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< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·
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May-15-10
 | | RandomVisitor: The moves 22...Be4, 24...Bxc2, 26...d4 and 28...d4 are also good improvements for black. |
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May-15-10
 | | johnlspouge: Saturday (Very Difficult)
Short vs Psakhis, 1999 (29...?) Black to play and win.
Material: N for B+P. The White Kf1 has 2 legal moves. The White Ra1 threatens Qa5, so the candidate must threaten Qe1 or Kf1, or have defensive qualities. White also threatens to win a R with 30.Bxe6+ 31.Bxf7+, again suggesting a forceful candidate. The White Be7, Bg4, and Rh6 are loose, and 3 (!) Black pieces threaten Be7. The White Qe1 defends Ra1 against Qa5, Pe5 against Nc6, and Pf2 against Rf7, suggesting that Black should overload Qe1. The Black Kc8 is vulnerable to Bg4xe6+. The obvious 29…Rexe7 30.Rxa5 Nxa5
leaves Black with R+N+P for Q.
Candidates (29...): Rxf2+
29…Rxf2+ 30.Kxf2 [Qxf2 Qxa1+ then 31…Rxe7 wins B+P]
[Kg1 Qb6+ then 31…Rexe7]
30…Qb6+ then 31.Rexe7
Black has N+2P for R, but the White Rh6 is ineffective, and White has 4 P islands. Both Pc7 and Pe5 are weak, permitting both Black B+N to tie a R to defense, to avoid dropping a P.. Black should win eventually by advancing his Q-side Ps or winning Ps. |
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May-15-10
| | johnlspouge: < <Once> wrote: Some days I joke, and some days I'm serious. > I enjoy your wonderfully imaginative posts, <Once>, but I would never want to read them if you did not want to write them. Each morning, I walk my 10 year-old daughter (CG handle <eatitorbeatit>) to the school bus stop. We have a small ritual. Just before she boards the school bus, I say "Carpe Diem", to which she offhandedly replies "Whatever", indicating her boredom with my tiresome parental platitudes. On Tuesday this week, I was distracted and did not say "Carpe Diem". Much to my surprise, she prompted me and made it clear that I was _supposed_ to say it. We never know how much time we have: we can only make the most of it. Let me join others to wish your Mum well. |
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May-15-10
| | johnlspouge: My variation
[Kg1 Qb6+ then 31…Rexe7] should be
[Kg1 Re2 31.Bxe2 Qb6+ then 32…Rexe7]. |
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| May-15-10 | | TheBish: Short vs Psakhis, 1999 Black to play (29...?) "Very Difficult"
Black is up a pawn (with doubled c-pawns for White), but White is threatening Black's queen as well as Bxe6+, winning a pawn and an exchange. On the other hand, White has three pieces hanging (Be7, Bg4 and Rh6) so that could come into play somehow. Candidate moves: Qxa1, Rexe7, Rxf2+
Black could give up his queen for rook and bishop, but it would have to be 29...Rexe7 (not 29...Qxa1 30. Bxe6+ Kb8 31. Qxa1 Rfxe7 32. Bxd5 Rxe5 33. Bxc4) 30. Rxa5 Nxa5, maybe good enough to draw but most likely nothing more. My third candidate proved a little more fruitful. 29...Rxf2+!!
This counter-attack is the best option because it does a number of things: 1) Exposes the White king to checks (namely Qb6+), allowing Black to free his queen with tempo, while also putting the f7 rook out of danger from the white bishop after Bxe6+ in some lines where it isn't captured on f2! Pretty complicated stuff, borne out of desperation, I'm guessing! Now there are several paths to go down: A) 30. Qxf2?? Qxa1+ 31. Ke2 Rxe7 loses a piece, obviously bad. B) 30. Kxf2 Qb6+ leads to either
B1) 31. Kg3 Rxe7 where material is even, but White has many weak pawns and an exposed king, losing in lines like 32. Qe2 Qb2 33. Qe1 Qxc2 or 32. Rb1 Qc7 33. Kf4 Nxe5! 34. Qxe5? Rf7+, winning the queen, or... B2) 31. Qe3 Qxe3+ (simpler than 31...Nxe5!?, which should also win, i.e. 32. Bh3 Rxe7 33. Rxa7 Qxe3+ 34. Kxe3 Nf7 35. Rh4 Bxc2, but not 32. Bc5? Nxg4+ 33. Kf3 Nxe3 34. Bxb6 Nf5 35. Rxg6 hxg6 36. Rxa7 e5) 32. Kxe3 Rxe7 33. Kf4 Rf7+ 34. Ke3 Kd7 and Black's knight and two pawns (at least one passed) will beat White's rook (other pieces being equal), e.g. 35. Bh3 Rf8 36. Rb1 b6 37. Ra1 a5 38. Rb1 Rb8 39. Kf4 b5 40. Rd1 Ke7 41. Ra1 b4! 42. cxb4 axb4 43. Ra6 Nd4 with an easy win. C) 30. Kg1! Re2!!
Only this move wins! This was the hardest move to find. The counter-attack (again!) clears the diagonal to White's king and saves the e6 pawn, since taking it is bad now. Not 30...Qb6 31. Bxe6+ Kc7 32. Bd6+ Kd8 33. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rxe6 and Black can probably draw, but no more. 31. Bxe2
Practically forced, since 31. Qxe2? again loses to 31...Qxa1+ followed by Rxe7, and if 31. Qf1? Qb6+ 32. Kh2 Rf2! wins, as does 31. Qb1 Qxc3! 32. Bxe2 Qe3+ 33. Kf1 Qxh6 (there goes that hanging rook!), or 31. Qd1 Qb6+ 32. Kh2 Rxe5. Finally, if 31. Bxe6+ Kb8 32. Bd6+ Ka8 33. Qd1 Qxc3 34. Rh3 Re3! 35. Bxd5 Rxh3 36. gxh3 Bxc2 37. Qc1 Qd4+ 38. Kh2 Qxd5 39. Qxc2 Nxe5, Black has an easier win here than in the other lines. 31...Qb6+ 32. Kh1 Rxe7 33. Bh5 Qb2! and Black is better here. Time to (finally) see if Black won this, or if this was a note to a missed win. |
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| May-15-10 | | tivrfoa: I found it. Black has to give check otherwise he would lose more material. Giving check with rook, forces the king to capture the rook, because if the queen takes, the a1 rook would be unprotected. Black would lose a rook for a bishop and a pawn. But black has a solid position, would be two pawns ahead and would be attacking two pieces at the same time: c2 and e5. |
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| May-15-10 | | tivrfoa: <dzechiel> if white plays 30. Kg1 Qb6. The queen would be safe and protecting the rook, so the initial plan to exchange the rook for a bishop and a pawn still would work. Other thing is that white can't play Bx6+ because after Kb8 the bishop in e7 would be pinned. |
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May-15-10
 | | kevin86: Funny,I saw the key move almost immediately,but the conclusions were a lot harder. |
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May-15-10
 | | NM JRousselle: This was a GREAT puzzle--the best in a LONG, LONG time. There was no forced sequence that led to mate or win of material. Instead, the puzzle required a player to be able to evaluate the resulting position. Rf2 is clearly best. |
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| May-15-10 | | ZZpatzer: <Once> I usually find your posts informative, as today's is, but even more, your post is enlightening. Thank You. And all the best to you and your family, you're in my prayers today. |
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May-15-10
 | | Jimfromprovidence: 29 Be7 is such a nice move, I was looking for a way how black could have prevented it in the first place. <Random Visitor> provides the answer with 28...d4. 
click for larger view Now, white cannot play 29 Be7 because black now has 29...Qxe5, winning a second pawn.
click for larger view And, if white tries to protect the pawn with 29 Bd6, black has 29...Qxc3, forcing a queen exchange. 
click for larger view <Once>, my best to you and your family. |
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May-15-10
 | | patzer2: Actually, I wonder if Black's 29...Rfxe7 was really so bad? Instead of 31...Nc6??, dropping a pawn due to the pin, Black can play 31...Rd8  or 31...Kb8 with reasonable drawing prospects.Of course the recommended 29...Rxf2!, as today's Saturday solution, leaves Black a bit better after 29... Rxf2+! 30. Kg1 Re2 31.
Bxe2 Qb6+ 32. Kh1 Rxe7 33. Bh5 Bxc2  . |
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| May-15-10 | | VincentL: "Very difficult".
I have looked at this for at least 20 minutes.... and will have to give up today. I have considered 31....Rxf2+, Qxa1, and even Rxe7.... but cannot make progess starting with any of these moves. I am sure this starts with Rxf2+ or Qxa1... Let's check. |
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May-15-10
 | | JohnBoy: <Jimfromprovidence>: After 28...d4 29.Be7 Qxe5 30.Bxe6+ still works. Black cannot take the bishop, and moving the king is not any better (31... Kb8 32.Qxe5+ Nxe5 33.Bd6+) I think we need to revisit the drawing board. |
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| May-15-10 | | VincentL: Firstly <Once>I, and I am sure everyone else on here, hopes that your mum will continue to respond to treatment, and recover as well and as quickly as is possible. Back to the puzzle - after 31.... Rxf2+ 32. Kg1 I couldn't find a way forward. As the gmae didn't continue this way, let's see what the other posts have to say. |
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May-15-10
 | | chrisowen: I hold Psakhis in awe, right up to point about choice Nc6. Open Lev alley 32.Qxd5 drips centipawns, monarch of the g4 dangle nicely the
bishop it pining the king and then triumph. Black is on shaky grounds and takes the highland whisking away sight of the backcast ruler. Short measures his approach and canvasses the land staging a series of quietly
dramatic moves. 29..Rxf2 affording of I ditching the rook would have given black some backchat yet Nigel's attack held sway. |
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May-15-10
| | chrisowen: <Once> Good luck with your Mum battling cancer, I hope she recovers from it well. |
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May-15-10
 | | Yelena Dembo: A wonderful game! |
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May-15-10
| | Jimfromprovidence: <JohnBoy>< After 28...d4 29.Be7 Qxe5 30.Bxe6+ still works. Black cannot take the bishop, and moving the king is not any better (31... Kb8 32.Qxe5+ Nxe5 33.Bd6+) I think we need to revisit the drawing board>. Don't forget that the rook is still on d7, so 30 Bxe6 comes without check. So 31 Qxe1+ Rxe1 32 Rxe7 Bxd7+ 33 Rxd7 gives black a bigger advantage.
click for larger view |
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| May-15-10 | | wals: Rybka 3 1-cpu: 3071mb hash: depth 17:
White. Down a pawn. A Bishop for a Knight.
-0.98 29.Be7. Available -
1.  (-0.38): 29.Kg1 Qb6 30.Bh3 d4 31.Bd6 Qb2 32.cxd4 Qxd4 33.Ra3 Qd5 34.Rc3 Nd4 35.Rh4 b5 36.Kh1 Nxc2 37.Qb1 Rb7 38.Qc1 2. (-0.41): 29.Bd6 Qb6 30.Kg1 Qb2 31.Rc1 b6 32.Rh3 Rg7 33.Rg3 Nd8 34.Bh3 Reg8 35.Qd2 h5 36.Kh1 h4 3. (-0.44): 29.Qe3 Qa4 30.Ra2 b6 31.Kg1 Kb7 32.Qe1 Qa5 33.Qe3 Rg7 34.Kh1 Nd8 35.Bd1 Qa4 36.Rh3 Reg8 4. (-0.48): 29.f3 d4 30.cxd4 Qxe1+[] 31.Kxe1 Nxd4[] 32.Ra2 Rd7 33.c3 Nb5 34.Bb2 Kb8 35.f4 Nc7 36.Bf3 Nd5 37.Bxd5 Rxd5 38.Ba3 a5 39.Bd6+ Ka7 40.g4 5. (-0.61): 29.g3 d4 30.cxd4 Qxe1+ 31.Rxe1 Nxd4 32.Rc1 b6 33.c3 Nf5 34.Bxf5 Bxf5 35.Kg2 Be4+ 36.Kg1 Rd7 37.Bd6 a5 38.Re1 Bd3 39.f3 Black's blunder-
+0.71 29...Rfxe7. Rxf2 -0.99 the only move.
Black material, Rook, Knight and pawn for a Queen.
+2.23 31...Nc6. available,
1. (0.58): 31...Kc7 32.Bh5 Bxh5 33.Rxh5 Nc6 34.Qc1 b6 35.f3 Nb8 36.Ke2 Nd7 37.Qg5 a5 38.Rh6 Rf7 39.Kd2 Ree7 40.Qe3 Re8 41.Qg5 Ree7 42.Qe3 Re8 43.Qg5 Ree7 44.Qe3 Re8 45.Qg5 Ree7 46.Qe3 Re8 2. (0.66): 31...Rd8 32.Bh5 Rg8 33.Bxg6 Rxg6 34.Rh5 Nc6 35.g3 b6 36.Kg2 Kb7 37.Qf4 Rgg7 38.Rh6 Rg6 3.  (0.78): 31...Kb8 32.Qg5 Rg7 33.Kg1 Nc6 34.Bh5 Reg8 35.Bxg6 hxg6 36.Qg4 Nd8 37.g3 b6 38.Kg2 Kc7 39.Rh1 Kb7 40.f4 Re7 41.Rb1 Nc6 4. (0.79): 31...Rd7 32.Qe2 Nc6 33.Bh5 Rg7 34.Bxg6 hxg6 35.Qg4 a5 36.Ke2 a4 37.Kd1 Kd7 38.Kc1 Rf8 39.f4 Ne7 40.Kb2 Nf5 41.Rh1 Kc6 42.Ka3 5. (0.88): 31...Kd8 32.Qg5 Nc6 33.Bh5 Kc7 34.Bxg6 Rg8 35.f4 a5 36.Ke1 a4 37.Kd1 Reg7 38.f5 exf5 39.Qxf5 hxg6 40.Qe6 Rd8 41.Kc1 Rdd7 42.Kb2 Rge7 43.Qxg6 Rxe5 44.Qf6 Re2 45.g4 a3+ 46.Kb1 a2+ Black material, Rook & Knight for Queen.
+4.01 38...Bxe2.available-
1.  (2.59): 38...Nd7 39.Re3 Rxe3 40.Qxe3 Nc5 41.Qc3[] Na4 42.Qh8+[] Rc8 43.Qe5+[] Ka7 44.f4[] Bxc2 45.Qe2[] Nb6 46.Bxb7[] Kxb7 47.Qxc2[] Rc7 48.Qe4+ Kb8 49.c5 Rxc5 50.Qxh7 Rc7 51.Qe4 Rc1+ 52.Kf2 2. (2.70): 38...Ree7 39.Re3
3. (2.78): 38...Nf7 39.c5 Re5 40.c4 Kc8
Black's position worsens,
+5.46 40...Ka8. available,
1. (4.13): 40...Ba4 41.Qf6[] Ka7 42.f4[] Nd7 43.Qxe7[] Rxe7 44.Rxe7 h5 45.f5 Kb8 46.Kf2 Kc8 47.Rh7 2. (4.51): 40...Bd1 41.Qf6 Kc8 42.Qf5+ Nd7
3. (4.60): 40...Kc8 41.Qf6
4. (4.60): 40...Bg6 41.Qf6[]
5. (4.65): 40...Kc7 41.Qf6
Black resigns move ...42. |
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May-15-10
 | | M.Hassan: <chiaroscuro: Your line may equalize but 30...Rxf2+ wins! You do not see it difficult because you did not see it> In fact I saw that move but saw that it just saves the queen and white still will have upper hand. You mention 30...Rxf2+ wins! who wins?. The game was won by white not black. I am not clear by your statement. |
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| May-15-10 | | VincentL: <M.Hassan>See <The Bish>'s analysis, particularly the C Line. 30... Re2 is the move I (and apparently several others) missed. |
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| May-15-10 | | Dr. J: <VincentL: Firstly, Once, I, and I am sure everyone else on here, hopes that your mum will continue to respond to treatment, and recover as well and as quickly as is possible.> Motion carries unanimously. Even <chrisowen> was inspired to achieve comprehensibility. I agree with <NM JRousselle>: This is a superb puzzle, requiring both intricate tactics and subtle evaluation. And I even think the difficulty evaluation (3 1/2 stars) was right. CHESSGAMES.COM, please note! |
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May-16-10
| | chrisowen: Just <Dr.J> a cob yanked in place at close of business. Eccentric I may be but dont palm ergo me off as fireproof. Late at night my grandfather Bob used to provide my Dad James' cancer a drugs cocktail. It sticks in my memory before he passed away, I also remember his wonky glasses fondly. |
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Mar-28-12
 | | wordfunph: from the book Interview with a Grandmaster, GM Short recalled this game.. <When I played in the Isle of Man a couple of years ago (1999) I had a lost position against Psakhis, with 15 moves to make in one minute. I had a lost position, but I was still extremely calm. Maybe it was because I was totally lost. If I had had a slightly better position, then I would have felt the pressure, but in that situation I felt that I had nothing to lose. At this stage he (Psakhis) had minutes left on his clock. And I began to launch one tactical blow after another. I think that sometimes, with a little bit of practice, it is possible to make a lot of moves in a very short space of time.> |
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