Solitaire Chess: Are You Better Than The Rest?

Solitaire Chess:  Are You Better Than The Rest?  By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl)

Bonjour!  Take out a piece of paper; it's time for a quiz!  See if you can guess the next best move in the following miniature.  The game was played between Imbisch and Goring in 1899.  (A super long time ago.  Hooray for notation!)  Write down your move choices when I give them to you, then check your answers below.  Good luck!

This opening is called the Vienna.  (Vienna is the capital of Austria.  Not Australia.)

1.  What would you play?  a.  Nxe4    b.  Bxf7+   c.  Nb1  Write down your choice!

Don't look so surprised!  This game really happened!

2.  What would you play?  a.  Qf3+   b.  Nf3  c.  h3

 

3.  What would you play?  a.  d4   b.  Nc5   c.  Ng5

 

4.  Black resigned after this move!  Can you see why?

Excellent work!  Now check your results:

1.  a. Nxe4 -3 points.  That leads to a fork when black plays d5! And black's center is better.  b.  Bxf7+ 5points!  Excellent attacking move!  Hopefully you saw the next move, too.  c.  Nb1 0 points.  No retreating!

2.  a.  Qf3+ 5 points.   Good move!  This was the point of sacking the bishop on f7.  b.  Nf3 1 point.  Yes you are developing, but you don't need to sack a piece if you are just going to play Nc3 afterward!  c.  h3 0 points.  This does not help you with center/develop/castle (CDC) or your attack.  It's really an OMM.  (Old man move.  You probably aren't old enough to play this move.)

3.  a. d4 2 points.  It helps the bishop develop, but it's not the best move here. b.  Nc5 0 points.  Wrong side!  c.  Ng5!!  10 points!!  This is a fantastic move:  it looks like it hangs a knight but there are two checkmate threats here.  Qf7 and Qd5 are both coming.  Did you see that?  Congratulations!

4.  If the black queen takes on g5, you just play Qd5 checkmate! 10 points! Good game!

There were 30 points total.  How many did you get?  Keep practicing your tactics!Kiss 

Tip of the week:  if you are going to sacrifice on f7, you had better back it up with a fast attack!