Studies for fun and entertainment (2)

by Frederic Friedel
10/4/2022 – Last week we presented you with a second set of unusual and interesting positions. They are clever and somewhat difficult to solve. But all of them are fun. Today you get the solutions, presented in a way that is particluarly easy to follow. You do not have to be a champion player or problem expert to follow.

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

At the bottom of this page you will find all three positions in a replay window where you can follow the moves and analyse with an engine. In the following diagrams you can move the pieces on the board. In the first study the diagram in fact will defend for Black.

The first position we presented looked fairly simple. 

 
William Chess Dude, Discord
White to play and win

Astonishingly, there is only one key move in the above position that will secure a win. Of the four plausible moves only one works: 1.Rh1! Want to know why? Well, it is explained very nicely in this video:

This video was made by Frank Scarpa and appeared on his Youtube channel Chess for Charity. Frank's declared goal is to spread the amazing game of chess while helping those in need. Half of all income earned on YouTube goes directly to charity.

The second position is even simpler.

 
White to play and win

At first glance this looks like an easy win for White. But you soon see problems. Whatever you play Black is going to respond with 1...g2 – and force you to exchange the queen he promotes to on g1 for your rook. There is just one move that will actually lead to a win: 1.Rf3! and after 1...g2 one has to find the anti-intuitive sacrifice 2.Bf1! Here's Frank explanation:

Our final puzzle is all about forks.

 
White to play and win

Black is threatening the dire ...Re1#. White has a powerful family check: 1.Nf5+, attacking the king, queen and rook. However, you soon discover it doesn't work. The only way to win is with 1.Nh5+! Let Frank tell you why:

Please give us your thoughts on the studies and on this form of presentation in the feedback section below. And here are the three positions for you to replay and analyse:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.Rh1! 1.Rf1? Kg8 1.Rb8? 1.g5? 1.Kb3? 1...Kg8 2.Rh6 Kg7 2...Bg7 3.Rxg6 Kf7 4.Rc6 Bf6 5.Kb3 Kg6 3.g5 Kg8
4.Rxh8+! Did you see this? Kxh8 5.Kb3 Kg8 6.Kc4 Kf7 7.Kd5 Ke7 8.Ke5 Kf7 9.Kd6 Kf8 10.Ke6 Kg7 11.Ke7 Kh8 12.Kf8 Kh7 13.Kf7 Kh8 14.Kxg6 Kg8 15.Kh6 Kf7 16.Kh7 Ke6 17.g6 Kf6 18.g7 Ke5 19.g8Q
1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
William Chess Dude-White to play and win-1–02022Discord
Endgame Puzzle-White to play and win-1–02022
Neumann,M-White to play and win-1–01914Chess Amateur
  • Click on the fan icon to switch on an engine which will help with your analysis.
  • And click on the book icon for an alternate layout you might find more useful.

Editor-in-Chief emeritus of the ChessBase News page. Studied Philosophy and Linguistics at the University of Hamburg and Oxford, graduating with a thesis on speech act theory and moral language. He started a university career but switched to science journalism, producing documentaries for German TV. In 1986 he co-founded ChessBase.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.