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White to play. Mate in 2.
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE
Interested in learning? Try THIS.
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In chessy news, crazy stuff on Saturday at Tata Steel’s penultimate day. There is now a five-way tie for first: Vidit, Anish, Gukesh, Nodirbek, Wei Yi all have 7.5/12. Yesterday Vidit beat the leader Nodirbek Abdusattorov and became the new Indian top rated player in live ratings.
Yesterday I had a call from a priest friend who is also into chess. We both expressed our desire to set a rating goal. That means ramping it up, playing in tournaments, etc.
I renew my shout over the valleys and mountains.
I stuff another message into a bottle and fling it to the sea.
I ask the holy guardian angels to nudge the right people.
I beg St. Teresa, patroness of chess players, to intercede for a favor.
We need a tradition-leaning Catholic Grand Master who can a) coach and b) perhaps be willing to have a podcast for a rating march.
There has to be one.
Speaking of a daily shot:
On this day 230 years ago, Jan. 28, 1794. Henri de La Rochejaquelein, the Commander-in-Chief of the Catholic and Royal Army was killed during the War in the Vendée when a Republican soldier pretended to surrender and then shot him.
A short thread on his life and the war?
1/13 pic.twitter.com/JiozpoFZD0
— Papal Zouave International?? (P.Z. History) (@PapalZouaveInt) January 28, 2024
Ceterum censeo Alirezam esse delendum.
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Qc2
Black any move but king
Qe4 #
St. Nicholas in the Prison… prescient.
Earlier comment (Qc2) does not work because Black can respond R-a6×
1. d3-d3
If . . . . . . . R×a2 (or, unlikely, N-b2)
2. R×e4#
If . . . . . . . . e4×d3
2. Q×c4#
If . . . . . . . . c4×d3
2. Q-f7#
If . . . . . . . N-f2 (defending againstR-e4#)
2. Q×f2#
1 d4, Rxa2 2 Rf8#
1 d4, (exd3 or e3) 2 Qxc4#
1 d4, (cxd3 or c3) 2 Qf7#
1 d4, Ne3 2 Qf2#
Have to disagree with stdaniel — Black’s move 1. . . . Nf2 blocks the mate at e4.
Try this instead:
1. Qxp
Now White threatens mate in two ways, so if Black plays . . . Nf2 (or Nc3), White responds with 2. Qf7 mate.
Or if Black tries to block either mate by moving his Rook (to a4 or a7), White chooses the mate that the Rook does not block.