Problem Challenge

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  • Problem Challenge

    Problem Challenge

    June 2, 2017

    The puzzle below is the first stage in the Winston British Solving Championship. Those who solve it and enter the competition will get eight harder problems and a chance to eventually qualify for the 2018 World Solving Championship.

    But, let us not put the cart before the horse.

    You have to work out how White playing as usual up the board in the diagram, can force checkmate in two moves, however Black defends.





    White playing, as usual up the board in the diagram, forces checkmate in two moves, however Black defends.


    The problem is featured in Leonard Barden’s column in The Guardian for Friday 2 June, 2017

    https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...pen-to-entries
    ________

    Key move to be supplied in the course of time.

    It took me over half an hour to find it. Surely, you can do better.

  • #2
    Re: Problem Challenge

    Problem Challenge

    June 6, 2017

    The solution to the problem has not been issued officially but I believe that the key move is:

    1. Qa1

    then if: 1…d1=Q

    2. h8=Q#

    if: 1…Bxg8

    2.hxg8=N#

    if: 1…Ng7

    2. Qxg7#

    _________

    If you were to get into the championship tournament you would have the following six round schedule over two days:

    Round 1 – 3 x twomovers with 20 minutes solving time
    Round 2 – 3 x threemovers with 60 minutes solving time
    Round 3 – 3 x endgame studies with 100 minutes solving time
    Round 4 - 3 x helpmates with 50 minutes solving time
    Round 5 - 3 x moremovers with 80 minutes solving time
    Round 6 - 3 x selfmates with 50 minutes solving time

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_...g_Championship

    The Poles have won the individual and team championships the last number of years.

    Kacper Piorun is the present world chess solving champion. If the name seems familiar, he was playing at Gibraltar 2017 and was also at the European Rapid and Blitz, Tallinn 2016.

    If you want to try hour hand at them, the problems and score sheets for the 2016 contest can be seen at:

    http://www.wfcc.ch/wp-content/upload...lems-day-1.pdf

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Problem Challenge

      Originally posted by Wayne Komer View Post
      Problem Challenge

      June 6, 2017

      The solution to the problem has not been issued officially but I believe that the key move is:

      1. Qa1

      then if: 1…d1=Q

      2. h8=Q#

      if: 1…Bxg8

      2.hxg8=N#

      if: 1…Ng7

      2. Qxg7#

      _________

      If you were to get into the championship tournament you would have the following six round schedule over two days:

      Round 1 – 3 x twomovers with 20 minutes solving time
      Round 2 – 3 x threemovers with 60 minutes solving time
      Round 3 – 3 x endgame studies with 100 minutes solving time
      Round 4 - 3 x helpmates with 50 minutes solving time
      Round 5 - 3 x moremovers with 80 minutes solving time
      Round 6 - 3 x selfmates with 50 minutes solving time

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_...g_Championship

      The Poles have won the individual and team championships the last number of years.

      Kacper Piorun is the present world chess solving champion. If the name seems familiar, he was playing at Gibraltar 2017 and was also at the European Rapid and Blitz, Tallinn 2016.

      If you want to try hour hand at them, the problems and score sheets for the 2016 contest can be seen at:

      http://www.wfcc.ch/wp-content/upload...lems-day-1.pdf
      In solution #2, I don't think hg8=N is mate... K can go to h7, no?
      ...Mike Pence: the Lord of the fly.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Problem Challenge

        Kerry wrote:

        In solution #2, I don't think hg8=N is mate... K can go to h7, no?
        Try it with a real board and pieces in front of you. :-)

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Problem Challenge

          Originally posted by Hugh Brodie View Post
          Kerry wrote:



          Try it with a real board and pieces in front of you. :-)
          LOL. That would likely help a lot... Duh. Of course the rook on c7 looms large. I retract my attempted cook.
          ...Mike Pence: the Lord of the fly.

          Comment

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