Most annoying Christmas Carol to listen to?
Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.

Bad pawns aside, isn't it too early for a Christmas blog GP?

Actually just noticed the li'l RHP pawn has got his Santa hat on, never mind...

Happy holidays!

~64

Going to be very over next 3 weeks. But hope to have my next one 1st week of the New Year.

Calling that a "quiz" is click-bait. 😕

What happens in the Korchnoi-Udovcic game if, after 22 Bb4, black plays 22 ...Bxb4 23 Qxb4 and now not 23 ...Qe7 but simply walking away with Ke8 or possibly preferably Kg8? He's cramped, but he still has that pawn.

Hi Big Dog.

Yeah sorry about, not as comprehensive as I intended it to be.

Took a few out, Thought there were too many

Rushed it because I am now totally timed out till the New Year.

And of course on the 'easy' one black has Qxd4+ making it really mate in 4.
Just saying.

Thanks for the quiz. Wouldn't be Christmas without it.

Hi wsossin,

I'll not correct that one. If it was genuine set problem then yes.
But 1...Qxd4 is tantamount to resignation.

Thanks for you comment. I had a sudden Family, Work and Health
issue that came up and will continue to affect me for weeks so rushed it a wee bit.

Left out this one which was rather annoying when I realised I missed it.

Apparently, according to the 'The Chess Player's Bedside Book'. (Bott & Morrison)
It is the oldest known problem of it's kind. (from 1500) White to play and mate in 5.

You have to be a bit wary when someone drops one of these
in your lap with a date like 1500. Sometimes it means that today's
rules regarding castling, pawn promotion, en passant, etc...etc...
were not yet in place. But here there is no such trick. It is sound.

A wee clue.

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If it were Black to move then it's mate in two.

Originally posted by @greenpawn34
Sometimes it means that today's
rules regarding castling, pawn promotion, en passant, etc...etc...
were not yet in place. But here there is no such trick. It is sound.

A wee clue.

Reveal Hidden Content