madness', because it does look a bit mad at first !

Re1+ followed by…Be6. This was a mistake.
Maybe 1. Bxf7+ instead?

Yep, it's 1. Bxf7+!



Now, if 1...Kxf7, then 2. Qd5+ forks the king and the rook.

(And there's another, even funnier option. If 1...Kd7, then 2. Ne5# is actually checkmate, because the d6-pawn is pinned !)