[ad_1]
I had this position from which I created a problem for my opponent.
White to move
70.Ke5 Rd2 71.Ra7+
Driving the king to the back rank is White’s only chance to create a winning advantage.
71…Kf8
Black finds the only square for the king.
72.Bf5
Black to move
72…Re2+??
Black must play 72…Ke8
73.Kf6 Re3
White to move
Several of my students saw this position and were given a chance to win from the White side. I failed to find the winning plan and my students mostly played it the way I did with the same result. Then, I showed them how I and they could have played.
74.Rf7+
This move does not spoil the win, but nor is it the correct idea.
White wins quickly with 74.Rh7 Kg8 75.Rh1
Black to move
Analysis diagram |
Black is in zugzwang.
a) 75…Rf3 76.Rd1 renews the mate threat and Black can delay longest by exchanging rook for bishop.
b) 75…Re2 allows Be6+ and exchanging rook for bishop is the only move to prevent immediate checkmate.
74…Ke8
74…Kg8 is no better.
Now, White forces a return to a position with a second opportunity to play it correctly.
75.Rh7
75.Ra7 is slower. 75.Rc7 is best, as it threatens checkmate.
75…Kd8
Black plays the most stubborn defense.
White to move
76.Rh8+??
Of course I knew, or should have known that driving the king off the back rank returns the game to a technical draw. I spent 13 seconds on this error.
76.Rd7+ was best, driving the king back towards mine. 76…Ke8 (76…Kc8 allows a discovery that picks up a rook) 77.Rc7 Kf8 and White can win with 78.Rh7 as above.
Other advanced students were presented with a sequence of tactical positions to solve from classic games that every chess player should know. Working from a series of books that present 300 critical positions (Rashid Ziyatdinov, GM-RAM: Essential Grandmaster Knowledge [2000], and a trilogy by Thomas Engqvist, 300 Most Important Chess Positions [2018], 300 Most Important Tactical Chess Positions [2020], and 300 Most Important Chess Exercises [2022]), I am assembling study positions for my students. The link to a Lichess study is public.
Beginning students worked on checkmates in one and saw two short games: my worst OTB tournament loss and a recent online win with the same idea.
White to move
8.Bxf7+ deflects the king from defense of the queen (also see “Attraction“).
[ad_2]