This coming weekend is the second tournament that I will be mostly healthy. My goal is to reach the magical 2000 USCF rating and prove the naysayers that a player over 60 can reach that level.
Ever since I had good results in 2015, my rating has been affected by health issues. A few months ago, I played a tournament where I was late a couple of f rounds. I still managed to have a 75 point rating increase.
I’m 70, will be 71 next month. I have been studying tactics a lot.
We’ll see.
You give this 74 year old hope!
Here is a brain teaser to keep your mind in shape:
White to move and win.
Bill Smythe
And here is another:
White to move, black to win. Or, black to move, white to win.
Bill Smythe
Those are cute but I’m concentrating on solving tactics from actual games.
how did it go? or is your tournament this coming weekend?
…scot…
Does anybody else care to give them a try?
Bill Smythe
Well the second one looks easy - whoever has to play P-Q4 loses. So P-Q3 P-Q3 P-Q4 PxP and wins (in this case using Descriptive is simpler).
Well the second one looks easy - whoever has to play P-Q4 loses. So P-Q3 P-Q3 P-Q4 PxP and wins (in this case using Descriptive is simpler).
They were both solved some time back.
not sure it’s that simple as one has to worry about the stalemate possibilities…
…scot…
Not really. With best play and White to move, Black mates on move 6 (move 5 if White makes a mistake).
Can you carry it out to checkmate for me, please?
Bill Smythe
Bill, you already know it so you don’t need the help.
True. I am administering a test. So far, my student hasn’t shown he has a solution.
Bill Smythe
Just don’t capture the second pawn—stalemate problem solved.
LOL. And solution still not set forth in full.
Bill Smythe
And spoil it for everybody?
December 9 will allow two weeks, so there is no compelling reason to post a solution before then.
I was hoping that Mulfish would provide a complete solution, all the way to checkmate. His partial solution appears to overlook an important detail.
Bill Smythe
Been busy. 1. d3 d6 2. d4 exd4 3. d5 d3 4. exd6 d2 5. d7 d1N 6. d8 (any) 7. Nf2#