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From	Message
bigpeta 09-Dec-12, 08:32	A christmas puzzle Something to keep you occupied over the holiday period. I would like you to treat this as if it were a vote game and have a group discussion. Please be sure to give reasons for your posts. ................................................................................................ The initial position in this 3 part puzzle is from a game I played as black many years ago. The normal continuation would be Qh4 leading to a long fought win for black. Feeling in the mood for a gamble I remembered an anecdote about one of the old masters, who when given the choice between a straight win or a flamboyant sacrifice, would choose the latter. I believe it was Fischer talking about Tal - "Even after losing four games in a row to him I still consider his play unsound. He is always on the lookout for some spectacular sacrifice. He is not so much interested in who has the better game, or in the essential soundness of his own game, but in finding that one shot, that dramatic breakthrough that will give him the win. Tal appears to have no respect for his opponents, and frightens almost every player he opposes." So I decided on the sacrifice of Rxh2. If white takes the R there follows a forced mate. The gamble was that if white ignored the R and found the correct move then a lost game could be turned into a draw or even a win. 1: As black can you find the forced mate after Rxh2 Kxh2. ================================================================ 2: Now can you find the alternative white move after Rxh2? This continues in two parts where first black plays the instinctive but very wrong move leading to a white win. Second black plays a better move leading to a draw or a hard won win for black. .............................................................. Have fun and take your time merry xmas Pete
stealth-invader 09-Dec-12, 21:07	First Solution 1. ... Qh4+ 2. Kg1 Qxf2+ 3. Kh1 Rh8+ 4. Bh5 Rxh5# CHECKMATE
stealth-invader 09-Dec-12, 21:13	Deleted by stealth-invader on 09-Dec-12, 21:15.
stealth-invader 09-Dec-12, 21:14	Second solution 1. Bg4+ Kd8 2. Qc8# CHECKMATE
stealth-invader 09-Dec-12, 21:17	An apology I could not find a way to treat this as a group discussion after analysis.
bigpeta 15-Dec-12, 13:38	no interest?? apart from julio it would appear nobody is interested
hogfysshe 15-Dec-12, 17:12	swamped swamped and swamped I try to keep life simple and to have a moderate amount of free time on hand. but at the moment I am overloaded in several areas and am behind in all of them. this weekend feels like two regular workdays. Please don't delete. I hope to have a look at some point.
hvacr 23-Dec-12, 08:45	blacks only move in the second solution 1.Bg4 Ke8 2.Qc6 Kf7 3.Kxh2
zed2 31-Dec-12, 10:58	chasing I have had a look at white on the second game for some time and can only see an option for chasing all around the board after moving Qc6! I must be missing something here (a few grey cells eh Pete)! LOL
bigpeta 01-Jan-13, 07:48	@stealth invader second solution 1. Bg4+ Kd8 2. Qc8# CHECKMATE BUT 1. Bg4+ Ke8 2. Qc8+ Kf7 escape
bigpeta 01-Jan-13, 07:54	@hvacr @marathongirl Bg4+ is not whites only move in the second part. Qc6+ is the way to start. it is blacks reply that alters the continuation

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