Saturday Afternoon Chess/Open Thread 05-28-2016 [OregonMuse]

Hillary! Clinton's Chess Set? *hic*

Good afternoon morons and moronettes, and welcome to the Saturday Afternoon Chess/Open Thread, the only AoSHQ thread with content specifically for all of us chess nerds who pay homage in the temple of Caïssa, goddess of doubled pawns and fianchettoed bishops. And, for those of you who aren't nerdly enough for chess, you can use this thread to talk about checkers, or politics, or whatever you wish, only please try to keep it civil. Nobody wants to get into a Gaulish fish fight on a Saturday afternoon.

Today's pic is of a chess set you can actually purchase (or at least you could before the business closed). The rules for this game are the usual except for the addition of one, which boils down to: capture a piece, do a shot. I've never played this variant of chess before, but I'd guess that the endgames must be, ah, "interesting."

White Wins Material

This is one for you noobs, an exercise in situational awareness. Look at this position:

FEN: [2rqk2r/pp2bppp/2n1p3/1B1pn3/8/P1N5/1P2QPPP/R1B1R1K1 w k - 0 14]

After looking at this for a bit, you should be able to say "oh look, White wins material, like, right now." How does he do this? Highlight the blank line just below this sentence if you need a hint:
The knight on c6 is pinned

Did you like that one? OK, good, here's one that's a bit more difficult:

FEN: [r2k4/1pp2rpp/pn1b1p2/3n4/8/P4NB1/1PP3PP/2KRR3 w - - 0 1]

Again, White can win some material. How? Highlight the blank line just below this sentence if you need a hint:
White needs to force a Black piece to move so he can put pressure on another.

A New Old Kind of Chess

It has come to my attention that some of our chess noobs here have conveyed their fear and trepidation of getting into a game with those of us who are more experienced. So, I have a suggestion that might help: on chess.com, you can play two different varieties of chess, not varieties of rules, but varieties of time control. The first is "live" chess where you sit down at an interactive board with your opponent on the other end at his, and moves are conveyed back and forth pretty much in real time. This closely approximates the "look and feel" of OTB (over the board) chess. If you're just starting out, I can see how this experience can be a bit intimidating.

But, there's an alternative to this. Chess.com also provides what they call "online" chess, where the time control is measured in days, not minutes or seconds. So you can make your move, get up, and come back a day later to respond. How is this an advantage? Because this closely resembles what is called "correspondence chess", i.e. chess by mail, a time-honored chess tradition. Now, in correspondence chess, the rules governing what you can and can't do during a game are a bit different than OTB chess. For example, in OTB tournament chess, if you get into a really sticky, intricate position, you can't go to another table, set up the game position on another board, and play out the various lines to see which one would be more advantageous. That's strictly forbidden. But, in chess.com's online chess, as in the more traditional correspondence chess, it's perfectly OK. You can also look stuff up in chess books, if you want. That's permitted, too (what you can't do is use some kind of chess engine or endgame tablebase to analyze your game for you. That's right out).

But when you're in one of your online games, if you look to the right of the interactive board, and to the right of the list of moves, there is an "Analyze" link with a chessboard icon. If you click on that link, another window will pop-up that displays another interactive board with your game at the current position. You can then use this board to go back and review your the moves you've made so far, or, what is possibly more useful, you can enter "hypothetical" moves made by both you and your opponent, so you can look at the possibilities of what might happen if you make this move or that move. Let me tell you I make *extensive* use of this feature in all of my online games to map out potential lines. Of course, then my opponent makes a move I overlooked, and all of my analysis is now worthless. But that's OK, I can always re-analyze based on the new move.

Perhaps some of you may be asking, "well, if I can use the analysis board, so can my vastly more experienced opponent, so I'm still screwed." Well, perhaps. My point is, playing games "online" rather than in real time might help you not to feel so pressured to come up with a good move with the clock ticking down. The pace will be a bit more relaxed, and even if you still lose, you'll enjoy the game a bit more.

I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to prefer this kind of chess over the usual OTB variety.

Black To Play And Win

FEN: [6k1/q5pp/2p2p2/3p1P1P/8/1P5R/P1P1rr2/3Q1R1K b - - 0 1]

The decision tree of this problem consists of two main branches. See if you can complete both.

Endgame Of The Week

This is an endgame problem that might be tough for you noobs. It's White to play and win, win, win:

FEN: [3K4/5Bk1/8/8/2R5/p7/1p6/8 w - - 0 1]

___________

[Update: Solutions]

1. White Wins Material - Easy

1.Qxe5! and White simply takes the Knight. 2...Nxe5 isn't possible because it is pinned by the Bishop. So it really wasn't protecting the Knight on e5.

2. White Wins Material - Not As Easy

This one is a bit trickier. You need to notice that the Bishop on d6 is in front of the King, and in fact, it would be pinned if White could get that Knight out of the way. Fortunately, he can:

1.c4! Ne7

If 1...Nxc4, then 2.Rxd5 wins the piece outright.

2. c5

And now not only is the Bishop pinned, but the pawn is also forking the Knight. White can pick up either one at his leisure.

3. Black To Play and Win

Black's killer move is 1...Qe3! There are two responses by White, 2.Rxe3 or 2.Rxf2:

Branch #1:
2.Rxe3 Rh2+
3.Kg1 Reg2# 0-1

Branch #2:
2.Rxf2 Qxh3+
3.Kg1 Qg3+
4.Kh1 Rxf2
5.Qg1 Qf3+ (5...Qh3+ 6.Qh2 Qxh2#)
6.Qg2 Qxg2#

4. Endgame Of The Week:

So, looking at the board, it is obvious that the big threat is Black's pawns that are (a) far advanced and (b) connected. That's usually a deadly combination, but in this case, White has resources. He would like to immediately scoot his Bishop down there to a2 to stop the threat, but his Rook is in the way. So, he needs to gain time in order to free up the diagonal for the anticipated Bishop move. He can do this by:

1.Rc7! b1Q

This sets up a discovered check if White moves his Bishop. Black can move his King out of that danger, of course, but that will give White enough time for Ba2. So Black really doesn't have anything better than to get himself a Queen immediately.

2.Ba2+

This is the crucial position. Black has a several choices where he can move his King. And the move he makes needs to buy time to get his Queen away from the White bishop on a2. Some of the possible flight squares for his King, namely f6, g6, and h6, can be ruled out immediately since 3.Bxb1 leaves him with nothing. He can't move to g8 since that square is covered by the bishop. That leaves f8 and h8. So, why are these any different than the 3 moves to the 6th rank we've already dismissed? Because there's some tricky maneuvering Black can spring that will allow him to force a draw if White isn't careful. So:

2...Kh8 and White is pretty much forced to snap up that dangerous Queen before it gets away.

3. Bxb1 a2!

And that's the point. White *cannot* take that pawn. If he does, then it's stalemate. If this is hard to see, go ahead and capture the pawn, and then look at the board. You will see that there is literally no square available for Black's king to move to.

(...and this is one of the reasons why I love chess so much: In even seemingly lost positions, there can still be fighting chances to be found that can turn the tables. "To the last, I grapple with thee; From Hell's heart, I stab at thee...")

So what is White to do? Black's pawn is threatening either a1Q or axb1Q and White's rook cannot guard against both. So, once again, he needs to buy some time:

4.Rh7+ Kg8

Forced.

5.Rh1 a1Q

6.Bh7+ and White's rook eats the newly-minted Queen next move, nom, nom, nom. And wins.

Now, back to move 2, Black's other option to get out of check is to move his King to f8. White can still achive his objective, but the smaneuvering will be just a bit different:

3.Rf7+ Kg8

Again, forced.

4.Rf2+ Qxa2

If Black moves his King then 5.Bxb1 with no danger of stalemate and that's all she wrote.

5.Rxa2 and wins.

So to recap, here is the complete solution without all my jabbering:

1.Rc7 b1Q
2.Ba2+ Kh8
3.Bxb1 a2
4.Rh7+ Kg8
5.Rh1 a1Q
6.gBh7+ 1-0

and the other branch:

1.Rc7 b1Q
2.Ba2+ Kf8
3.Rf7+ Kg8
4.Rf2+ Qxa2
5.Rxa2 1-0

___________

Note: that cryptic line of letters and numbers you see underneath each board diagram is a representation of the position in what is known as "Forsyth-Edwards Notation", or F.E.N. It's actually readable by humans. Most computer applications nowadays can read FEN, so those of you who may want to study the position, you can copy the line of FEN and paste into your chess app and it should automatically recreate the position on its display board.

___________

So that about wraps it up for this week. Chess thread tips, suggestions, bribes, rumors, threats, and insults may be sent to my yahoo address: OregonMuse little-a-in-a-circle yahoo dot you-know-what.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Looks like some fine chess pieces. Do you drink them when you take ones off the table?

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 28, 2016 05:32 PM (vvmPQ)

2 Since it's an open thread, Holy Crap! The Royals were down 7-1 at the bottom of the 9th. Yeah, you read that right.

And they just won the game 8-7. Not sure I've ever seen anything quite like that.

Posted by: HH at May 28, 2016 05:35 PM (DrCtv)

3 Logging in present, now to the problems

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 05:39 PM (3wHFl)

4 And they just won the game 8-7. Not sure I've ever seen anything quite like that.
Posted by: HH at May 28, 2016 05:35 PM (DrCtv)

Sounds suspicious.

Posted by: washrivergal at May 28, 2016 05:39 PM (CFc5L)

5 >>> The decision tree of this problem consists of two main branches. See if you can complete both.

Are these variations by black?

Posted by: fluffy at May 28, 2016 05:43 PM (2hcmo)

6 I used to play correspondence chess by postcard, nowadays that'd be fine if you trust the person not to get a computer to help.

That black to play and win, looks like QE3. The previous is C4 and C5. The last one not sure which way the pieces move, are black's pawns about to Queen?

Posted by: waelse1 at May 28, 2016 05:45 PM (AraCk)

7 With Black to Play and Win, I can see white avoiding checkmate, but ends up down in QvR.

Posted by: fluffy at May 28, 2016 05:46 PM (2hcmo)

8 >>> The last one not sure which way the pieces move, are black's pawns about to Queen?

That's what I am looking at. Try not to give that one away so quickly ;--)

Posted by: fluffy at May 28, 2016 05:48 PM (2hcmo)

9 Struggling with that second one. So far all the moves I've considered result in white and black losing an equal number of piece.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 28, 2016 05:50 PM (0mRoj)

10 Posted by: fluffy at May 28, 2016 05:48 PM (2hcmo)

Sorry about that, should have known to wait a bit.

Posted by: waelse1 at May 28, 2016 05:55 PM (AraCk)

11 I have to admit I'm enjoying the chess threads. Question though, is there a decent freeware chess program out there that can be used with these setups, (and the notation mentioned in last week's thread)?

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at May 28, 2016 05:57 PM (ns1FV)

12 And, for those of you who aren't nerdly enough for chess, you can use this thread to talk about checkers

I remember when I was around 6-7 yrs of age playing checkers at our local park. This was mid- 60's. It was a park program. I learned to play from an elderly gentleman that was a volunteer. And NO, he was not a perv. We also played washers. Good Times.

Posted by: olddog in mo at May 28, 2016 06:00 PM (Dhht7)

13 11
I have to admit I'm enjoying the chess threads. Question though, is
there a decent freeware chess program out there that can be used with
these setups, (and the notation mentioned in last week's thread)?

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at May 28, 2016 05:57 PM (ns1FV)
\
I used to play Chess Master 2000 back in the day. It was probably the most popular chess program out there. There are more recent versions available. And at the higher levels it roundly kicked my ass.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 28, 2016 06:02 PM (vvmPQ)

14 I also had Battle Chess which was a "fun program" as well as a chess program.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 28, 2016 06:03 PM (vvmPQ)

15 14 I also had Battle Chess which was a "fun program" as well as a chess program.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at May 28, 2016 06:03 PM (vvmPQ)

I had that too. Good times. Got my ass handed to me plenty.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 28, 2016 06:04 PM (0mRoj)

16 4 And they just won the game 8-7. Not sure I've ever seen anything quite like that.
Posted by: HH at May 28, 2016 05:35 PM (DrCtv)

Sounds suspicious.
Posted by: washrivergal at May 28, 2016 05:39 PM (CFc5L)

They must have cheated and used a baseball engine.

Posted by: rickl at May 28, 2016 06:09 PM (sdi6R)

17 Breaking news! I solved two of the chess.com daily puzzles this week (after a couple of false starts). Does anyone know if there is more than one solution to those puzzles? I think I see a legitimate move but the machine says wrong. It may be personal.

The other news is I DID NOT lose to the computer on a chess.com game. It took 84 moves before the computer called it a draw. That I didn't make any fatal errors is proof that God is merciful or at least has a sense of humor.

Posted by: JTB at May 28, 2016 06:12 PM (V+03K)

18 That endgame--not just White to play and win, but has to "win, win, win"! That makes it harder. I found the (mere) win, but to triple that...

Posted by: Philip at May 28, 2016 06:14 PM (khA6h)

19 First one is simply Q takes E5./Second one is simply C4, Knight moves, and C5 winning the Bishop. 3rd one is QF3. If rook x F3, rook h2+, Kg1, Rook(E) to G2# , and if Rook takes F2, Queen takes H3+, KG1, QH3, KG1, QG3+, KH1, Rookx F2, Qg1, Qh3+, QH2, Qxh2#. Last one is RookC7, if B1Queen promotion, Ba2#, King moves, Bxb1, etc.

Posted by: blogforce one at May 28, 2016 06:25 PM (gZgzB)

20 I had Battle Chess as well, but after the novelty wore off played it straight.

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 06:27 PM (3wHFl)

21 11 I have to admit I'm enjoying the chess threads. Question though, is there a decent freeware chess program out there that can be used with these setups, (and the notation mentioned in last week's thread)?

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at May 28, 2016 05:57 PM (ns1FV)

I'll tell you the one I use, the Tarrasch Chess GUI. Download from here:

http://www.triplehappy.com

It's simple and easy to use.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 06:31 PM (UHKOQ)

22 I learnt chess in Washington Sq. Park in NYC when I was a little mid watching my dad play after he licked me up from nursery school. I schooled a lot of byatches there many years later.

Posted by: blogforce one at May 28, 2016 06:32 PM (gZgzB)

23 Kid picked .

Posted by: blogforce one at May 28, 2016 06:32 PM (gZgzB)

24 18 That endgame--not just White to play and win, but has to "win, win, win"! That makes it harder. I found the (mere) win, but to triple that...
Posted by: Philip at May 28, 2016 06:14 PM (khA6h)

You can just slam the pieces down really hard when you move them, that'll count for the triple.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 06:33 PM (UHKOQ)

25 We also played washers. Good Times.
Posted by: olddog in mo at May 28, 2016 06:00 PM (Dhht7)

How do you play washers? Is it a board game?

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 06:35 PM (UHKOQ)

26 5 >>> The decision tree of this problem consists of two main branches. See if you can complete both.

Are these variations by black?

Posted by: fluffy at May 28, 2016 05:43 PM (2hcmo)

Not sure how I answer that. So I'll say this: once Black makes his first move, there are two reasonable responses by White, hence, two main branches on the decision tree.

Hope this helps.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 06:39 PM (UHKOQ)

27 In the 3rd problem,1... Qe3.
If 2 RxQ, then 2...Rh2+ 3. Kg1 Reg2++.
If 2 Qd3, then 2...RxR++.
If 2 Rg3, then 2...Rh2++.
If 2 Rf3, then 2...Rh2++ also.
If 2 Rh4, then 2...Qf3+ and mate the next move.
If 2 Rh2, then 2...RxR(h2)++.
If 2 RxR, then 2...QxR(h3)+ 3. Kg1 Qg3+ 4 Kh1 (4. Rg2 gives qxR++) ...RxR 5 Qg1 and then either 5... Qf3+ 6 Qg2 QxQ++ or 5... Qh3+ 6 Qh2 QxQ++
If 2 QxR, then 2...QxR+ and mate the next move.

I think that covers everything. Can't see any other possibilities.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 06:45 PM (XSLU2)

28 The first one is easy, but the second one is puzzling. 1. c4 Nxc4 2. Rxd5 but Black is still two pawns up. I'm not sure how to proceed from there.

Posted by: rickl at May 28, 2016 06:46 PM (sdi6R)

29 >>> I see a legitimate move but the machine says wrong. It may be personal.

I had that today. Grabbed a piece, but checkmate was the right move.

Posted by: fluffy at May 28, 2016 06:50 PM (2hcmo)

30 Black to play and win...

1. Qe7 Rxf2
2. Rxf2 Qg1
3. Qe4#

or

1. Qe7 Rxf2
2. Rxf2 Qg4
3. Qe1#

D.GOOCH

Posted by: GOOCH at May 28, 2016 06:50 PM (cxLzw)

31 28: after 1. c4 Nxc4 then 2 RxN as the night at d5 is now unprotected.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 06:51 PM (XSLU2)

32 I'm not doing so well this week. I have no idea about that endgame.

With "Black to play and win", the best I can come up with is Rxc2 followed by Qxa2.

Posted by: rickl at May 28, 2016 06:55 PM (sdi6R)

33 28 The first one is easy, but the second one is puzzling. 1. c4 Nxc4 2. Rxd5 but Black is still two pawns up.

Posted by: rickl at May 28, 2016 06:46 PM (sdi6R)

With 2. Rxd5, White has just gained an entire piece for his 'c' pawn that Black took last move.

So you figured out one of the branches of the solution. Good work.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 06:55 PM (UHKOQ)

34 For the second one, white rook at E1 to E6?

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at May 28, 2016 06:59 PM (hVdx9)

35 What about my solution in #27 above?

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:00 PM (XSLU2)

36 If 1. Qe7...

I can see a scenario where White ends up Queen versus Rook (if white sacrifices the queen)...I'm not sure that's good enough to 'win' though.

Posted by: GOOCH at May 28, 2016 07:01 PM (cxLzw)

37 Missed a step in the second scenario:

3. Qe4+ Kg1
4. Qg2#

Of course, both scenarios are probably wrong for some stupid thing I'm overlooking. D.GOOCH

Posted by: GOOCH at May 28, 2016 07:05 PM (cxLzw)

38 First scenario, that is. D.GOOCH

Posted by: GOOCH at May 28, 2016 07:06 PM (cxLzw)

39 34 For the second one, white rook at E1 to E6?

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at May 28, 2016 06:59 PM (hVdx9)

There's a better solution.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:07 PM (UHKOQ)

40 And that presumes the queen doesn't move to g1... D.GOOCH

Posted by: GOOCH at May 28, 2016 07:07 PM (cxLzw)

41 #27 - that looks pretty complete. Nice work.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:08 PM (UHKOQ)

42 Oh, missed one possibility, but it doesn't help
2. Kg1 RxR dblch 3. KxR Qf2++
And any Q move other than Qd3 results in 2...QxR+ and mate the next move.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:08 PM (XSLU2)

43 ...and Re1 is also followed by QxR+ and mate the next move, whereas on Rg1, QxR isn't + but ++.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:10 PM (XSLU2)

44 Oh duh. White knight to C4. I suck at chess when sober, let alone when I have been drinking.

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at May 28, 2016 07:12 PM (hVdx9)

45 I remember hearing a story about drinking chess: you had to drink the piece you captured. Drinks ran from shot glasses for pawns up to a magnum of campaign for the queen. First thing white did was sacrifice his queen, black passed out six moves later.

Posted by: Socratease at May 28, 2016 07:13 PM (2GbWn)

46 Knight jumps queen!

Bishop jumps queen!

Pawns jump queen!

*Gangbang*!

Posted by: King Louis XVI at May 28, 2016 07:13 PM (v9gSJ)

47 I presume Qe7 doesn't work because it doesn't necessarily yield a mate. Qe3 is nice - well done evan. D.GOOCH

Posted by: GOOCH at May 28, 2016 07:13 PM (cxLzw)

48

I'll tell you the one I use, the Tarrasch Chess GUI. Download from here:

http://www.triplehappy.com

It's simple and easy to use.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 06:31 PM (UHKOQ)

Thanks. I did some searching around, and found Winboard before you responded. I'm testing it now....seems to work ok so far.

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at May 28, 2016 07:14 PM (ns1FV)

49 ...and all pawn moves are irrelvant. Now THAT should cover everything.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:15 PM (XSLU2)

50 Wow. That white knight has a chance to really make life difficult for black.

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale at May 28, 2016 07:15 PM (hVdx9)

51 Took me about an hour to work all that out, GOOCH.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:16 PM (XSLU2)

52 Thanks. I did some searching around, and found Winboard before you responded. I'm testing it now....seems to work ok so far.

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at May 28, 2016 07:14 PM (ns1FV)

Yeah, I used to use Winboard, but I've found Tarrasch much easier to use for my purposes, which is mainly to set up positions and analyze them with the included chess engine, Stockfish.

If you find Winboard works for you, great, YMMV and all that. It's a good app.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:20 PM (UHKOQ)

53 I used Winboard at FreeChess.org (FICS) way back. I liked it.

Posted by: fluffy at May 28, 2016 07:24 PM (2hcmo)

54 30 Gooch I get what your doing as

.......... Qe7
RxRf2, RxRf2
Qg4, Qe1#
Qg1
Gaining no advantage ,

I'm not finding anything for black

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:26 PM (3wHFl)

55 Took me forever to find the key move for the endgame:

1. Rc7

This prevents the Black king from capturing the Bishop and sets up a nice trap. If 1 ...Pb8 = Q, then 2. Ba2 dis ch, and takes the queen off on the next move (and also prevents Pa7 as well).

Then the rook captures the other pawn at leisure, and with the rook and king endgame (and the extra bishop can help or stay on the sideline), White wraps things up after a short chasedown.

Whereas if 1... Pa7, then BxP dis ch with the same effect, only then the rook gets rid of the b-file pawn by c7-b7 and then takes on the next move.

Too bad the Black king is so far from his pawns to matter.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:28 PM (XSLU2)

56 I was going to post my solutions when the comments reach 100, but it's so slow today, we may never get there. So I will post them at 8PM Eastern/5PM Pacific.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:30 PM (UHKOQ)

57 Too bad the Black king is so far from his pawns to matter.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:28 PM (XSLU2)

Right. And that's probably the main reason why White can avoid losing in this position.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:32 PM (UHKOQ)

58 Shot Glass Chess set: I have it. I like to call it the "self-equalizing Chess set." The better player will take more pieces and drink more early, and depending on how well he holds his liquor, that will give the lesser player a chance to catch up!

Posted by: YYYMale at May 28, 2016 07:33 PM (D/SQY)

59 OM, the other place I go to some one would go

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:35 PM (3wHFl)

60 Here

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:35 PM (3wHFl)

61 Next

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:35 PM (3wHFl)

62 Moving

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:36 PM (3wHFl)

63 Oh, almost forgot, if Black moves his king instead of one of the two pawns on the 1st move, White can still play 2 Ba2 and run both pawns down in one of two ways:

1. Four rook moves (2 moves, 2 captures), or

Let the rook "wall off" the black king and then move the King all the way down to run down the black pawns.

Then the hunt for the Black King can begin.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:36 PM (XSLU2)

64 To

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:36 PM (3wHFl)

65 100

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:36 PM (3wHFl)

66 Ha! Give it up, Skip! Wait until 8.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:38 PM (UHKOQ)

67 55 Took me forever to find the key move for the endgame:

1. Rc7

This prevents the Black king from capturing the Bishop and sets up a nice trap. If 1 ...Pb8 = Q, then 2. Ba2 dis ch, and takes the queen off on the next move (and also prevents Pa7 as well).
Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:28 PM (XSLU2)

That looks brilliant. That position had me completely stumped.

Posted by: rickl at May 28, 2016 07:40 PM (sdi6R)

68 Wait a minute......you played with her WHAT??

Posted by: Arthur Fonzarelli at May 28, 2016 07:42 PM (wedPR)

69 So Evan has it
.........Qe7
RxQ, Rh3ch
Kg1, Rg2mate

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:45 PM (3wHFl)

70 Once I takes your White Privileges, I automatically WIN!

Posted by: BlackSideMatters at May 28, 2016 07:45 PM (wedPR)

71 63 Oh, almost forgot, if Black moves his king instead of one of the two pawns on the 1st move...

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 07:36 PM (XSLU2)

No. Meaning, Black can see that moving his King is an instant loser, so he knows he has to try something else.

I just watched a bit of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khaaaan and this position is like the situation at the end: his ship is battered, damaged beyond repair, but with his last dying breath, Khan can activate the Genesis device, and turn it into a weapon that will destroy both himself and the Enterprise. Which is basically what Black is doing by trying to set up a possible stalemate.

Solutions posted in about 10 minutes.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:46 PM (UHKOQ)

72 Oh heck, I'll post 'em now. Hold on...

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:47 PM (UHKOQ)

73 I was kidding, I didn't get to the endgame yet, oh well I will look at the problem before looking at the answer

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:49 PM (3wHFl)

74 so shot glass chess' goal is to be so wrecked by the end you don't mind losing?

Posted by: sven10077 at May 28, 2016 07:50 PM (g8Hfr)

75 solutions now up.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:51 PM (UHKOQ)

76 What does "White wins material, like, right now." mean?

I've been playing chess since the 6th grade- casual like- so it's been a number of years, but I just don't know what "wins material" means.....

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 28, 2016 07:51 PM (br2jI)

77 Hello, everyone. I'll be here until my plane leaves.

Posted by: Iforgot at May 28, 2016 07:53 PM (WVVpN)

78 77 Posted by: Iforgot at May 28, 2016 07:53 PM (WVVpN)

There are worse places to be than stuck at 77....

I'm stuck at 10077

Posted by: sven10077 at May 28, 2016 07:55 PM (g8Hfr)

79 I will contribute a chess story.
Decades ago I toured with Ray Charles (low pay, but, Ray Charles).
Ray played chess. Yes, a blind man can play chess.
I was a newbie and Ray needed some fresh, so, one of Ray's guys comes to my hotel room door, knocks, and says "Mr. Charles would like to play chess. We understand that you play".
What am I gonna say, "no"? I don't think so.
So, I go to Mr. Charles' suite and we start playing. Ray is drinking Wild Turkey, neat.
He is absolutely killing me, and I always thought I was no slouch. I am down to about 3 pawns, a knight, and my king and queen.
Ray gets up to take a pee.
I move one of his pawns, smiling at his minders, of course.
Ray comes back, places his hands over the board, studies for a moment.
Then says "So, where you workin' TOMORROW night?"

Posted by: navybrat at May 28, 2016 07:56 PM (w7KSn)

80 76 What does "White wins material, like, right now." mean?

I've been playing chess since the 6th grade- casual like- so it's been a number of years, but I just don't know what "wins material" means.....

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 28, 2016 07:51 PM (br2jI)

Well, "right now" was a hint that he could win material on his move, he didn't have to set up anything, it was just there for the taking.

And "wins material" means that a player can capture a piece without his opponent recapturing and thus evening things up.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:57 PM (UHKOQ)

81 Here is how I get the end game
K-K8, K-R3
R-Kn6, K-R2
K-B1, K-R3
R-Kn5,K-R3
R-R5 mate

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 07:58 PM (3wHFl)

82 Posted by: navybrat at May 28, 2016 07:56 PM (w7KSn)

That's a great story.

I played a blind guy once. He had a special board with raised squares so he could follow the diagonal, and of course, every piece felt different.

We drew. It was kind of a boring game, actually. Some games are like that.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 08:00 PM (UHKOQ)

83 Hey everybody.

Sorry to threadjack, but is anyone else watching the Mets vs the Dodgers right now? It looks like the Mets pitcher's pitch struck a Dodger, the ump threw out the pitcher, and then the Mets manager went apeshit and got himself thrown out as well.

The *one* thing I have the sports gene about is watching Dodger/Angels games in the summer... anyway if anyone can tell me if that's what happened or what else, thanks in advance.

Posted by: qdpsteve at May 28, 2016 08:02 PM (ntObR)

84 get back to me when you can play 3 dimensional chess as i do...

Posted by: Barack Obama at May 28, 2016 08:02 PM (qeqxZ)

85 I cans play checkers!! Now queen me!!!

Posted by: H. Clinton at May 28, 2016 08:03 PM (ntObR)

86 Why are all these pieces REQUIRED to give up all their lives and moves for the 1% in the royalty?!! This game musta been designed by Goldman Sachs!! When I'm president EVERYONE will be a pawn!

Posted by: Bernie at May 28, 2016 08:04 PM (ntObR)

87 OM, Thanks for posting the answers. I got the first one (it was easy but not a given for me) and will study the others.

Posted by: JTB at May 28, 2016 08:06 PM (V+03K)

88 Have the first move wrong
K-K7, P-Kn4;
R-Kn6 ch, K-R3
K-B6,P-Kn4
R-R5 mate

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 08:09 PM (3wHFl)

89 so, where's the OT thread for the rest us to raise hell in?

Posted by: redc1c4 at May 28, 2016 08:10 PM (qeqxZ)

90 Mets? not when Bridge On the River Kwai (1957)is on.

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 08:11 PM (3wHFl)

91 89 so, where's the OT thread for the rest us to raise hell in?
Posted by: redc1c4 at May 28, 2016 08:10 PM (qeqxZ)

Right here. This is not exclusively a chess thread. It is a chess/open thread.

So have at it.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 08:18 PM (UHKOQ)

92 Where did everyone go?

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 08:18 PM (3wHFl)

93 OM, is my solution for the endgame wrong?

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 08:19 PM (3wHFl)

94 88 Have the first move wrong
K-K7, P-Kn4;
R-Kn6 ch, K-R3
K-B6,P-Kn4
R-R5 mate

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 08:09 PM (3wHFl)

No. I think you have things mixed up. The Black pawns move down the diagram, not up. So they're about to be queens unless White does something to stop them.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 08:21 PM (UHKOQ)

95 Where did everyone go?

Posted by: Skip
****

Booze runs?

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale Running With Scissors at May 28, 2016 08:24 PM (hVdx9)

96 I Ned to quit playing this game and go back to sudoku

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 08:25 PM (3wHFl)

97 Time to go sailing with Capt. Morgan.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at May 28, 2016 08:26 PM (89T5c)

98 Don't know qdpsteve. Never get to watch baseball as I have no cable.
But if you're a fan of the game and remember last years post season it was dejavu all over again.
The Royals scored 7, yes 7, in the bottom of the 9th to beat the White Sox.
Bad thing, now have probably lost Perez for at least a few games. Took a shoulder to the thigh from Cuthbert while catching a pop foul.
Already lost Moose for the season and Gordon for 5 or 6 weeks on their collision.
Would you guys please quit running into each other.
Starting 4 or 5 guys every day who weren't on the opening day roster is not a good route back to the playoffs.

Posted by: teej at May 28, 2016 08:31 PM (oScPm)

99 I noticed all the threads are slow today. Don't know if it's the holiday, if people are tired after the political stuff this week, just plain tired, or some combination. I generally avoid the political threads for the sake of my blood pressure but I understand things got a bit 'testy'. (Notice the profound understatement.)That can take its toll on the weekend threads.

Posted by: JTB at May 28, 2016 08:32 PM (V+03K)

100 People are traveling, spending time with family, or like me, getting drunk.

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale Running With Scissors at May 28, 2016 08:33 PM (hVdx9)

101 Very nice with that endgame. Didn't even consider the possibility of Black getting a stalemate out of it.

Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 08:35 PM (XSLU2)

102 I'd beat Hillary at drinking chess by loosing so many pieces so fast it would be like doing 5 shots straight.

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 08:42 PM (3wHFl)

103 99 I noticed all the threads are slow today. Don't know if it's the holiday,...

Posted by: JTB at May 28, 2016 08:32 PM (V+03K)

Oh, duh. I should've known, this is the Memorial Day weekend. That has to be the reason. Everybody is probably out stuffing themselves with BBQ and drinking mass quantities of beer.

Maybe that's what I should be doing.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 08:44 PM (UHKOQ)

104 Late to the game, but haven't read the answers.

First game: Qe2xKne6
Black is down a Kn for2 pawns, but has a decent position.

Second game:
First thought - c2-c4
Second thought - Bg3-f2

If I had a lot of time on the clock OTB, or was playing CC, I'd look at the the bishop move. I'm going with the pawn move.

Third game: Skip

Fourth game:
Don't see how to prevent black queening a pawn, so must checkmate in spite of that. Got to box in the black king, so: Kd8-e8

re: Correspondence Chess. It's been ruined by Computers. Played it from the 1970s- 1990s, on and off.
Don't care to match my PC/chess engine against the other guys PC/chess engine. It's a an unfortunate thing.

Posted by: jbarntt at May 28, 2016 08:48 PM (qI7fD)

105 >>>84 get back to me when you can play 3 dimensional chess as i do...
Posted by: Barack Obama at May 28, 2016 08:02 PM (qeqxZ)

Oh, yeah, Boss, you're, like, SO.WINNING. *snicker*

Posted by: ISIS, Iran, China, Cuba and Russia at May 28, 2016 08:51 PM (wedPR)

106 101 Very nice with that endgame. Didn't even consider the possibility of Black getting a stalemate out of it.
Posted by: Evan3457 at May 28, 2016 08:35 PM (XSLU2)

Indeed. That position was even more devious than I thought.

Posted by: rickl at May 28, 2016 08:52 PM (sdi6R)

107 >>>86 Why are all these pieces REQUIRED to give up all their lives and moves for the 1% in the royalty?!! This game musta been designed by Goldman Sachs!! When I'm president EVERYONE will be a pawn!
Posted by: Bernie at May 28, 2016 08:04 PM (ntObR)

If elected, I will ensure that ALL are entitled to be game-designers of Goldman-Sachs, as I was.

Posted by: Princess Lieawatha Warren at May 28, 2016 08:59 PM (wedPR)

108 I noticed all the threads are slow today. Don't know if it's the holiday,...

Posted by: JTB at May 28, 2016 08:32 PM (V+03K)

Oh, duh. I should've known, this is the Memorial Day weekend. That has to be the reason. Everybody is probably out stuffing themselves with BBQ and drinking mass quantities of beer.

Maybe that's what I should be doing.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 08:44 PM (UHKOQ)

Alas, I'm at work tonight, tomorrow night and Monday night. Had all my fun yesterday fondling guns and ammo.

Posted by: Blano at May 28, 2016 09:01 PM (heN73)

109 Alas, I'm at work tonight, tomorrow night and Monday night. Had all my fun yesterday fondling guns and ammo.

Posted by: Blano
****

And I feel so dirty! You said you'd call, but you didn't. (sobs)

Posted by: Guns and Ammo at May 28, 2016 09:03 PM (hVdx9)

110 100 People are traveling, spending time with family, or like me, getting drunk.
Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale Running With Scissors at May 28, 2016 08:33 PM (hVdx9)

Oh, crap. I have a coupon for a grilled chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A that expires at the end of the month. But I'm now too drunk to go use it.

Posted by: rickl at May 28, 2016 09:05 PM (sdi6R)

111 82 Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 08:00 PM (UHKOQ)

The first rated game I ever played was against a former U. S. Blind Champion. I won.

The second rated game I ever played, later that day, was against a deaf man. I won that.

The third rated game I ever played, the final round of the day, was against a garden-variety college student with glasses. That one I lost.

Posted by: Philip at May 28, 2016 09:05 PM (bAMqQ)

112 Queen forks and pawn walls never out of date
Hearts full of passion, jealousy, and H8
White needs to castle, and Black must have his mate
That, no one can deny

It's still the same old story
A fight for checkmate and glory
A case of draw or die
The world will always welcome en passants as time goes by

Posted by: Sam the Chess Grandmaster at May 28, 2016 09:06 PM (wedPR)

113 Oh, crap. I have a coupon for a grilled chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A that expires at the end of the month. But I'm now too drunk to go use it.

Posted by: rickl
****

If only they delivered...

Posted by: Guns and Ammo at May 28, 2016 09:08 PM (hVdx9)

114 Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 07:57 PM (UHKOQ)

Oh, so the W Queen takes B Knight you mean? Got it.
I was thinking you were looking for a mate.

I've been playing a long time, but I know zero about the language of chess...

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 28, 2016 09:09 PM (br2jI)

115 >>>And I feel so dirty! You said you'd call, but you didn't. (sobs)
Posted by: Guns and Ammo at May 28, 2016 09:03 PM (hVdx9)

At least you weren't stealth-assaulted, like I was......

*sniffle, sniffle*

Posted by: Michelle Fields at May 28, 2016 09:09 PM (wedPR)

116 And BTW, thanks a lot for this weekly post, I really like it, and you do a great job!

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 28, 2016 09:10 PM (br2jI)

117 Rickl, I am in the same position as you. I have a $25 CFA gift card and I cannot drive.

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale Running With Scissors at May 28, 2016 09:13 PM (hVdx9)

118 >>�Oh, so the W Queen takes B Knight you mean? Got it.
I was thinking you were looking for a mate.

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 28, 2016 09:09 PM (br2jI)

Yes, yesssss......*begins panting* go on......

Posted by: Occasional Penthouse Letters reader at May 28, 2016 09:13 PM (wedPR)

119 103 ... We try not to travel on holiday weekends. Had too many years of that or covering for our respective offices. Relaxing at home while avoiding the crowds and crazy traffic is a pleasure. A little bit of good bourbon may be involved after the Book Thread tomorrow. And if that tropical storm hits our area, as predicted at the moment, it is an excuse to stay in and read. A win-win situation.

Posted by: JTB at May 28, 2016 09:20 PM (V+03K)

120
So far in Chicago 5 dead; 20 wounded.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 28, 2016 09:21 PM (iQIUe)

121 So far in Chicago 5 dead; 20 wounded.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang!
****

Slow weekend

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale Running With Scissors at May 28, 2016 09:23 PM (hVdx9)

122 Bridge on the River Kwai is on (or on soon, depending on time zone).

For those interested I recommend "Ship of Ghosts" by Hornfischer. Story of the USS Houston and her survivors - she was sunk early in the war in what is now the Indonesia area.

Many of her crew/POWs were on the Burma Railway line. Needless to say, appalling story.

One odd tidbit in the book is the info that Thailand actually changed the name of a section of river so that the location of the large bridge that inspired the movie (bridge was multi-sectional and not made of wood) is now named "Kwai" - it wasn't at the time. Or something like that.

Woman I knew a ways back had a Brit friend whose father was a Burma Railway survivor. He did some sort of memoir, I saw parts of the draft, don't know if it was ever published.

Posted by: rhomboid at May 28, 2016 09:24 PM (QDnY+)

123 Misery Loves Company
A Million Lies
http://preview.tinyurl.com/hxpoow9

Posted by: Tilikum Killer Assault Whale Running With Scissors at May 28, 2016 09:26 PM (hVdx9)

124 There is a good documentary on the actual events of the prisoners building railroads often on the history channel. The brutality of the Japanese is almost unbelievable. But as I wrote yesterday my sympathy for what happened to Imperial Japan is at 0.

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 09:29 PM (3wHFl)

125
Off of Drudge: HILLARY EMAIL MIGRAINE

[more like a stroke]

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 28, 2016 09:30 PM (iQIUe)

126 >>>120
So far in Chicago 5 dead; 20 wounded.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 28, 2016 09:21 PM (iQIUe)

Oh, that's "too bad"! Amazingly, the 5 dead have ALREADY cast votes for Hillary! Clinton for POTUS! Will these miraculous events ever cease to occur?

Posted by: The Notorious DNC at May 28, 2016 09:31 PM (wedPR)

127 Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 28, 2016 09:10 PM (br2jI)

Thank you, I really have a good time putting them together each week, so I'm glad you like them.

Posted by: OregonMuse at May 28, 2016 09:34 PM (UHKOQ)

128 >>>But as I wrote yesterday my sympathy for what happened to Imperial Japan is at 0.
Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 09:29 PM (3wHFl)

Why can't you evolve to the level of morality that I, your good and noble King Barry, exemplify? You H8r.....

Posted by: Barry HUSSEIN 0Bola, ex-POTUS at May 28, 2016 09:34 PM (wedPR)

129 I'm still waiting to hear whether SpaceX has managed to secure the Falcon 9 first stage to the deck of the droneship. One of the legs was damaged on landing and the stage is tilting slightly. There is concern that it could topple over. I don't know whether it is safe for a crew to come aboard under those circumstances.

And on top of that, OCISLY has to race to port ahead of a tropical depression that is forming in the area.

Posted by: rickl at May 28, 2016 09:42 PM (sdi6R)

130 128- Because I've read WWII history as long as I've been able to read.

Posted by: Skip at May 28, 2016 09:44 PM (3wHFl)

131 Wait... I thought this was a pie thread.
This isn't a pie thread?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 28, 2016 09:46 PM (w/iDp)

132 131 MH

Food thread's tomorrow.

Moose out front....

Posted by: speedster1 at May 28, 2016 09:48 PM (vUcdz)

133 there's pie?

I'm listenin'...

Posted by: AltonJackson at May 28, 2016 09:48 PM (KCxzN)

134
Obama Regime Launches Muslim Outreach Office

A temporary position to be abolished come January 2017.

Weasel Zippers

We can only hope

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 28, 2016 09:49 PM (Ozsfq)

135 there's pie?

I'm listenin'...
Posted by: AltonJackson
--------------

It's a Southern thing:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/zd793po

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 28, 2016 09:54 PM (w/iDp)

136 ONT up

Posted by: ManWithNoParty, unperson from Free Market Jesus Paradise at May 28, 2016 09:58 PM (guKsg)

137 o/t joke of the day

dick van dyke says bernie sanders will turn the economy around!

Posted by: concrete girl at May 28, 2016 09:58 PM (ceWrl)

138 nood

this is the nood you've been looking for

Posted by: AltonJackson at May 28, 2016 09:59 PM (KCxzN)

139 Because I've read WWII history as long as I've been able to read.

Posted by: Skip
The house I grew up in was my grandmother's house before she died in 1960 (she bought it in 1939). She worked for the Army Air Corp in WWII, and bought books about the war (because the proceeds went to buy war bonds). Her son (my uncle) was in the Army in Europe in WWII. So I grew up reading books she bought; Guadalcanal Diary, They Were Expendable, American Guerrilla in the Phillipines. She also had a copy of "Darkness at Noon" that I wish I had read years ago.

Posted by: Bossy Conservative...pondering the future at May 28, 2016 10:00 PM (+1T7c)

140 54 30 Gooch I get what your doing as

.......... Qe7
RxRf2, RxRf2
Qg4, Qe1#
Qg1
Gaining no advantage ,

I'm not finding anything for black
------------

Once the rooks are exchanged, the black rook at f2 is no longer threatened by the white queen. The white queen has two legal moves where she can try to defend the king - G1 or G4. She can move anywhere else, but it just hastens white's defeat. If she goes to G1 it is mate when the black queen moves up to the 4th rank,. If she moves to G4 and abandons the first rank, the queen comes all the way down to earn mate. It's all moot, however, since white can claim the rook at e2. White finishes down material, but there is no immediate checkmate (as Evan demonstrates can be had by Qe3!)

D.GOOCH

Posted by: GOOCH at May 28, 2016 10:51 PM (XPybB)

141 All of us bhopes Presdent Obamama visits soldiers of color graves from Bush's invasion of Iraq that had died for that illegal war. Bush lied to these soldiers of color and they belived him, but presdent oblamama has ended these Bush wars with victory. Busk lied and soldiers of color died !!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Mary Clogginstien from Brattleboro, VT at May 28, 2016 11:10 PM (Fbj4h)

142 This

Posted by: Joe Biden at May 29, 2016 08:18 AM (f90cB)

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