Archive for October, 2013

Get set for your Thursday chess tactics lesson. This chess position is from the game Steinitz vs Strauss, Vienna, 1860. White to play and win. What is the magic move and what are the variations thereafter?
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Our mid-week chess puzzle comes from the European Chess Championship 2013 with White to play and checkmate in four. The game is Alexey Dreev versus Arman Pashikian.

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Former World chess Champion Anatoly Karpov is dominating the 2013 chess rapid in Cap d’Agde. Here’s how Vassily Ivanchuk falls to Karpov. Check out the game with Chess King – your partner in strong, affordable chess training.

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Here’s an endgame position from the game Magnus Carlsen – Pentala Harikrishna, Tata Steel Chess, 2013. White’s a pawn up, but better still, has a winning shot. How did White win immediately? (While on the subject, hope you have been following all the updates on the upcoming World Chess Championship between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen at Chess Blog.)

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Here is a cool chess position from the game Mikhail Tal – Alexander Koblenz 1-0 Riga, 1957. How can White win this?
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An amazing 1937 study by Korolkov, with an incredible final mating position. Watch and listen to 12th Women’s World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk run you through the solution.
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Here is a great game by the recently-crowned Russian Chess Champion Peter Svidler at the European Club Chess Championships 2013 in Greece.

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The mid-week checkmate-in-two chess puzzle is here. White to play. 😉 Planning to suffocate the King?

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Here is a cool position from the game Miguel Najdorf vs Carlos Hounie Fleurquin, Mar del Plata, 1946. How did White win?

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This is delightful chess even though it’s a tad difficult. Brighten up your Sunday with this checkmate-in-six. Actually! But, possible.

LEVEL: Difficult
CATEGORY: Problem
A mate in 6 chess problem delightful in its purity. Composed by Thomas Davidson (horizontal mirror) in Montreal Daily Witness, 1899.

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Here is a nice middlegame position from the game Rigo-Sapi, Hungary, 1967. White has a nice winning idea. Can you see it?

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Let’s see, what’s White’s best move? Big Hint: what was Black’s last move? Happy chess weekend.

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LEVEL: Intermediate
CATEGORY: Middle Game
From the game Danielian – Kosteniuk, European Team Championships, Crete 2007. Black plays and wins.
The answer to this chess study is in the following video podcast hosted by 12th Women’s World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk. Read her blog www.chessqueen.com for the latest adventures of a beautiful and intelligent Grandmaster.
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In the 9th round of Kings Tournament in Bucharest, the leader Fabiano Caruana unexpectedly lost with the white pieces to Wang Hao. Caruana got a huge advantage versus the Petroff and then started losing only to miss out a draw in time trouble. Here are all the spills, chills, and thrills of the game including Wang Hao’s brave King march! Replay the game with Chess King.

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LEVEL: Very Difficult
CATEGORY: Problem

A tough to solve mate in three chess problem. If you solve it in less than an hour, you’re on your way to becoming a Grandmaster!

Composed by Jiri Khokholous, 4th Prize, Cesky Spolek Sachovni, 1895.

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Let’s begin a chess-full week with this nice chess study by T Gorghiyev, 1929. White to play and win. Remember if Black manages to exchange a piece, he would be able to hold draw. What White needs to do is pick up at least one piece for free and force a win. Can you figure it out? Take your time. Chess requires patience and you will need it today Hint: The first move pretty much forces it all!!!

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The Indonesia Chess Open 2013 has begun in Jakarta with 38 Grandmasters in a field of just over 100 players. Tough competition is expected right from the start. Here is an interesting game between Hoang Thanh Trang and Oliver Barbosa from Round 4. You can read a report on the event at Chess Blog. Replay the game with the Chess King applet below.
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LEVEL: Intermediate
CATEGORY: Middle Game
From the game Klinger – Blatny, 1988, white plays and wins.
This special chess puzzle video podcast is brought to you by ChessKillerTips.com. The videos are hosted by 12th Women’s World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk.
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This chess position looks tricky, but is not. Use a simple tactic to help White checkmate in two.

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Levon Aronian beat Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the fourth round to join Michael Adams in the lead at the VI Chess Masters Final on Friday. Maxime launched a Kingside attack and was almost winning after a neat Rook sacrifice. However, Aronian survived and he won the rook vs. four pawns endgame.

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