Chess thread

[Tal]

[Tal]

http://www.chessworldcup2013.com/games/pairings

Right ho.

Round one is over and 64 players move on to the next round. The heaviest hitters made it through, with Judit Polgar and Ian Nepomniachtchi the highest profile causalities.

There were a couple of dodges, including Shirov managing to get past the highly rated Chinese girl Hou Yifan and Peter Svidler squeaking past Women's world champ, Anna Ushenina.

The draw is on the link above. My four picks all made it through, though Adams needed the tiebreak today to progress. The only other Brit, Gawain Jones, lacked the killer instinct, as he had for the British Champs this month and will be making the journey home.

If you want an upset for the next round, I reckon American Ray Robson could knock out Vassily Ivanchuk. That would be a headline maker, but Robson is playing well and got through his first round easily.



Shirov playing Hou

[Tal]

We've had a good run, you and I.

We've shared some good times, some moments of fun, interest, hard study and interesting conversation. I'm sad to report it is about to come to an end.

It's not you; it's me.

[Tal]

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4010825/the-infamous-1999-chessbase-christmas-puzzle-160813.aspx

[theprawnidentity]

We've had a good run, you and I.

We've shared some good times, some moments of fun, interest, hard study and interesting conversation. I'm sad to report it is about to come to an end.

It's not you; it's me.

Massive sigh!!!

[Tal]

Tongue firmly in cheek, of course.

The problem I have linked above is the most horrible chess puzzle ever invented. It is so unpleasant, it carries a health warning that it will consume your life like no puzzle ever will.

The best puzzle in any context is one that seems simple to the naked eye, but pulls away from you the closer you get to the answer; like a Lewis Carroll invention.

The 5 move checkmate above is something anyone who knows how to move the pieces can find the answer to; it requires no specialist knowledge, no Grandmaster title and no computer. It will make you cry.

I say this, not because I haven't seen the answer. No sir.

I say this because someone once showed me the answer and now I can't remember it.

To confirm what you're looking for:

1.e4 something
2. Something something
3. Something something
4. Something something
5. NxRmate

Or:
5. Something NxRmate

What game starts pawn to king four and ends with knight takes rook checkmate on move five?

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Vincent Price cackle...

[curnow]

tried & failed , can mate with white in 6 , must be some kind of help mate but still failed

[theprawnidentity]

tried & failed , can mate with white in 6 , must be some kind of help mate but still failed

Similar to this.  I was more, need some kind of help mate, also failed!

[Tal]

If it helps, Kasparov couldn't find it.

If you do get the answer, I ask one thing: don't post it ITT. By all means, PM others to show how brilliant you are, but let's keep this brilliant puzzle mysterious.

[theprawnidentity]

Oh wait, PM sent 

[Tal]

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4010838/world-cup-32-aronian-out-grischuk-equalises-180813.aspx

Been a busy weekend for me (thin) so I - and you - will have to make do with the Chessbase report of the latest round in the World Cup in Norway.

Aronian, the number one seed, is out.

Adams went in round two, so the first of my picks has gone. Nakamura won twice to go through comfortably and must be a real contender for this event. Mamedyarov and Giri each have to negotiate tomorrow's playoffs to progress. Mamedyarov is an excellent rapid and blitz player and Giri will I hope have too much class for his opponent.

[Tal]

Oh wait, PM sent 

Yeah good luck with that...

[EvilPie]

6 is really easy... Loads of ways to do that.

5 though?

[MintTrav]

Watched some of it yesterday, with Susan Polgar analysing. She is so good - incredible record.

[Tal]

I think the standard of commentary generally now is excellent for major events. As I've discussed before ITT, it's very difficult to get the balance right when pitching the level to your audience.


On this evil puzzle, I should make one qualification, having re-read the article I linked above: it isn't necessarily white who delivers checkmate; I had assumed that to be the case as it often is in puzzles, but it doesn't say that. So, the fifth move could be white does something and then Black delivers checkmate with NxR.

Hope this...helps...