In this game, you had to find the best continuation in a short master game.
Congratulations!
Thank you to everyone who sent in their answers. You received at least 1 point for sending in a solution. If you chose a good move you received two points. If you guessed the best continuation, you received 3 points. This week, the following players received 2 or more points for their solutions:
Natalie Weaver (3)
Hari Chowdhury (3)
Our Winners:
In first place with 17 points we have:
Natalie Weaver (17 points)
Congratulations! To book your free chess lesson, please apply through the website.
This block’s runners-up:
Hari Chowdhury (11 points)
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This Week’s Solution
In this game, you had to find the best continuation for black after the following moves:
- d4, d5
- c4, e6
- Nc3, c5
- Bf4, cxd4
- Bxb8? dxc3
- Be5
The solution that we were looking for:
cxb2 is the best continuation here. The obvious threat is to follow up with bxa1 if white doesn’t move their rook, but this looks easily stopped (eg. Bxb2). The hidden threat is much deadlier. Black now has a deadly check: Bb4+. It is important to make this check with the bishop as it is a low value piece.
When faced with a check, the opponent must either move, capture or block. The king cannot move anywhere as his only available space continues in the diagonal towards the bishop. The bishop cannot be captured on b4. There are two blocks available: Bc3 will hold off the danger for a single move, but unfortunately just loses an additional piece. The only way to block the check is to play Qd2, losing the queen for a bishop. Poor white!
What To Do Next
Tomorrow you will be able find next week’s puzzle on our blog. The puzzler with the highest score at the end of the block will win a free chess lesson with the teacher of their choice and a solver badge and spot/two solver spots. Our runners up will receive a solver badge or a solver spot if they already have a badge. Consistently sending in your results is key to winning so make sure you subscribe below to get notified about the checkmate puzzles the moment they are published.
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