ArcaMax

The second in our series of instructional games. An attacking masterpiece! Weenink - Landau B08 Amsterdam, 1930

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nxe4 A risky try before one has castled 5...0–0 6.Bb3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nc6 9.Be3 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 with a slight edge to White. 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Nxe4 Rf8 8.h4 ...

We’re going to start a series of instructional games from the “good ol’ days” of early to mid 20th century chess. If you play through the games, it will add to your strength as a chess player because you will learn some new ideas. Our first game is Noteboom,D. - Mindeno,S. Holland, 1927 1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 5.exd5 ...

A mate in three. And a very irritating mate in three as there are so few pieces on the board. This. will end our composed problems for a while. Hope you found them challenging. Hint—the only check is the mating check.

A mate in three. I was reminded of the Star Wars line, “It’s a trap! It’s a trap!”

Does White win, lose or draw this position?

Composed problems like this drive me crazy. It’s a mate in three. The only hint I can give you is that the only check is the last one, which is mate. Don’t look at the answer. Take the weekend, but try to solve it.

This is a very special mate in three as the choices are few since it is a very restricted position. In one sense, though, anything goes!

OK, enough with the in-depth chess lessons! Recreational change of pace—composed chess problems. This one’s a mate in two. Have fun!

This will be our last Isolated Queen Pawn lesson. In fifteen lessons,if you studied the positions and some of the full games offered, you added to your chess knowledge. Today’s game is special in that you get to see an unusual aspect of the attack. Then, you get a thorough study of what might have happened if Black had defended more resolutely...

GM Carlos Torre was giving a simultaneous exhibition in 1924 when he reached this position as White. Unable to find a defense to the threatened Rc1, he resigned. He missed a saving line! Can you save the game for White?