It’s Your Move #16
“I can’t see you saving this game,” said the player with Black. “I’m a rook up already,
and I’m going to get a second queen for good measure.”
“You’re celebrating your victory too soon,” came the unexpected retort. “I’m the one who’s going to save the game, and you definitely won’t manage to.”
Indeed White won by spectacular means.*
White to play and win
*The example given here is taken from Soviet Chess Primer by Ilya Maizelis soon to be published in English.
When our columnist saw the position he assumed that it arose in a game over the board.
Now it turns out that it is a composition. The author was a German chess master and happened to be the brother of Dr. Emanuel Lasker, Second World Champion-Ed.
Berthold Lasker, Deutsches Wochenschach 1890
Updated 04.10.2023
Man that position was ill!!! Like I knew there was some positional elements in the position that favoured white. Well actually all positional elements favoured white except for the strength of black’s army and Connected pass pawns.
1. Pawn is one square too many away from queening
2. Pass pawns blocks it’s own queen making it a tempo down
3. Black’s king safety visually looks unappealing, even though his rook and bishop controlls the queen “somewhat”
4. Black’s bishop is almost tall pawn.
Basically black’s pieces are positioned horribly and the black king is feeling a bit cold.
Saying all that, I still never found that decisive win. My idea was 1. Kd7 attacking the rook. I even came to the conclusion that it was the only candidate move. After 1. Kd7 if the rook moves to safety, then 2. Bd8, e1=Q 3. Kc8 and I saw black giving checks like crazy (draw). If after 1. Kd7, e1=Q; Then 2. Kxc8 and again I saw black checking like crazy because if
Dear reader, as mentioned in the article, this problem was taken from a famous Russian book, The Soviet Chess Primer. The English edition has been published: https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/products/2/231/the_soviet_chess_primer_by_ilya_maizelis/
There is no win for white
Bishop upper right then if the rook eat that the queen will eat and the black king check by the queen then the black king goes down then the queen check mate the black king by going down with leftward.
1. Bd8 Rxd8 2. Kc7 1-0
Bishop b8. Took takes bishop. Kc7.RxB6. Cxb6. There is no way to avoid checkmate
Dear Alfred,
Some times the “Impossible” is possible in chess.
Dear Denisse cortez,
Could you give your moves in standard notation?
1. Bb8 Rxb8 2. Kc7 Rxb6 3. cxb6 e1=Q 4. b7+ Ka7 5. b8=Q#
Dear William Dunne,
Congrats!