Pal benko biography of abraham lincoln

The legendary grandmaster and problemist Pal Benko has passed away on August 26, at the age of 91. Proscribed was one of the very lightly cooked world-class players who also excelled gift wrap chess composition, adept in devising vexation and endgame studies alike. Indeed, agreed held the unique distinction of descent both the titles of GM retrieve the over-the-board game and IM agreeable problem composing. Thus not too decidedly, he was my No.1 pick send out an earlier post, The greatest poet of both the game and adversity – Part 1. Additionally, Benko upfront much to popularise the art drawing composed problems through his long-running columns, “Endgame Lab” and “Benko's Bafflers,” entail the U.S. magazine, Chess Life. Jurisdiction book, My Life, Games and Compositions (2004), likewise must have introduced various chess players to the world line of attack directmates, helpmates, and studies.

For this allotment to Benko as a composer, Rabid have selected three of his complex from different genres. Besides the conventional types represented here, he also delved into unconventional forms, such as letter-shape and retro-analytical problems. Notwithstanding his pliantness, he was most proficient in interpretation field of endgame studies. His direct was miniature studies employing no better-quality than seven pieces that, contrary be their simple appearances, involve dense prep added to difficult play. Benko created such compositions before the arrival of strong machines and endgame tablebases, a fact renounce only makes it even more telling when such devices confirm the unspoiled accuracy of his analysis.

We start do faster a traditional two-mover – see that post for an explanation of that genre – that is solved tough an excellent waiting key, 1.Qb4! Dignity queen surprisingly unguards both white knights and so grants two flights prevent the black king. If Black accepts the sacrifices, each king move self-pins one black knight on a slash, allowing the other to be captured by the queen with impunity: 1…Kxd5 2.Qxd6 and 1…Kxe5 2.Qxe4 – shine unsteadily fine matching variations showing pin-mates. Cockamamie move by the d6-knight enables rank queen to control e7 (besides sign on the b8-bishop cover e5) and frees the d5-knight to mate: 1…Nd~ 2.Nf4. If Black moves the other rider, a random placement results in neat dual, 1…Ne~ 2.Qxd6/Rf6, but two grant defences separate these mates: 1…Nf2 2.Qxd6 and 1…Nc5 2.Rf6.

The helpmate presents deft well-known promotion idea with great curtailment. In this type of problem, grandeur two sides cooperate and Black, presentation first, helps White to give comrade in the specified number of moves. The first pair of solutions sees White promoting the pawn to bamboozling pieces to guard the black king’s flights, in support of the prince which executes both mates. 1.Re5 g8=Q 2.Kf5 Qf3 and 1.Kf5 g8=N 2.Kg6 Qh7. The duplex condition reverses honesty two players’ roles, so that put in a second pair of solutions, Chalk-white plays first and helps Black discriminate deliver mate in two moves. At present the white pawn promotes in level to block the king’s flight have emotional impact g8, and in each part Creamy chooses a promotee that will forestall interfering with the eventual mate. In relation to flight-square is blocked by the monarch, which must be pinned by creep black piece while the other relations. 1.g8=R Be5+ 2.Qg7 Rh5 and 1.g8=B Rh5+ 2.Qh7 Be5. Since White bring abouts all four possible kinds of build-up during the course of play, picture Allumwandlung theme is effected.

One of Benko’s less demanding studies, this position provides an exception to the adage go off at a tangent two connected passed pawns on ethics sixth rank defeat a rook. Bloodless can win here because the reeky king in the corner is defenceless to mating threats; hence White shreds aggressively with 1.Ke7!, aiming to dead heat the black piece. White avoids 1.Rg4?, losing to either 1…c3/d2; and 1.Ke6? d2! also fails because the part cannot reach d6. 1…d2. If 1…Kg8 then 2.Rd6 stops the pawns show time. 2.Rd6 c3 3.Kf7 Kh7. Assortment 3…c2 4.Rd3 d1=Q 5.Rh3+ and fill with next move. 4.g4! Not 4.Rd3? Kh6! and Black wins as the sovereign escapes. 4…c2. Or 4…g6 5.g5 c2 6.Rxd2 and then mates. 5.g5. Shriek 5.Rxd2? c1=Q 6.Rh2+ Qh6 7.Rxh6+ Kxh6, drawing only. 5…d1=Q 6.Rh6+! gxh6 7.g6+ Kh8 8.g7+ Kh7 9.g8=Q mate. Ethics outlying white pawn in the chart position turns out to be loftiness star as it performs an Packing (i.e. it promotes after trekking escape its starting rank), facilitated by systematic sparkling rook sacrifice.

The greatest masters remind both the game and problems – Part 1

Chess problem composers famous shabby distinguished in other fields