Checkmate with Charousek. Some Puzzle Fun for the Holidays.

Happy New Year everyone!

I am trying to learn how to do some new stuff for my blogs. 'Always learning - eyes shining like spotlights, I guess', as the great Fris Holloway once said.

So I am going to try to post some puzzles for you to enjoy - it will make a change from games that you have never seen, by players that you have never heard of, if nothing else!

A couple of days ago I put up a game by the young Kasparov. There was a quote in my head that I wanted to include, but I couldn't place it. I have  a rubbish memory.  My  head is full of things that I have read and games  that I have  looked at , but I can't quite put my finger on them!! It's really frustrating, but what can you do? 

As someone interested in psycho-neurology, I would hate to have to have to look at one of my own brain scans!!

Anyway - it finally came to me - Reti - in his wonderful book 'Modern Ideas in Chess', said this when talking about the 'Chess Comet' Rudolf - as he himself wrote, or 'Rezso', if you prefer,  Charousek.

''It is a delight to watch a young and gifted chess player. to him have come no sinister experiences; to him continual carping is foreign. Therefore he loves the attack and the bold sacrifice.''

Indeed, it is a delight to study Charousek - he had a style, as Reti put it, 'so simple that no-one could emulate it'. He was also bold, and his games are full of mating attacks carried out with huge energy and imagination.

So, I have put together half a dozen positions from his games. the aim is not 'White to play and win', but White to play and to absolutely force mate. I hope you enjoy them - without help from the engines!

The first one is not a great one for the idea, since there is more than one move order that will work, but it is the earliest known game of Charousek, and so I decided to include it.

This next one is the finish from a game that is one of Charousek's most famous - because it was the game used in Kester Svendsen's famous, and rather wonderful,  short story 'The Last Round', from 'Chess World', 1947.

And finally, an idea reminiscent of a problem, conceived during an over the board game. Charousek has sacrificed pretty much a whole Rook to reach this position.  His idea is truly beautiful. Call it my combined Christmas and New Year present,  as a thank you to those who read my posts and make such kind comments. See you all in 2019 - may the New Year be kind to you all.