Problems with the four new pieces for the NK (ENG)

Problems especially to prepare oneself for the Dutch Championship

Group 1 : Elementary exercises

Group 2 : Simple questions

Group 4 : Complex combinations

Group 5 : More difficult questions

Group 6 : Intricate problems

Please click the diagrams to enlarge them!

Group 3: Advanced problems

Position 3.1

White : K g1, Ps e5, R d2, R h1, Kt b2, e2, g2 (5+2 pieces)
Black : K h8, Es b3, R h6, B a8, B g7, Kt f6, a7, b6 (6+2 pieces)
3.1 W: White to move and mate in 6
3.1 B1: Black to move and mate in 6
3.1 B2: Move the white Rook from d2 to c2 and omit the black Bishop on a8. In this new position Black to move mates in 9
Solution 3.1

Position 3.2

White: K g1, Ps a1, R c1, B h2, Kt c3, a3, g2 (5+2 pieces)
Black: K f6, Q g6, Ps c8, R h8, Kt d8, Kt g8, a6, b7, e6, g5, h6 (6+5 pieces)
3.2 W: White to move and mate in 7
3.2 B: Black to move and mate in 5
Solution 3.2

Position 3.3

White: K f2, Es b1, Ps b6, V h2, R g1, c3, d2, d4 (5+3 pieces)
Black: K g8, Ps f5, V h5, R a6, c4, d5, d7, e7, g7 (4+5 pieces)
3.3 W: White to move can easily win. How?
3.3 B: Black to move and mate in 3
Solution 3.3

Position 3.4

White: K g1, V h3, R a5, B g3, b4, c5, f2, h2, h4 (4+5 pieces)
Black: K h7, V d4, R c6, B b3, b5, g7 (4+2 pieces)
3.4 W: White to move and mate in 8
3.4 B: Black to move and mate in 5
Solution 3.4

Position 3.5

White: K g2, Es h3, R a3, B f1, a4, f2, g3, h2 (4+4 pieces)
Black: K e8, Es e4, Ps d7, b7, d4, e7, f6, g7 (3+5 pieces)
3.5 W: White to move and mate in 6
3.5 B: Black to move and mate in 3
Solution 3.5

Position 3.6

White: K g1, Q d5, V e1, c4, d4, f2, g2, h3 (3+5 pieces)
Black: K h6, V e8, R a7, R g8, B c7, Kt g6, d7, e7, g7 (6+3 pieces)
3.6 W: White to move can win! Is 1. Q d5 x g8 the right start?
Solution 3.6

Position 3.7

White: K f2, Q b2, Ps d5, B c2, B g1, Kt a1, Kt c4, a3, d3, e4, f3, f5, g2 (7+6 pieces)
Black: K h8, Q h7, Es c3, Ps e7, R a7, B c5, a5, d4, f7, g6 (6+4 pieces)
3.7 W: White to move can win
3.7 B1: Black to move can win
3.7 B2: Remove the black Queen. Black to move draws
Solution 3.7

Position 3.8

White: K g1, Es e7, Ps b3, R b1, B f1, B g3, b5, d6, f2, f4, g2, h4 (6+6 pieces)
Black: K h7, Q c3, Ps a8, R f8, B b6, Kt a7, Kt h8, d7, g7, h6 (7+3 pieces)
3.8 W: White to move can win
3.8 B: Black to move can win
Solution 3.8

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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 3.1 W 1. R h1xh6 † A. 1. ..., B g7xh6 2. Ps e5xf6 †, B h6-g7 3. R d2-d8 † mate B. 1. ..., Kt f6-h7 2. Ps e5-f7 † mate C. 1. ..., K h8-g8 2. R d2-d8 †, B g7-f8 3. Ps e5xf6 †, K g8-f7 4. R d8-d7 † a. 4. ..., K f7-e6 5. Ps f6-g4 † mate b. 4. ..., B f8-e7 5. R d7xe7 †, K f7-f8 6. R h6-h8 † mate Solution 3.1 B1 1. ..., R h6xh1 † (2. K g1-f2?, Kt f6-e4 † mate ) 2. K g1xh1, Es b3-h3 † (Not 2. ..., Es b3xd2 3. Ps e5-f7 †, K h8-h7 4. Ps f7-g5 †) 3. Ps e5-h2 †, Es h3-f2 † 4. K h1-g1, Es f2xg2 † A. 5. K g1-h1, Es g2-g3 † mate B. 5. K g1-f1, Es g2xh2 † 6. K f1-g1 or e1, Es h2-h1 † mate Solution 3.1 B2 1. ..., R h6xh1 † (1. ..., Es b3-a1 †? 2. K g1-f2) 2. K g1xh1, Es b3-a1 † 3. R c2-c1, Es a1xc1 † 4. Kt b2-d1, Es c1xd1 † 5. K h1-h2, Es d1-f1 † 6. K h2-h3, Es f1-h1 † 7. Ps e5-h2, Es h1-f2 † 8. K h3-h4 or g3, Es f2-f5 † 9. K h4 or g3-h3, Es f5-h5 † mate Position 3.2	Solution 3.2 W 1. Kt c3-d5 † A. 1. ..., K f6-f5 2. Ps a1-d4 † a. 2. ..., K f5-g4 3. Ps d4-f3 †, K g4-f5 4. g2-g4 † mate b. 2. ..., K f5-e4 3. Ps d4-f3 †, K e4-d3 4. R c1-c3 † mate B. 1. ..., K f6-f7 2. Ps a1-e5 † a. 2. ..., K f7-e8 3. Ps e5xg6 † a.1 3. ..., K e8-d7 4. R c1-c7 † mate a.2 3. ..., Kt d8-f7 4. R c1xc8 †, K e8-d7 5. Kt d5-b6 † mate b. 2. ..., K f7-f8 3. Ps e5xg6 †, K f8-g7 4. Ps g6-h5 † b.1 4. ..., K g7-h7 5. R c1-c7 † b.1.1 5. ..., Kt g8-e7 6. Kt d5-f6 † mate b.1.2 5. ..., Ps c8-e7 6. R c7xe7 †, Kt g8xe7 7. Kt d5-f6 † mate b.2 4. ..., K g7-f8 5. R c1xc8 b.2.1 5. ..., e6xd5 6. B h2-d6 †, Kt g8-e7 7. R c8xd8 † mate b.2.2 5. ..., Kt g8-f6 6. R c8xd8 †, Kt f6-e8 7. R d8xe8 † mate Solution 3.2 B 1. ..., Ps c8-b6 † 2. K g1-f1, Q g6-f5 † 3. B h2-f4, Q f5xf4 † A. 4. K f1-e1, Q f4-f2 † 5. K e1-d1, Ps b6-e3 † mate B. 4. K f1-e2, Ps b6-c4 † a. 5. K e2-e1, Q f4-f1 † mate b. 5. K e2-d1, Q f4-d2 † mate Position 3.3
Solution 3.3 W 1. Ps b6xd5 †, K g8-h7 (1. ..., e7-e6 2. Es b1-b8 † and mate follows in the fifth move. Compare the solution below.) 2. Ps d5-g8 †! A. 2. ..., K h7-h8 3. Ps g8-f7 †, K h8-h7 4. Ps f7xh5 and White wins B. 2. ..., K h7xg8 3. Es b1-b8 † a. 3. ..., K g8-f7 4. Es b8-d8 †, K f7-f6 5. Es d8-f8 † mate b. 3. ..., K g8-h7 4. Es b8-f8 †, K h7-h6 5. Es f8-h8 †, Ps f5-h7 6. Es h8-f7 † mate Note: Not right for White is 2. Es b1-b8, Ps f5-d3 † A. 3. K f2-g2, V h5-h4 † 4. K g2-h1, Ps d3-f2 † mate B. 3. K f2-e3, Ps d3-c2 † a. 4. K e3-f3, V h5-h4 † 5. K f3-f4, Ps c2-d3 † mate b. 4. K e3-e2, Ps c2-d3 † etc. (5. K e2-d1?, R a6-a1 †) Solution 3.3 B 1. ..., Ps f5-d3 † A. 2. K f2-f3 or e3, V h5-f4 † mate B. 2. K f2-g2, V h5-h4 or f4 † 3. K g2-h1, Ps d3-f2 † mate Position 3.4	Solution 3.4 W 1. V h3-g5 †, K h7-h8 2. R a5-a8 †, B b3-g8 3. V g5-f7 †, K h8-h7 4. R a8xg8 ! (is better than 4. V f7xg8 †) 4. ..., V d5-f3 † 5. K g1-h1, V f3xf2 † 6. B g3xf2, ... 7. R g8xg7 † mate or 7. R g8-h8 † mate Please note that 2. ..., R c6-c8 3. R a8xc8 † takes an extra move Solution 3.4 B 1. ..., V d4-f3 † 2. K g1-h1, B b3-d5 ! 3. V h3-g5 †, V f3xg5 † a. 4. K h1-g1, V g5-f3 † 5. K g1-f1, B d5-c4 † mate b. 4. f2-f3, V g5xf3 5. R a5-a2, V f3-f2 † mate Position 3.5
Solution 3.5 W 1. Es h3-h8 †, Ps d7-f8 2. B f1-b5 †, K e8-d8 3. Es h8xf8 †, K d8-c7 4. Es f8-e8 †, K c7-b6 5. Es e8-c8 †, K b6-a5 6. Es c8-c4 † mate Solution 3.5 B 1. ..., Es e4-e1 † A. 2. K g2-g1, Ps d7xh3 † 3. K g1-h1, Es e1xf1 † mate B. 2. K g2-h1, Es e1xf1 † a. 3. Es h3-g1, Es f1xf2 † mate b. 3. K h1-g2, Es f1-e1 † mate Also possible is: 2. K g2-h1, Ps d7xh3 3. R a3-a1, Ps h3xf2 † mate Position 3.6	Solution 3.6 W Not right is: 1. Q d5xg8, R a7-a1 2. K g1-f1, B c7-a5 or 2. g2-g3, V e8-f6 3. Q g8-c8, B c7-a5 and Black wins White mates in at most 7 moves: 1. Q d5-g5 †!, K h6xg5 2. V e1-f3 † A. 2. ..., K g5-h6 3. V f3-g4 † etc. B. 2. ..., K g5-f5 3. g2-g4 † a. 3. ..., K f5-e6 4. d4-d5 † a.1 4. ..., K e6-d6 5. V f3-e4 † mate a.2 4. ..., K e6-f6 5. V f3-e4 †, K f6-f7 6. V e4-g5 †, K f7-f8 7. V g5xg6 † mate a.3 4. ..., K e6-f7 5. V f3-g5 † etc. (Also nice is 4. V f3-g5 †, K e6-d6 5. V g5-e4 †, K d6-c6 6. V e4-c5 † mate ) b. 3. ..., K f5-f6 4. V f3-e4 †, K f6-e6 5. d4-d5 †, K e6-f7 etc. C. 2. ..., K g5-f6 3. V f3-e4 † etc. Position 3.7
Solution 3.7 W 1. Q b2-b8 † A. 1. ..., Ps e7-f8 2. Ps d5-f6 †, Q h7-g7 3. Q b8-h2 †, Ps f8-h7 4. Q h2xh7 † mate ! B. 1. ..., K h8-g7 2. f5-f6 †, Ps e7xf6 3. Ps d5xf6 †, K h7xf6 4. Q b8-e5 † mate C. 1. ..., Q h7-g8 2. Ps d5xf7 †, K h8-g7 3. Ps f7xg8, Ps e7xg8 4. B g1-h2 and White wins Solution 3.7 B1 1. ..., Ps e7-h4 † 2. g2-g3, Ps h4xg3 † 3. K f2xg3, Es c3-e2 † 4. K g3-g4, Es e2-g2 † mate Note that 1. ..., Q h7-h4 † 2. K f2-f1 is not right Solution 3.7 B2 Analogous to 3.7 B1 Position 3.8	Solution 3.8 W 1. Ps b3-a1 A. 1. ..., Q c3xa1 2. B f1-d3 †, Kt h8-g6 3. Es e7xg6 ! a. 3. ..., R f8-g8 4. Es g6-f8 †, K h7-h8 5. Es f8-h7 † mate b. 3. ..., K h7-g8 4. B d3-c4 †, R f8-f7 5. R b1xa1 and White wins c. 3. ..., Q a1xb1 † 4. B d3xb1 c.1 4. ..., R f8-g8 5. Es g6-f8 † c.2 4. ..., K h7-g8 5. B b1-a2 †, R f8-f7 6. Es g6-e7 †, K g8-h7 7. B a2-b1 †, g7-g6 8. Es e7xf7 † and White win easily B. 1. ..., R f8-f7 2. Ps a1xc3, R f7xe7 3. d6xe7, Ps a8-c7 4. R b1-e1, Ps c7-e8 5. Ps c3-d5 and White wins C. 1. ..., Q c3xg3 2. B f1-d3 †, Kt h8-g6 3. Es e7xg7 †, K h7-h8 4. Es g7-f7 †, K h8-g8 5. Es f7xh6 † mate ! D. 1. ..., Q c3-f6 2. Ps a1-c2 †, Kt h8-g6 3. h4-h5 and White wins, for example: 3. ..., Q f6xe7 4. Ps c2xg6 †, K h7-g8 5. Ps g6xe7 †, K g8-h8 6. Ps e7xf8 Also possible is: 2. B f1-d3 † Solution 3.8 B 1. ..., Q c3xg3 Threatening B b6xf2 † but also Ps a8-f3 † A. 2. B f1-d3 †, Q g3xd3 and Black wins B. 2. Ps b3-d5, B b6xf2 † 3. K g1-h1, Q g3xh4 † mate C. 2. Ps b3-d1, B b6xf2 †! 3. Ps d1xf2, Ps a8-f3 † 4. K g1-h1, Q g3-h2 † mate D. 2. Ps b3-c2 †, Kt h8-g6 a. 3. Ps c2xg6 †, Q g3xg6 b. 3. Ps c2-e1, B b6xf2 † c. 3. Ps c2-e4, B b6xf2 † d. 3. Ps c2-e3, Ps a8-f3 † e. 3. R b1-b3, Q g3xf2 † 4. K g1-h2, Q f2-g1 † e.1 5. K h2-h3, Q g1-h1 † 6. K h3-g4, Q h1xh4 † mate e.2 5. K h2-g3, B b6-f2 † 6. K g3-g4, R f8xf4 † 7. K g4-h5, R f4xh4 † mate

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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.