Kent Junior Chess Association (KJCA) Coaching

This is a more challenging one. It’s from a game between two great players of the past – Vlastimil Hot and Labor Portisch in 1973. White to play and force checkmate. Solution to Puzzle No. 5 1 Rb3! and whichever way Black captures, it’s stalemate.

White to play is under pressure, as Black is threatening Rh1 + followed by Rc1+ and b1 = Q. If you look closely though, there is a brilliant move which holds the draw. Can you see it? The solution to Puzzle 4 1 Rg3 + !! Now whether Black captures…

It’s White to play. With a Rook against a Queen and pawn, things look desperate. Can White salvage the game? Solution to Puzzle No 3: 1… Qg3 + !! 2 f x g3 Re2 ++ An unexpected and most welcome Queen sacrifice!

It’s Black to play, and things look tricky, as White is threatening Qa8 ++. Can you find Black’s clever resource? It’s Black to play and checkmate in two moves. The solution to Puzzle 2: 1 Qh7 + !! K x h7 2 Rh5 + Kg8 3 Rh8 ++ Well done…

White to play and win. Can you find a checkmate? We will share the answer to this one next time. Here is the solution to Puzzle 1. 1 Qg8 + !! R x g8, 2 Nf7 ++. This is known as smothered mate, as the Black King is trapped in…

Practice makes perfect. Solving puzzles is a really effective way to improve your choice. This is a tricky one. We will share the answer when we publish Puzzle 2. Things look desperate for White and yet there is a way to emerge victorious in just two moves. Over to you.…