Chess Fun With Rules of Thumb.

Chess Fun With Rules of Thumb.

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e4

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06 May 08
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31 Jan 17
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As usual I had ome good fun putting this one together..

White to play and Mate in one Move (Leonid Kubbel)

You may get in within 5 seconds, took me approx. 90 seconds.


Like finding something you have lost it will be the last move you think of.
No tricks or en passant scams, a genuine mate in one. (solution in the blog)


A chess poem that inspired the title of a book. (don't howl, I loathe
chess poems as much as the next man, it's a very short poem.)

A no word book review. (A book review with no words!)

A piece on Rules of Thumb and RHP players breaking them (Bless them all)

An amusing tale about some lad press-ganged into
playing his first OTB game and his chess score sheet..

The Hall of Doom inspired by MoonBus.

Blog Post 350

Joined
08 Apr 09
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19527
31 Jan 17
1 edit

Hi, in the Kubbel puzzle: what about 1. d8=Q? Is that not a mate? It's a double check, so the king must move but has no available squares. The Q on d8 is defended.

Edit: nevermind, it's a self-check due to the bishop on c8.

e4

Joined
06 May 08
Moves
42492
31 Jan 17
2 edits


Yes, The d7 pawn is pinned.

I had it quickly with 1. Qg5+ (mate) and was looking around for other mates
because I got it so quick and suspected every move mated.

Then I noticed another Black Queen on c1. 1.Qg5+ is not mate. OOPS!

E

Joined
12 Jul 08
Moves
13814
31 Jan 17

Chess is very confusing.

I was watching a video of a lesson by Akobian. He was trying to get the audience to make the correct move, giving hints about knights like to protect each other. Finally someone got it, then two moves later he was saying now move the knight so they no longer support each other.

Two moves ago, you said knights like to support each other. Nice rule of thumb, but two moves later the board doesn't look much different, but now you want to break them up.

Nice rule of thumb there.

Joined
08 Apr 09
Moves
19527
31 Jan 17

I actually saw Qa3+ pretty fast, but had initially dismissed because I thought the black queen on e5 would interpose.

Puzzles like these with unnatural positions are very hard, because suddenly all the heuristics in my brain don't really work anymore.

s
Fast and Curious

slatington, pa, usa

Joined
28 Dec 04
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31 Jan 17
15 edits

Originally posted by greenpawn34
[fen]1Bb3BN/R2Pk2r/1Q5B/4q2R/2bN4/4Q1BK/1p6/1bq1R1rb w - - 0 1[/fen]
Yes, The d7 pawn is pinned.

I had it quickly with 1. Qg5+ (mate) and was looking around for other mates
because I got it so quick and suspected every move mated.

Then I noticed another Black Queen on c1. 1.Qg5+ is not mate. OOPS!
Pawn takes bishop, becomes knight, mate, I think. No, doesn't work, What about Rook takes queen +, mate? Nope, bishop blocks. Dang. Ok. Pawn takes B. becomes rook and the A rook mates? Geez that doesn't work either, the dam h dark bishop interceeds.Ok, regroup. Q-f6+? Black queen pinned. That sounds like the one. No, there is that pesky problem of KxQ uncontested. Dang again🙂 N-f5+, bishop takes. Oh FRIGGING K. Q-g5 mate, except for that dam black queen takes. Not the one next to it, the sneaky bastard on c1. Going back to basics, I see nine possible checks, is THAT at least correct? So back to N-g6 mate. I think. No intercessions, no takes. Looks right. Nope, bishop covering that one too.

E

Joined
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Moves
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31 Jan 17
1 edit

Originally posted by sonhouse
Pawn takes bishop, becomes knight, mate, I think. No, doesn't work, What about Rook takes queen +, mate? Nope, bishop blocks. Dang. Ok. Pawn takes B. becomes rook and the A rook mates? Geez that doesn't work either, the dam h dark bishop interceeds.Ok, regroup. Q-f6+? Black queen pinned. That sounds like the one. No, there is that pesky problem of KxQ uncon ...[text shortened]... N-g6 mate. I think. No intercessions, no takes. Looks right. Nope, bishop covering that one too.
Think promotion, don't be greedy.

E

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31 Jan 17

Originally posted by Eladar
Think promotion, don't be greedy.
oops didn't see the pin lol.

E

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31 Jan 17

Originally posted by Eladar
oops didn't see the pin lol.
How about knight c6

E

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31 Jan 17

Originally posted by Eladar
How about knight c6
How about I check a diagonal.

s
Fast and Curious

slatington, pa, usa

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01 Feb 17

Originally posted by Eladar
How about I check a diagonal.
Wait just a doggon minute🙂 Q-a3. the big mate? I am assuming the white pawn at the other end of the board can take the opponents bishop and theoretically promote to knight, rook, whatever, but If white is going up board with his pawns, Oh I see now, black is also set to promote, was thinking for a stupid second the pawn could just take the queen but it's going the other way. Ok, what a mind bender.

Carrobie was here

JW Watchtower, NY

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01 Feb 17

Originally posted by Eladar
How about knight c6
Nc6 leaves the escape to f6, but Ng6 wins too.

Carrobie was here

JW Watchtower, NY

Joined
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01 Feb 17

Ooops - just saw that bishop on the b1 diagonal. My bad.

E

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01 Feb 17
2 edits

Originally posted by krieghoff
Nc6 leaves the escape to f6, but Ng6 wins too.
Nc6 loses to Bxc6. You are right about the escape square thanks.