New England Masters Game

A game between Parker Bi Guang Zhao and Leonid Kritz in the New England Masters Tournamet went: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bf4 d5 11. Qe3 Bb4 12. a3 Ba5 13. Be2 O-O 14. exd5 cxd5 15. Qg3 Kh8 16. Be5 Ne8 17. f4 Bc7 18. Bd3 Bxe5 19. fxe5 a5 20. h4 Qb6 21. Rdf1 Rb8

Position after Black's 21st move

And here Parker Bi Guang Zhao played 22. Qg6! In order to avoid mate, Black eventually has to give up material. The game went: 22. ... Qe3+ 23. Kd1 fxg6 24. Rxf8+ Kh7 25. h5 Qxd3+ 26. cxd3 Bd7 27. hxg6+ Kxg6 28. Kc2 Rc8 29. d4 Kg5 30. Rhf1 g6 31. R1f7 Bc6 32. Re7 1-0

Three Move Problem IV

This is problem XXXVIII from the book, composed by A. C. Challenger. White to mate in 3:



Solution: 1. Qb8 Kxd5 2. Nd4 exd2 3. Qb5 mate

Three Move Problem III

The chess problem here is number XXXVII from the book, and was composed by Dr. Lasker.



White moves 1. Qh1 There are various ways Black can play but they all lose. One example is 1 ... e4 2. Rxb7 Bb5 3. Qe1 mate

Three Move Problem II

This second problem is number XXXVI from the book, composed by W. F. von Holzhausen.

Computer checked solution: 1. Qa8 e4 2. Qa1 exf3 3. Qd4 mate

Three Move Problem I

The three move problem above is from the previously mentioned book "Three Move Problems." I've been to the Newberry Library a few times before. Some of their older works are dated in knowledge; for example I came across a book on astronomy written in the context of Newtonian physics; others works seem simply to be barking up the wrong tree, such as on witchcraft. But older books on chess positions seem to hold up well, perhaps because chess problems are more like mathematics. The problem above is number XXXV from the book, created by Sam Loyd.

Here is a computer checked solution: 1. Kd2 Qc4 2. Bg4+ Nxg4 3. Rh5 mate

Older Chess Books from the Newberry Library

This weekend I went to the Newberry Library in Chicago. The Newberry Library is a private, non-circulating library, but it is free and open to the public. It has a collection of older and rare materials, such as maps and books hundreds of years old.
I came across a book entitled "Three Move Problems" by F. Baird. It seems to have been published in 1913. In this post I will present an extract from the book; in other posts I plan to present chess problems from the book.

From Chapter II METHODS OF SOLVING:
"The following methods of solving three-move problems are the only ones which need to be considered:--
1. Perceiving the theme instantaneously, or determining the author's idea by deduction.
2. Allowing Black to make the first move, and then treating the problem as a two-mover, the final process being the finding of the key-move.
3. Allowing Black to make the first move, and then making two moves for White in succession, followed by another for Black, and a third for White.
4. Experimenting with various likely and plausible key-moves until the correct one is found. This method, although adopted by the majority of beginners, is not calculated to give the solver the same amount of satisfaction as the other methods, and it is not to be recommended except with some problems containing only a few pieces. For instance, when dealing with the Rex solus type of composition, such a course might yield quicker results.
5. The exhuastive process before mentioned, wherby every move that it is possible for White to make must be tried. This method, although lengthy, is the one which must be employed for solution tourneys which are other than continuous."

Lopsided Opening Results, Part II

Here is a line that can arise from the Slav: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Bf4 O-O 8. e3



In chesslab's historical database of games from 1485-1990, only one game is given with this opening, and it ended in a draw. In its database from 1991-present, it gives 58 games, with White winning 56%, Black winning 12%, and Draws 32%