Chess Crackers (May/June 2010)


	Chess Crackers May/June 2010


	The following represent a variety of positions from the 2010 Jamaican Championship. In the following diagrams, you're challenged to find the best line of play. Each position ends with decisive material gain or mate. Solve each of the four problems (as deep as possible) and check your answers by scrolling below. No peeking!!


	No. 2


	No. 1


	Russel Porter - Shane Matthews White to Move (after 33… Nd7)


	Peter Thomas - Shane Matthews Black to Move (after 51.Nd6-e8)


	No. 3


	No. 4


	Shane Matthews - Daren Wisdom White to Move (after 32…c7-c6)


	Daren Wisdom - Geoffrey Byfield White to Move (after 43...f7-f6)


	Solutions No. 1 Porter-Matthews (2010 Jamaican Nationals, Kingston, Jamaica) This is game ends with an instructive tactical flurry. Porter ends the game swiftly with 34.Rbe1! Qd8 35. Bxd7! undermining after 35…Qxd7 36. Bxf6+. Black resigned in lieu of 36...Kxf6 37.Rxh6+ mating. (See game) No. 2 Thomas-Matthews (2010 Jamaican Nationals, Kingston, Jamaica) This was a nice sacrifice showing that the seven-time National Champion had a good understanding of the strength of his passed pawn and the fact that the knight is such a clumsy defender against the a- and h-pawns. Thus, he decided to play 51…h4! After 52. Nf6+ Kg3 53.Nxd5 h3 54. Ne7 h2 55.Nxf5 Kh3 and the pawn will queen. (See game) No. 3 Matthews-Wisdom (2010 Jamaican Nationals, Kingston, Jamaica) Another instructive finish by Matthews… this time an exchange sacrifice designed to support a dangerous passed pawn. White finished with 33.Rxe5! fxe5 34. 34. Bb6 Kg6 35. Kc4 Kf5 36. Kc5 Ra8 37.Kxc6 Ke6 38.Kb7 and black will not be able to stop the a-pawn. (See game) No. 4 Wisdom-Byfield (2010 Jamaican Nationals, Kingston, Jamaica) This game was a total disaster because black had a clear win. Instead black played the fatal 43…f7-f6 and was met rudely with 44.exf6! (all other moves lose) 44…gxf6 and now 45. h5! Kxd6 46. h6 1-0 (See game)


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