Feb 7 Results

Results

Friday Jan 31 at Friendly Hills 3:40-6:00
  ROUND 3 MetcB 4, Heritage 1; MetcC 4, FHMS 1; FS 1,  MetcA 4
  ROUND 4 FHMS 3, Heritage 2;  MetcB 0 MetcA 5; MetcC 5, FS

Friday Feb 7   at Metcalf  3:40-6:00
  ROUND 5 Heritage 3 FS 2, MetcA 4.5 MetcC 0.5, FHMS 0.5 MetcB 4.5
  ROUND 6 Heritage 0 MetcA 5, FS 1 FHMS 4, MetcB 4 MetcC 1

Team      Match Games
Metcalf A  6-0 28.5- 1.5
Metcalf B  5-1 21.5- 8.5
Metcalf C  3-3 14.5-15.5
FHMS       3-3 12.0-18.0
Heritage   1-5  7.0-23.0
FaithShep  0-6  6.5-23.5

Metcalf C has to play both FHMS and Heritage next time!

Remaining Schedule 

Friday Feb 14 no games

Friday Feb 21 at Metcalf  3:40-6:00
  ROUND 7 MetcC vs Heritage, MetcB vs FS, FHMS vs MetcA
  ROUND 8 Heritage vs MetcB, MetcC vs FHMS, MetcA vs FS

Friday Feb 28 at Heritage 3:40-6:00
  ROUND9 Heritage vs FHMS, MetcA vs MetcB, FS vs MetcC
  ROUND 10 FS vs Heritage, MetA vs MetcC, MetcB vs FHMS

PUZZLES
PROBLEM #1 Here's a complicated position from Claire of Friendly Hills vs Aidan of Heritage.
It turned out to be the decisive game in a 3-2 victory for Friendly Hills.
It's Black's turn. He has two pieces in trouble. Can he save both or at least escape with minor damage?

PROBLEM #2
Chase of Heritage has checked the Black king. Shanmuka of Friendly Hills has blocked with his bishop. Before thinking about your next move, count the points in pieces (Q=10, R=5, B=3, P-=1).
a) who is ahead? b) What should White' plan be? c) What should Black's plan be? d) Finally, in accordance with the plan, how should Chase save his queen?

PROBLEM #3
It's Luke's turn as black against J. Sharma from Metcalf on Board 1. What's the correct move?

#4 EASY Black's last move was Kb5 attack White's b pawn. This was Shanmuka's last chance for an easy win. (He missed it!)

ANSWERS
#1.  First notice that if the bishop retreats, White cannot take the knights because of Bxg4+ winning the queen. However, White could exchange Queens first, allowing the capture of the knight.
But Black can prevent the Queen trade by playing Bd4 saving both pieces. If White plays c3 attacking the Bishop, Black counters with Bf5 threatening exf3+ with a discovered attack on the rook.
Black has the upper hand after Nc3 with threats of Nxd4+ followed by Qa4+. So the correct move is Bd4. However, Black can also reverse the order of the first two move and play exf3+ first.

#2. a) both sides are equal in material
     b) White has 3 passed pawns on the d and e files. His goal should be to promote one to a queen.
     c) Black has 3 passed pawns on the g and h files. His goal should be to promote one to a queen.
     d) White's correct move is is e5! (The computer has White ahead by a significant amount. Unfortunaely Chase played Qd2 losing control of the e5 square and giving Black, a significant advantage,)

#3 Nx e4 (Not Bxe4 which White answers with an undermining move - Bxf6)

#4. Nd4+ forking the King and Rook! From there the plan is take the Rook, take the f-pawn with the rook take the g-pawn with the N, Nh7 and march the pawn to queendom.