Fill-in-the-blank Puzzle

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Avatar of Aqua-Potato

Found this puzzle in a book, thought it might be interesting to share. Try fill in the blank moves without making the moves on a board (and obviously don't use an engine).

a) A novice watching this game thought that Black must win on material. Black's threat of 1.... cannot be stopped.

b) His friend, an average club player, thought that White could allow the threat and win the game by 1.... ...   2.... ...   3.... ...   4...

c) White looked at the position hard, then resigned the game. He was an expert player, and foresaw that after 1...., Black could reply 1....   2.... ... and if 3.... renewing the threat of the second move then 3.... and White no longer has any saving resource.

d) Black, a stronger expert, accepted White's resignation. but to White's horror and the astonishment of the two kibitzers, he pointed out that after White's anticipated first moves of 1.... ... White could improve his play dramatically by 2.... and after 2.... reply 3.... followed by 4.... winning on material.

e) This game was played in 1914 and casually noticed by the Hungarian grandmaster Szabo 36 years later. Szabo pointed out that all the spectators and both players had all been wrong in their assessment. Szabo said 'After 1.... as given in the last variation, Black can improve on one of the previous lines of play with 1.... ...   2.... ...   3.... ... and White can only choose between 4.... and 4....'

I'll post the answers in a bit

Avatar of Arisktotle

Solving the story is a bit harder than solving the puzzle wink

Avatar of Arisktotle

Btw, ultimately it is nicer if white still wins after the last "4...." which also would have prolonged the story a bit wink That is to say if your "4...." is the same as mine since there is a third "4..."

Avatar of Aqua-Potato
Arisktotle wrote:

Btw, ultimately it is nicer if white still wins after the last "4...." which also would have prolonged the story a bit That is to say if your "4...." is the same as mine since there is a third "4..."

I can only find two 4.... options for White though

Avatar of Arisktotle
Aqua-Potato wrote:
Arisktotle wrote:

Btw, ultimately it is nicer if white still wins after the last "4...." which also would have prolonged the story a bit That is to say if your "4...." is the same as mine since there is a third "4..."

I can only find two 4.... options for White though

There is (a) stalemate (b) repetition check (c) Ra4+ (all draws)