Thanks to aristarcos and AlexHiExist (his first guess on a Chess Problem) for submitting essentially accurate responses to the Seventh Chess Problem, whether 35. Nxb7 was an accurate move. The correct answer is that 35. Nxb7?? is a losing blunder because of (the game continuation) 35. ... Rb2 36. d6 a3! 37. d7 a2!! and only then did White suddenly wake up and realize that his extra tempo with his P was worthless because...a Queen isn't worth a King! So the game ended with a whimper 38. h3 a1/Q+ 39. Kh2 Qf1 0-1.
Practically any reasonable White move is better than this, but best is 35. Nb5 to halt the a-P. White then has a chance to push his d-P even with Black's K nearby. I suspect Black still eventually wins, but it will be a much tougher fight than the immediate checkmate implosion Black actually suffered.
We now take up a Q & P ending in one of my most exciting wins as Black last month. In this position, Black has a winning but difficult-to-convert advantage against White with a P about to promote. White can potentially tie up Black with perpetual check starting with Qd4+, so Black can't easily leave d4 undefended.
White has just played 43. h4. How should Black proceed?
Fellow NESA Chess Players,
Thanks to aristarcos and AlexHiExist (his first guess on a Chess Problem) for submitting essentially accurate responses to the Seventh Chess Problem, whether 35. Nxb7 was an accurate move. The correct answer is that 35. Nxb7?? is a losing blunder because of (the game continuation) 35. ... Rb2 36. d6 a3! 37. d7 a2!! and only then did White suddenly wake up and realize that his extra tempo with his P was worthless because...a Queen isn't worth a King! So the game ended with a whimper 38. h3 a1/Q+ 39. Kh2 Qf1 0-1.
Practically any reasonable White move is better than this, but best is 35. Nb5 to halt the a-P. White then has a chance to push his d-P even with Black's K nearby. I suspect Black still eventually wins, but it will be a much tougher fight than the immediate checkmate implosion Black actually suffered.
We now take up a Q & P ending in one of my most exciting wins as Black last month. In this position, Black has a winning but difficult-to-convert advantage against White with a P about to promote. White can potentially tie up Black with perpetual check starting with Qd4+, so Black can't easily leave d4 undefended.
White has just played 43. h4. How should Black proceed?
Good luck!
xenophon98