Christmas Contest 2005

akots · 21-12-2005, 08:43

Hey, the chess forum is not dead yet! I had this stupid idea for some time now. Here is Christmas Contest. It has 5 problems in it. Deadline for submission is January 8th midnight GMT. Take your time with these problems!

Rules are as usual. Please pm the answer to me no later than the deadline. Please do not use any chess programs to help you find the solutions. This cannot be checked and is a matter of honesty of the participants.

Now to the spot. The same problems will be posted at CFC and some other site. Whichever site has more submissions with more points, wins the competition! Of course, there will be individual awards as well! We'll specifically ask Mistfit to cast a Golden Cup for the winner!

Position number 1

White to start and give mate to the black king within a few moves (no more than 3). Solution brings 1 point. This one should be easy to solve. Taken from a practical game.

61.02KB

Position number 2

Black to start and to win rapidly and deadly. Solution brings 2 points. Slightly more difficult. Also taken from a practical game.

62.06KB

Position number 3

White to start and attack swiftly and give mate to black king. Solution brings 3 points. Might be rather well-known, so if you knew the solution, please indicate so during the submission. Also taken from an actual game.

57.83KB

Position number 4

Black to start and give mate to white king in about 10 moves or gain a decisive advantage. Solution brings 5 points. Might be as well somebody knew the solution, so please indicate this. A tough nut to crack; taken from an actual game.

64.93KB

Position number 5

White to start and to win. A very beautiful piece of chess art, rather difficult to solve. Those who succeed will receive 10 points.

53KB

Banzai · 21-12-2005, 09:27

Should we send you a pm with our sollutions?

akots · 21-12-2005, 09:32

Yes, pm please. You can split it. Like when you solve number 1, pm it. When you solve number 2, aslo pm it, etc. I'll take care of results.

Beam · 21-12-2005, 21:51

Cool you're resuming this!

akots · 06-01-2006, 04:41

Just a friendly reminder to submit in time.

Must say that I have already received one submission at CFC which has essentially all correct answers.

akots · 09-01-2006, 19:45

Submission is now closed.

Solutions:

Position number 1

White to start and give mate to the black king within a few moves (no more than 3). Solution brings 1 point.

61.02 KB

A grandmaster style:

1. Qd3-g6!! and mate in maximum 3 moves.

Bronshtein - Geller, 1961

Position number 2

Black to start and to win rapidly and deadly. Solution brings 2 points.

62.06 KB

A master style:

1. ... Re8-e1!! and black wins.

Belen'ky - Pirogov, 1957

Position number 3

White to start and attack swiftly and give mate to black king. Solution brings 3 points.

57.83 KB

A spectacular and very non-standard combination indeed, very italian and romantic:

1. Qg2-g4+!! Be6xg4
2. Rg6xh6+! g7xh6
3. Bb3-f7 checkmate!

Vakkaroni - Maccokki, 1891

Position number 4

Black to start and give mate to white king in about 10 moves or gain a decisive advantage. Solution brings 5 points.

64.93 KB

There is obviously something wrong in this postion. What is wrong? Black has too many pieces on the 8th row. All of them have to be removed in order to win.

1. ... Be8-b5!
2. a4xb5 Nh5-g3+
3. Ne4xg3 Nf5xg3+
4. h2xg3 h4xg3+
5. Kh1-g1 Rh8-h1+
6. Kg1xh1 Rg8-h8+
7. Kh1-g1 Bf8-c5+
8. Nb3xc5 Rh8-h1+
9. Kg1xh1 Qc8-h8+
10. Kh1-g1 Qh8-h2 checkmate. Now, compare the starting position and the final one...

60.03 KB

NN-Mason, 1948

Position number 5

White to start and to win. A very beautiful piece of chess art, rather difficult to solve. Those who succeed will receive 10 points.

53 KB

Obvious goal is somehow to seize control over f1 tile so that black cannot promote their pawn. Alas, this is not possible. Good thing, white still can win even if black promotes the pawn.

1. h4-h5+ Kg6-h6
2. Nd8-f7+ and now black face a tough choice:

A:
2. ... Kh6-g7
3. Nf7-g5+ Kg7-g8
4. Re7-e8+ Kg8-g7

52.97 KB

5. h5-h6+ Kg7-g6
6. Kf4-g4 f2-f1Q
7. Re8-e6+ Qf1-f6
8. Re6xf6+ Kg6xf6
9. Kg4-h5! and white wins

B:
2. ... Kh6xh5
3. Re7-e5+ Kh5-h4
4. Nf7-g5 f2-f1Q+
5. Ng5-f3+ Kh4-h3
6. Re5-h5+ Kh3-g2
7. Rh5-h2 checkmate, a spectacular ending:

53.28 KB

Problem composed by Kasparyan in 1936

Thanks everyone for their submissions. The results will be announced shortly in the same thread!

akots · 09-01-2006, 20:55

Now, the results:

There were total of 7 submissions for the Contest, all from very strong players. All participants were able to solve at least one problem correctly.

Individual standings:

Banzai, being the famous CDZ champion, apparently did not have enough time to devote to the competition and have submitted only a quick solution to one problem therefore getting 1 point.

kryszcztov was so busy playing Civ4 that he was only able to solve problems 1 and 3 correclty thus getting 4 points.

Narz managed to solve numbers 1-3 and had partially solved number 5 (2 points out of 10) for a total of 8 points.

col struggled without a board but managed to solve numbers 1-3 and partially solve numbers 4 (1 point out of 5) and 5 (2 points out of 10) for a total of 9 points.

Bronze award goes to Rik Meleet who solved numbers 1-4 and did not even start on number 5 thus getting 11 points total.

Silver award goes to FortyJ for solving numbers 1-3 and 5 as well for a total of 16 points.

An now may I introduce you the winner of the contest, luceafarul who is a member of CFC. He managed to solve all problems correctly providing very extensive analysis of all positions thus receiving 21!!!! points.

Congratulations, luceafarul The Morning Star!!!

Here is the gorgeous award for a winner, a delightful Christmas cup courtesy of Mistfit with a portrait on Eminescu on it:

36.51KB

Since this first intersite contest had been a huge success, I'm currently planning another contest in a few weeks. Stay tuned!

Rik Meleet · 09-01-2006, 21:06

Congrats Luceaferul !

Socrates · 09-01-2006, 23:15

I think Banzai will kill me for drawing such an ugly cup last time...

Congrats to luceaferul !

Yup I forgot to try the other problems this weekend (I always end up doing stuff at the last moment, so that was planned back then), and am instead playing those Civ4 games. At least you'll get some reports to read very soon, featuring hundreds of pics !!

Anyway, thanks goes to akots, and I hope you come back with more problems soon. Chess is when the relentless Reality crashes into everlasting Beauty.

21-12-2005, 08:43	#1
akots Nebuchadnezzar II Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Glover Park Posts: 4,459	Christmas Contest 2005 Hey, the chess forum is not dead yet! I had this stupid idea for some time now. Here is Christmas Contest. It has 5 problems in it. Deadline for submission is January 8th midnight GMT. Take your time with these problems! Rules are as usual. Please pm the answer to me no later than the deadline. Please do not use any chess programs to help you find the solutions. This cannot be checked and is a matter of honesty of the participants. Now to the spot. The same problems will be posted at CFC and some other site. Whichever site has more submissions with more points, wins the competition! Of course, there will be individual awards as well! We'll specifically ask Mistfit to cast a Golden Cup for the winner! Position number 1 White to start and give mate to the black king within a few moves (no more than 3). Solution brings 1 point. This one should be easy to solve. Taken from a practical game. 61.02KB Position number 2 Black to start and to win rapidly and deadly. Solution brings 2 points. Slightly more difficult. Also taken from a practical game. 62.06KB Position number 3 White to start and attack swiftly and give mate to black king. Solution brings 3 points. Might be rather well-known, so if you knew the solution, please indicate so during the submission. Also taken from an actual game. 57.83KB Position number 4 Black to start and give mate to white king in about 10 moves or gain a decisive advantage. Solution brings 5 points. Might be as well somebody knew the solution, so please indicate this. A tough nut to crack; taken from an actual game. 64.93KB Position number 5 White to start and to win. A very beautiful piece of chess art, rather difficult to solve. Those who succeed will receive 10 points. 53KB __________________ Cujusvis hominis est errare; nullius, nisi insipientis in errore perseverare Ciceron (Marcus Tullius)

21-12-2005, 09:27	#2
Banzai Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Netherlands. Posts: 1,226	Should we send you a pm with our sollutions? __________________ I see your face when I am dreaming. That\'s why I always wakeup screaming.

21-12-2005, 09:32	#3
akots Nebuchadnezzar II Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Glover Park Posts: 4,459	Yes, pm please. You can split it. Like when you solve number 1, pm it. When you solve number 2, aslo pm it, etc. I'll take care of results. __________________ Cujusvis hominis est errare; nullius, nisi insipientis in errore perseverare Ciceron (Marcus Tullius)

21-12-2005, 21:51	#4
Beam c00l b33r Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beat 'm up Scotty!. Lives in the Lands that are Nether. Posts: 5,094	Cool you're resuming this! __________________ That was a pretty good gamble. -- Scotty, The Galileo Seven, stardate 2821.5, Episode 14 Linux never looked this good!

06-01-2006, 04:41	#5
akots Nebuchadnezzar II Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Glover Park Posts: 4,459	Just a friendly reminder to submit in time. Must say that I have already received one submission at CFC which has essentially all correct answers. __________________ Cujusvis hominis est errare; nullius, nisi insipientis in errore perseverare Ciceron (Marcus Tullius)

09-01-2006, 19:45	#6
akots Nebuchadnezzar II Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Glover Park Posts: 4,459	Submission is now closed. Solutions: Position number 1 White to start and give mate to the black king within a few moves (no more than 3). Solution brings 1 point. 61.02 KB A grandmaster style: 1. Qd3-g6!! and mate in maximum 3 moves. Bronshtein - Geller, 1961 Position number 2 Black to start and to win rapidly and deadly. Solution brings 2 points. 62.06 KB A master style: 1. ... Re8-e1!! and black wins. Belen'ky - Pirogov, 1957 Position number 3 White to start and attack swiftly and give mate to black king. Solution brings 3 points. 57.83 KB A spectacular and very non-standard combination indeed, very italian and romantic: 1. Qg2-g4+!! Be6xg4 2. Rg6xh6+! g7xh6 3. Bb3-f7 checkmate! Vakkaroni - Maccokki, 1891 Position number 4 Black to start and give mate to white king in about 10 moves or gain a decisive advantage. Solution brings 5 points. 64.93 KB There is obviously something wrong in this postion. What is wrong? Black has too many pieces on the 8th row. All of them have to be removed in order to win. 1. ... Be8-b5! 2. a4xb5 Nh5-g3+ 3. Ne4xg3 Nf5xg3+ 4. h2xg3 h4xg3+ 5. Kh1-g1 Rh8-h1+ 6. Kg1xh1 Rg8-h8+ 7. Kh1-g1 Bf8-c5+ 8. Nb3xc5 Rh8-h1+ 9. Kg1xh1 Qc8-h8+ 10. Kh1-g1 Qh8-h2 checkmate. Now, compare the starting position and the final one... 60.03 KB NN-Mason, 1948 Position number 5 White to start and to win. A very beautiful piece of chess art, rather difficult to solve. Those who succeed will receive 10 points. 53 KB Obvious goal is somehow to seize control over f1 tile so that black cannot promote their pawn. Alas, this is not possible. Good thing, white still can win even if black promotes the pawn. 1. h4-h5+ Kg6-h6 2. Nd8-f7+ and now black face a tough choice: A: 2. ... Kh6-g7 3. Nf7-g5+ Kg7-g8 4. Re7-e8+ Kg8-g7 52.97 KB 5. h5-h6+ Kg7-g6 6. Kf4-g4 f2-f1Q 7. Re8-e6+ Qf1-f6 8. Re6xf6+ Kg6xf6 9. Kg4-h5! and white wins B: 2. ... Kh6xh5 3. Re7-e5+ Kh5-h4 4. Nf7-g5 f2-f1Q+ 5. Ng5-f3+ Kh4-h3 6. Re5-h5+ Kh3-g2 7. Rh5-h2 checkmate, a spectacular ending: 53.28 KB Problem composed by Kasparyan in 1936 Thanks everyone for their submissions. The results will be announced shortly in the same thread! __________________ Cujusvis hominis est errare; nullius, nisi insipientis in errore perseverare Ciceron (Marcus Tullius)

09-01-2006, 20:55	#7
akots Nebuchadnezzar II Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Glover Park Posts: 4,459	Now, the results: There were total of 7 submissions for the Contest, all from very strong players. All participants were able to solve at least one problem correctly. Individual standings: Banzai, being the famous CDZ champion, apparently did not have enough time to devote to the competition and have submitted only a quick solution to one problem therefore getting 1 point. kryszcztov was so busy playing Civ4 that he was only able to solve problems 1 and 3 correclty thus getting 4 points. Narz managed to solve numbers 1-3 and had partially solved number 5 (2 points out of 10) for a total of 8 points. col struggled without a board but managed to solve numbers 1-3 and partially solve numbers 4 (1 point out of 5) and 5 (2 points out of 10) for a total of 9 points. Bronze award goes to Rik Meleet who solved numbers 1-4 and did not even start on number 5 thus getting 11 points total. Silver award goes to FortyJ for solving numbers 1-3 and 5 as well for a total of 16 points. An now may I introduce you the winner of the contest, luceafarul who is a member of CFC. He managed to solve all problems correctly providing very extensive analysis of all positions thus receiving 21!!!! points. Congratulations, luceafarul The Morning Star!!! Here is the gorgeous award for a winner, a delightful Christmas cup courtesy of Mistfit with a portrait on Eminescu on it: 36.51KB Since this first intersite contest had been a huge success, I'm currently planning another contest in a few weeks. Stay tuned! __________________ Cujusvis hominis est errare; nullius, nisi insipientis in errore perseverare Ciceron (Marcus Tullius)

09-01-2006, 21:06	#8
Rik Meleet Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands. Posts: 2,503	Congrats Luceaferul ! __________________ Social life ? Sounds like fun !! Where can I download that ?

09-01-2006, 23:15	#9
Socrates Emperor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,946	I think Banzai will kill me for drawing such an ugly cup last time... Congrats to luceaferul ! Yup I forgot to try the other problems this weekend (I always end up doing stuff at the last moment, so that was planned back then), and am instead playing those Civ4 games. At least you'll get some reports to read very soon, featuring hundreds of pics !! Anyway, thanks goes to akots, and I hope you come back with more problems soon. Chess is when the relentless Reality crashes into everlasting Beauty. __________________ Sent from my Debian