Tactics: Chucky Eats Studies for Dessert
Out at a restaurant during the 2014 Edmonton International, GM Vassily Ivanchuk challenged and entertained his dinner-mates, including FM Vladimir Pechenkin (right), with the problem you see in the photo.
For an extra challenge try solving the full problem below:
Solution:
Spoiler: Highlight to view
1.Re5 (threatens to win a N with 2.Rh5) Ng3 2.Re3 Nf1 [see photo] 3.Rh3 Ra6+ (the only way to save the Nh4) 4.Kb7! Rh6 5.Rc3!
Threatens a perpetual by side checks. Note: supporting the R for checks from c8 is why the White K had to go to b7.
5... Ng6
5...Kg7 6.Rc7+ = and the only way to escape the R checks is to cross the 6th rank, which allows White to exchange Rs.
6.Rc5 Ng3 7.Rh5! Nxh5 8.g5=, after gxh6 the NN v P ending is a table-base draw.
1/2-1/2
Composer: N.Ryabinin. 1990
based on original study by V.Khortov (1976)
This problem, along with ten annotated games from the 2014 Edmonton International, is in the latest issue of Chess Canada, the CFC's electronic newsletter.
photo: Vlad Rekhson