Sunday 27 January 2008

Problems at Corus

No I'm not talking about problems with handshakes etc, but the Problem Competition that was held as part of the Corus Tournament. Most of the top places were taken by specialist composers but Jan Timman (1st Commendation) and John Nunn (5th Commendation) also took part.
Now I'm not much of a problem solver, but I do like looking at the solutions. The great joy of problems (especially studies) is seeing how one side escapes from an seemingly impossible position.
A quick glance through the prize winners had a number of wonderful problems, but the one tht looked closest to a game position was the one shown on the right (Vlasenko, 1st Honorable Mention). Although White is down a rook and a piece, the pawn on b7 is a threat, if only White can drive away the Black rook.

Vlasenko,V
1st HM Corus, 2008

1.Rc1+! [ 1.Rc8? thematic try 1...Ne5! 2.Rxb8 Nc4! 3.Rg8 Rxg8 4.Ka7 Na5 5.b8Q Nc6+;
1.Ka7? Rgg8] 1...Kg2 2.Rc2+! Kg3 [ 2...Nd2 3.Rxd2+ Kf3 4.Ka7 Rgg8 5.Rb2] 3.Rc8! Ne5 [ 3...Rg8 4.Rxg8+ Rxg8 5.Ka7;
3...Nd4 4.Ka7! Nc6+ 5.Rxc6 Rgg8 ( 5...Rh8 6.b8Q+ Rxb8 7.Kxb8) 6.Rb6] 4.Rxb8 [ 4.Kb6? Nd7+ 5.Kc7 ( 5.Ka7 Ra5#) 5...Rc5+ 6.Kxd7 Rxb7+] 4...Nc4! 5.Rg8 Rxg8 6.Ka7 Na5 7.b8Q+ ½-½

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