© Dec 2003 H. van Haeringen
| Group 2 : Simple questions |
| Group 3 : Advanced problems |
| Group 4 : Complex combinations |
| Group 5 : More difficult questions |
| Group 6 : Intricate problems |
| Please click the diagrams to enlarge them! |
Group 1: Elementary exercises
Position 1.1 An "opening trap": Helpmate in 2
In the ordinary chess starting position the Bishops on f1 and f8 are replaced by
Empresses.
1.1 W: White to move and mate on his second move with Black's cooperation
Solution 1.1
White: K h1, A g1
Black: K d7, A d8
1.2 W: White to move and mate in 3
Solution 1.2
White: K c5, Ps a2
Black: K c7
1.3 W: White to move and mate in 6
Solution 1.3
White: K e1, Q b1, V c5, R f6, R h1, Kt f2, a2, c3, e2, g4,
h2 (6+5 pieces)
Black: K f8, V h4, R a6, B g5, Kt b6, Kt h8, b7, d6, e6, f7 (6+4 pieces)
1.4 W: White to move and mate in 3
1.4 B: Black to move and mate in 4
Solution 1.4
White: K g3, Es f2, a3, b4, c2, d3, g4, h3 (2+6 pieces)
Black: K a7, Ps c3, d4, g5, h6 (2+3 pieces)
1.5 W: White to move plays ....?
1.5 B1: Black to move can easily win. How?
1.5 B2: Move the white King to g2. Can Black to move still win?
Solution 1.5
White: K d2, V f6, R g1, Kt e2, Kt g4, c4, d6, e3, f2 (5+4 pieces)
Black: K f8, Q g8, V d8, R e8, B h7, d7, e6, f7 (5+3 pieces)
1.6 W: White to move mates quickly
Solution 1.6
White: K c2, Q b3, Ps h4, B b2, Kt b1, Kt d1, c3, d2, d3,
e2 (6+4 pieces)
Black: K h8, Q h7, Es d6, R c5, a7, f6 (4+2 pieces)
1.7 W: White to move wins easily
1.7 B: Black to move mates quickly
Solution 1.7
Solutions
Hereafter we give solutions (not yet completed) to the problems formulated above. Next to the main variants most, but not always all, variants are given. A (small) part of the solution complex is sometimes left to the reader as an exercise.
| Solution 1.1 W 1. Es f1-g3, Kt g8-f6 2. Es g3xg7 † mate Position 1.2 |
Solution 1.2 W 1. A g1-d4 †, K d7-e7 2. A d4-f5 †, K e7-e8 3. A f5-g7 † mate Position 1.3 |
| Solution 1.3 W 1. Ps a2-e6 †, K c7-b7 2. K c5-b5, K b7-a7 3. K b5-c6 A. 3. ..., K a7-a8 4. K c6-b6, K a8-b8 5. Ps e6-d7 †, K b8-a8 6. Ps d7-c6 † mate B. 3. ..., K a7-b8 4. K c6-b6, K b8-a8 5. Ps e6-c7 † mate C. 3. ..., K a7-a6 4. Ps e6-c4 †, K a6-a7 5. K c6-c7, K a7-a8 6. Ps c4-b6 † mate Position 1.4 |
Solution 1.4 W 1. V c5xe6 † A. 1. ..., K f8-g8 2. Q b1-h7 †!, K g8xh7 3. V e6-f8 † mate B. 1. ..., K f8-e8 2. Q b1-b5 †, Kt b6-d7 3. V e6xd7 † mate Solution 1.4 B 1. ..., V h4-g2 † 2. K e1-d1, V g2-e3 † A. 3. K d1-e1, V e3-d2 † mate B. 3. K d1-c1, V e3-d3 † 4. K c1-d1, V d3-d2 † mate Position 1.5 |
| Solution 1.5 W 1. Es f2-f7 † A. 1. ..., K a7-a6 of a8 2. Es f7-c7 †, K ... 3. Es c7xc3 B. 1. ..., K a7-b6 2. Es f7-d7 †, K b6-c6 3. Es d7-e7 †, K c6-d6 4. Kn -c8 † and White wins Solution 1.5 B1 1. ..., Ps c3-e1! The white King is now tied to g3 so that Black can easily win. After some moves White will be in zugzwang (move compulsion). Solution 1.5 B2 No, Black cannot win, for example: 1. ..., Ps c3-d5 † 2. Es f2-e4 or 1. ..., Ps c3-e1 † 2. K g2-f1 Position 1.6 |
Solution 1.6 W 1. Kt g4-e5 A. 1. ...., R e8-e7 2. d6xe7 †, V d8xe7 3. Kt e5xd7 †, V e7xd7 4. V f6xd7 † mate B. 1. ..., Q g8xg1 2. V f6xh7 † mate C. 1. ..., Q g8-g6 2. R g1xg6 a. 2. ..., f7xg6 3. V f6xh7 † mate b. 2. ..., B h7xg6 3. Kt e2-f4, B g6-f5 4. Kt f4-h5 etc. Position 1.7 |
| Solution 1.7 W 1. Q b3-b8 † A. 1. ..., Es d6-c8 2. Ps h4xf6 †, Q h7-g7 3. Q b8-h2 †, R c5-h5 4. Q h2xh5 † mate B. 1. ..., R c5-c8 2. Q b8xd6, Q h7xh4 3. c3-c4 and White easily wins Solution 1.7 B Black to move mates in 6 moves: 1. ..., Es d6-d4 † 2. K c2-c1, Es d4xe2 † 3. K c1-c2, Es e2-d4 † 4. K c2-c1, Es d4xd3 † 5. K c1-c2, Es d3-b4 † 6. K c2-c1, Es b4xb3 † mate Also nice is: 5. ..., Es d3-e1 † 6. K c2-c1, Q h7-c2 † 7. Es e1-e2 † mate |
With thanks to the webmaster Marion van den Bol for her dedication and to Wim Vriend for the diagrams and his assistance in analysing these problems.
S.E. et O.