Alexandra Kosteniuk's CHESSBLOG.COM

The world's leading Women's Chess Blog, hosted by the Grandmaster

and Chess Queen™, Reigning 12th World Chess Champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk.


Tuesday, July 21, 2009

New ChessKillerTips Channel on YouTube




Today on my new Youtube channel -
youtube.com/chesskillertips I published a podcast with the solution to the study of Troitzky that I posted a few days ago here.

Try to solve it on your own, then when you think you have the answer, you can check it right away by pressing play! The video is only 5 minutes and is very instructive.

Hint: If you know the famous chess study by Saavedra you will have an easier time. ;-)

You can also follow the official Twitter account @chesskillertips for updates on new episodes.

Posted by: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Women's World Chess Champion
www.chessblog.com Chess Queen's Women's Blog
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Monday, July 20, 2009

Chess Study by Kosteniuk


Inspired by today's post about W. J. Baird I had a look one more time at my game against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave from the 2008 Paris Open.

During this game I created a very special idea but alas my opponent chose another continuation and at the end I lost that game. I realise now that simply adding a pair of pawns will be enough to make a real nice study out of this game.

So here is the position of my study:


Kosteniuk, 2009 (inspired by the game Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Kosteniuk, Alexandra, Paris, 2008)

Black starts and White draws.

(in the original game against Maxime, there were no pawns on the a-file.)

Here is the solution to this study:

1...h1=Q!

The only move for Black here since after 1...Rxc1 2.Qf4+ Kh5 3.Qxh2+ Kg5 4.Qf4+ Kh5 5.Qxf6, White will be better since he will be able to win the pawn on a6 later on and create a very dangerous passed pawn

2.Kd4+! Rxc1

Black even loses after 2. ... Kh5?? since after 3. Qcf4! Rd1+ 4. Kc5 Rc8+ (or Qg1+) White king escapes to d6 5. Kd6 and Black has no defense from Qh8#

3.Qg3+! Kf5


After 3...Kh6 4.Qh3+! Kg7 ( 4...Qxh3 stalemate) 5.Qd7+ Kh6 6.Qh3+ It will be a draw by perpetual check or a stalemate

4.Qh3+ Kf4 5.Qh4+ Kf3

( 5...Qxh4 stalemate)

6.Qh3+ Ke2

( 6...Kf2 7.Qh4+ Kg2 ( if 7. ... Kg1 then 8.Qf2+ Kxf2 stalemate) 8. Qg4 Kf1 9. Qe2+ Kg1 10. Qf2+ Kxf2 stalemate)

7.Qe3+

( 7.Qg2+!? is also possible)
Kd1 8.Qd2+ Kxd2 stalemate

You can watch the chesskillertips video podcast with my game against Vachier-Lagrave in
mp4 or flash format on my chesskillertips podcast web-page.

Posted by: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Women's World Chess Champion
www.chessblog.com
Join me on Twitter, or Facebook, or YouTube!

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Monday, July 6, 2009

Nice chess study by Troitzky


Here is a very nice study by Alexey Troitzky of 1924 that I really enjoyed. It's White to move. It's quite difficult so don't lose heart if you can not solve it. In one week I will make a new episode of chesskillertips with the answer to this study.

By the way, I have never heard about a female chess composer. If you know any, please let me know.

Posted by: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Women's World Chess Champion
www.chessblog.com

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