Chess Puzzles - Column by Pete Tamburro

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Chess Journalist of the Year, Pete Tamburro

Pete Tamburro, a well known chess writer, was recently named Journalist of the Year by the ...

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White to Play and Draw

By Pete Tamburro

This should be entitled, White to Play and Save His Sorry King. White is in big trouble. Not only is there a mate in one threatened by Black (1...Qxe4#), but to give you an idea of some other possibilities, there is a mate in four as well: 1...Qg5+ 2.Qxg5 Qxe4+ 3.Qg4 g5+ 4.Kh5 Qg6#. So, can you wriggle out of this mess?

Solution:

As White is about to get mated, the only hope is stalemate. You have to notice that White's king cannot move, so you have to figure out a way to get rid of the queens and rook: 1.Qh8+ (or Qg8+) Kxh8 2.Rc8+ Kg7 3.Qe5+ Rf6 (3...f6 would be very bad for Black!!) 4.Rg8+ (if White takes the rook, you get mated!) Kxg8 5.Qe8+ Kg7 6.Qh8+ (or Qg8+) Kxh8 Stalemate!

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

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