Quick question. Ulf Andersson – C van Oosterom (Haarlem 2012). Suggestions for White on a postcard, please.

Last week’s puzzle: Yang-Fan Zhou crashed through against Sjef Rijnaarts (Amsterdam 2013) by means of a queen sacrifice to draw the black king into a mating net created by two rooks and a knight:

26. Qxe6! fxe6 27. Rxf8+ Kg7 28. R1f7+ Kh6 29. Rh8 g5 (or 29… Qd2 30. Rhxh7+ Kg5 31. h4+ Kg4 32. Rf3 threatening Rg3#) 30. Rhxh7+ Kg6 31. Rhg7+ (A slightly quicker finish was 31. Rfg7+ Kf6 32. Nf2) 31… Kh6 32. Nf2 Rb8 33. Ng4+ Kh5 34. Rh7+ Kg6 35. Rfg7#

My review of A Modern Guide to Checkmating Patterns by Vladimir Barsky has now been published.

Here’s another example from this book, starring former Richmond Junior star Yang-Fan Zhou, playing the white pieces here against Sjef Rijnaarts (Amsterdam 2013). How did he use his knowledge of checkmating patterns learnt at RJCC to score a quick victory here?

Last week I left you with this Mate in 2 by Alberto Mari.

This problem exemplifies the Mansfield Couplet, named after the great English composer Comins Mansfield. “Two black units control a white battery. In two variations, each loses control by self-pin. White’s battery mate eliminates the other black unit’s control.”

The solution is 1. Bf7 (threatening 2. Ne3#), which, while setting up a battery against the black king, leaves the rook on b6 pinned. The thematic variations are 1… Kc5 2. Nxb4#, with the e7 pawn now pinned, and 1… Kb3 2. Nxe7#, with the b4 knight now pinned. We also have 1… e6 2. Rb4#, 1… Nxd5 2. Qc1# and 1…Rxb6+ 2. Nxb6#. There’s also a changed mate: in the diagram 1… Kb3 would be met by 2. Rxb4#. The try 1. Qa3 is refuted by 1… e5.

I hope you enjoyed this: well done if you managed to solve it!

This week, a chance to solve a prize-winning Mate in 2, taken from the January 2021 edition of The Problemist.

This was composed by Alberto Mari (1 Pr L’Italia Scacchistica 1931).

Can you find the only way for White to force checkmate in two moves?

In the game Rogelio Antonio Jnr – Dao Thien Hai (Kuala Lumpur 2005) White concluded with 19. Qxg7+!! Kxg7 20. Nd5 and Black resigned, “since after 20… exd5 21. Nf5+ Kg8 22. Nh6# is mate, whilst after 20… e5 21 Nxc7 exd4 22. Bxd4 White wins the exchange, obtaining an absolutely winning position.”

Taken from A Modern Guide to Checkmating Patterns by Vladimir Barsky (New in Chess): my review for British Chess News will be published within the next few weeks.

Here’s another position from A Modern Guide to Checkmating Patterns (New in Chess) by Vladimir Barsky.

It’s White’s move in Rogelio Antonio Jnr – Dao Thien Hai (Kuala Lumpur 2005). How did he conclude the game?

The game Kulaots – Antonsen (Borup 2010) concluded 21. Rxa7!! Rxa7 22. Bg5!, winning either king or queen because Qxg5 would be met by Nxf7+. Themes: deflection (twice), decoy, trapping a piece, knight fork, back rank mate.

This position was taken from A Modern Guide to Checkmating Patterns (New in Chess), by Vladimir Barsky, which I’ll be reviewing for British Chess News within the next few weeks.

It’s White to play in Kulaots – Antonsen (Borup 2010).

What do you see here? Do let me know.

Last week I left you with this endgame study (David Gurgenidze Akaki 1991).

It solves as follows:

1. Nd6 c2 2. Nc4+ Kb5 3. Ne5! c1Q 4. a4+! Ka5 5. Kb7!, threatening Nc6+ and meeting Kb4 with Nd3+.

Well done to everyone who solved this!