Games

 /

Entertainment

White to Play

Pete Tamburro on

Published in Chess Puzzles

The Legal Mate is one of the most famous in chess. This is from Potter-Matthews, 1868. If you know what the Legal mate is, then you know the first move! However, the follow-up is a bit of a twist.


Solution:

Normally, the Legal Mate has this pattern: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 4.Nc3 g6 5.Nxe5 Bxd1 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5 mate. This game is a bit different: 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Bc4 c5 4.Nf3 d6 5.0–0 Nc6 6.c3 d3 7.Re1 Bg4 8.e5 Nxe5 (see diagram) 9.Nxe5 Bxd1 10.Bb5+ Ke7 11.Bg5+ f6 12.Ng6+ Kf7 13.Nxh8# Thus, Nxe5, sacrificing the queen, is the key move, but the follow-ups still can require some imagination.

 


Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

 

More Chess Puzzles

White to Play

Chess Puzzles /

This game was won by Dennis Waterman in 1974 out California way in a tournament at the legendary Mechanics Institute in San Francisco.

White to Play

Chess Puzzles /

No more castling problems, but I was intrigued with G.F. Anderson’s work with the April 15th puzzle. Here’s one he did with C.C. Palmer. A mate in two.

White to Play

Chess Puzzles /

If you did Friday’s puzzle, you have a hint on today’s solution. But don’t forget to do your income tax first! It’s a mate in four.

White to Play

Chess Puzzles /

Many of you will recognize this Sam Loyd classic. I’m having it do an encore bow so as to give you a hint as to next week’s puzzles.


 

Comics

Rick McKee Lisa Benson Macanudo John Cole Marshall Ramsey Pat Byrnes
See more