Chess Grandmaster Nikolai Spiridonovich Rossolimo, who was born in Ukraine when it was part of the Russian Empire, played for France in the Chess Olympiads of 1950 and 1972, and for the United States in 1958, 1960, and 1966. He was awarded the International Master title in 1950 and the International Grandmaster title in 1953. Rossolimo won many brilliancy prizes for his beautiful chess games, and has been called an "artist of chess". The strongest players he defeated were Efim Bogoljubov, David Bronstein, and former World Champion Max Euwe, against whom he had two wins and a lifetime plus score. He also scored draws against four world champions: José Capablanca, Max Euwe, Bobby Fischer, and Vassily Smyslov. He authored two chess books, and ran the legendary Rossolimo Chess Studio in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. The Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence bears his name. Sadly, Rossolimo died of head injuries following a fall down a flight of stairs, just after finishing third in his final event, the 1975 World Open.
The position below is taken from a game played between Nicolas Rossolimo and Gabriel Wood in 1949. The game, which started off with the E90 King's Indian opening, ended in victory for Rossolimo, who was playing white.
The position below is taken from a game played between Nicolas Rossolimo and Gabriel Wood in 1949. The game, which started off with the E90 King's Indian opening, ended in victory for Rossolimo, who was playing white.
Taking a look at the position above (white to move), which developed after the 86th move, can you come up with a forced sequence that leads to a checkmate for white?
You can post your answer (preferably in algebraic chess notation) as a comment below.
Lets see how many of you can solve this correctly. All the best!
Am I missing something? This looks pretty straightforward.
ReplyDeleteWell .. everything is straightforward once you get it! ;)
DeleteIf I am not wrong, is it just in two moves.. starting with Queen to e5!!
ReplyDeleteNo, you are not wrong!! :P
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