Category Archives: Puzzles

Problems and studies: Robert Pye web site

Robert Pye writes to say that there is a new web site, chessproblems.ie, dealing with his problems and studies, and also available to other chess problemists and study composers, born in the Republic of Ireland, who wish to make their … Continue reading

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From the Galway Blitz 2023

The (first?) Galway Blitz Championship, held last Saturday, attracted a field of 87 players, who contested 18 rounds. Tarun Kanyamarala finished first on 15½, ahead of Jacob Flynn on 15 and Oleg Gubanov on 14½. (See full results.) The top … Continue reading

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Delaney – Ludgate, Irish Championship 1983

The position in the puzzle set in the last post is from the last round game between John Delaney and Alan Ludgate in the Irish Championship 1983. It arose just after the time control, but as it was the last … Continue reading

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1… Kc_, ?

In the following position, it’s Black to play. How should he continue? To narrow it down, suppose that his next move is to play the king to the c-file. Where should it go, and why? 1… Kc_, ? The solution … Continue reading

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A controversial draw

Richtig und Falsch: Praktische Endspielkunde, by Kurt Richter and Hans-Hilmar Staudte was originally published by Walter de Gruyter Verlag in 1962 and has been reprinted several times since then, most recently last year. On page 39 (via a Google Books … Continue reading

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A stalemate puzzle

The recent Dublin Blitz Championship 2020 (Gonzaga College, February 2) featured a game in which one player had the misfortune to resign in a position where he could force an almost immediate draw by stalemate. Well, these things happen: it’s … Continue reading

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Gonzaga Charity Classic 2020

The annual Gonzaga Charity Classic was held last weekend, and it seems to have surpassed all previous versions. There were 201 players across three sections, with 532 games. The very strong Masters section was won by Tarun Kanyamarala via a … Continue reading

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Spackman – Annesley, Ulster Masters 2019

The Ulster Masters 2019 took place on November 23-24 in Bangor, with 34 players competing across two sections. The top section finished in a three-way tie between Gareth Annesley, Calum Leitch, and Danny Roberts. A full report has been added … Continue reading

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Karsten Müller on Adair – Fitzsimons

Karsten Müller has a puzzle this week at ChessBase.com that features an Irish game. As with the last post, this features David Fitzsimons and a missed draw, but this time he was on the wrong side of it. See if … Continue reading

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An instructive ending

In the diagrammed position, taken from the game between David Fitzsimons and Peter Cafolla in the 2010 Irish championship, it is Black to play. Fitzsimons – Cafolla, Irish Championship 2010 47… ? At the end of the event Peter commented … Continue reading

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