DISAPPEARING ACTS

In a game played in 2006 between two moderately rated British players, following position was reached after black’s 14^th move.

RUDD-ROBERTSON 2006
WHITE TO MOVE

15.  e5

White played this innocent looking pawn breakthrough and all of a sudden all hell broke loose. Pieces started disappearing left, right and center.

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THE ART OF (UN)CASTLING

All of us know about ‘Castling’. But have you ever heard about ‘Uncastling’? Well now you have.  

A delightful little chess problem composed by Gerald F. Anderson in 1917 demonstrates the uses of both castling and uncastling.

  WHITE TO PLAY & MATE IN 4 MOVES

If you want to uncastle, you have to castle first….

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CHANGING THE RULES

As you may know already, chess problem composers are a clever lot. You can trust them not to miss an opportunity to exploit even the slightest loop hole in the rules book. Over the years, ambiguities in the definition of some chess terms offered them ample scope for manipulation.

Following is a very old puzzle that looks absolutely impossible.

WHITE TO PLAY AND MATE IN ONE MOVE

ONE MOVE ? Really ?

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TURNING THE TABLES

The fourth world champion Alexander Alekhine is considered by many as one of the greatest chess players ever. He has the dubious distinction of being the only player to have died as the reigning world champion, unfortunately because his final years coincided with the second world war.

One of the greatest strengths Alekhine had was his ability to evaluate the playing strength & limitations of his lesser opponents & act accordingly. Here’s a legendary story about Alekhine’s exploits.

Following position was reached in a game during a simultaneous exhibition given by Alekhine against a group of German officers in 1943. He was playing white.

BLACK TO MOVE – “I RESIGN, MY POSITION IS HOPELESS”

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