Daily Rome Shot 1025: 20% off

Photo from The World’s Best Sacristan™.

Welcome registrant:

CharityBeginsAtHome

Meanwhile, in Casablanca where we wait… and wait… and wait… there were results from Round 1.  This is an interesting “variant” tournament wherein players start from positions in historic games.  In the first game, with the position of move 11 in the 1889 Chigorin v. Steinitz, Carlsen (won) v. Vishy and Nakamura (won) v. Amin (players from 4 continents).  Round 2 was move 11 in Game 10 of the Xie Jun vs. Alisa Galliamova Women’s World Championship Match in Kazan/Shenyang in 1999, Amin v. Carlsen (draw) and Nakamura v. Vishy (draw).  Round 3, move 12 in the 14th game of the 1985 Karpov-Kasparov match Amin v Vishy (draw) and Nakamura v Carlsen (won).

To demonstrate what a prodigious visual memory these guys have, Carlsen said:

 “The last game looked very similar to Karpov-Kasparov games from the second match, and I seemed to remember that Garry’s knight ended up on g4 and maybe h2. But that was about it. The first game I thought it has to be a Steinitz game since he’s the only one who plays like that. Probably against Chigorin, as they had a World Championship match in 1889, and there were a lot of Evans Gambits. The second one, I had no clue!”.

There is also a video of Carlsen identifying games from single positions.  Scary.

Three more rounds today.

Meanwhile, thanks to the kind but anonymous “A reader” who sent gift cards for Panera, which is virtually the only way I will buy their good but over-priced fare.   Why is this a thing?  We play OTB at a Panera.  Gratias tibi persolvo.

Nice people! Great service!

Interim, motus ad lusorem cum militibus albis pertinent. Scaccus mattus, scilicet mors regis, duobus in motis veniat.

NB: Detineam explicationes in crastinum, ne vestrae interrumpantur commentationes.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE

Meanwhile, Chess House has a 20% off sale going on.  CODE: S6296

Suggestion: If you travel or know someone who does, you might have a look at this: HERE  This is a spiffy travel set, remarkably compact and light (13.4 oz), with wood pieces, magnetized, extra queens, and a leather-backed folding 9″ board!  It is in a small pouch that fits in the bottom of my backpack when I am on the move.

It is interesting to root around at Chess House and see what they have.  May you can help to start a parish chess club!

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – UK HERE  WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc..  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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5 Comments

  1. A.S. Haley says:

    This would be an impossible position to reach in a real game — so many pieces are pinned! Black’s King has only one square to which he can move (g4), so cut it off:

    1. Qh4+ Now all Black can do to stop mate is: Rg4.
    Whereupon, since Black’s Queen is still pinned, and his Rook no longer defends the square, White mates with
    2. Nh5++

  2. Matthew111 says:

    1. (Kf1 aut Kh1) aliquis motus cum militibus nigris
    2. Nh5#

  3. Matthew111 says:

    I was wrong! And so was the other puzzler/ess.

    They missed that their knight was still pinned and I missed that retreating the king leaves white’s knight open to black’s king. So, if black goes that route:

    1. Kh1 Kxg3
    2. Qh2#

    or

    1. Kh1 anything else
    2. Nh5#

    Kh1 is required to protect the queen.

  4. Matthew111 says:

    I missed black attacking h5 with its bishop by moving to g6 (which conveniently blocks the g8 rook).

    1. Kh1 Kxg3
    2. Qh2#

    OR

    1. Kh1 Bg6
    2. Qxg5#

    ELSE

    1. Kh1 any other legal move
    2. Nh5#

Comments are closed.