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Pete Tamburro on

Published in Chess Puzzles

This is a study by Krejcik from the early 20th century. I am very happy that my 14 year-old student, Amelie Chan, solved it instantly. I hope you adults can do the same!


If you thought it was solved instantly because 1.h5 queens first, then you would be wrong. Black doesn’t try to queen: 1...Ka6 2.h6 Ka5 3.h7 a6 4.h8=Q Stalemate!! Oops! Tricky position,eh? The solution even had a trick in it on move 20 in the analysis: 1.Kd7 Ka6 (Black can try to queen and will: 1...a5 2.h5 a4 3.h6 axb3 4.h7 b2 5.h8Q b1Q 6.Qc8+ Ka7 7.Qc7+ Ka8 (7...Ka6 8.Qb6#) 8.Qxc6+ Ka7 9.Qc7+ Ka8 10.Kc6 Qg6+ 11.Kb5 Qe8+ 12.c6 Qb8+ 13.Qxb8+ Kxb8 14.Kxb4 Kc7 15.Kc5 Kc8 16.Kd6 Kd8 17.c7+ Kc8 18.c5 Kb7 19.Kd7 Ka7 20.Kc6! (BUT NOT 20.c8=Q Stalemate!) 20...Ka6 21.c8Q+) 2.Kxc6 with an easy win.

 


Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

 

 

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