Tries with common error

Narayanan's Problem corner

Tries with common error

The artistic element of difficulty in a problem is the try. The composer may arrange pieces in a suggestive grouping so that one method of attack draws the solver’s attention and obscures the real solution. The play following a try, termed as virtual play in problem parlance, opened up a new phase in the modern two-mover. The tries which are plausible white moves and almost near keys are refuted by a single black defence. Tries not only provide changed play of interest but also make an impact when they proliferate with a purpose. There are scores of problems which seldom show any worthwhile play after the key but the interest in these revolve around the motifs and the errors committed by the tries. Tries often arise by having the key-piece somewhat obvious with the deception centering around its disposition.

The following example where the play is centered around the tries by the WNe4 may be studied closely.

I.Savournin

First prize,Brogi Memorial Ty, 1978

' Each try creates a different threat but end up committing a common or equivalent error.1.Nf6? (tries are denoted by a question mark akin to a questionable move in the game!) threatens 2.Nd5 but defeated by 1…Qa8! (refuting moves are denoted by an exclamation mark). Here black takes advantage of white’s inability to play 2.Qf8. Similarly 1.Nd6? (2.Rf5) is defeated by 1…Qb2! pinning the white rook(2.Qf8?!) Another try 1.Nc5? (2.Nd3) is refuted by 1…Qxb3!(again 2.Qf8?!) The three tries commit similar error i.e coming in the way of the white queen’s mate on f8. The tries which affect the other diagonal of the white queen are 1. Nd2? (2.eNd3) refuted by 1…Bc2! (2.Qc2 not possible) and 1. Nc3? (Nd5) but 1…Rd2! Again the WN comes in the way of 2.Qxc2. All the five tries interfere with the WQ in the two potential white mates 2.Qf8 and 2.Qc2.

The key is 1.Ng3! (2. Rf5) managing not to come in the way of WQ. The solver will not be appreciate an artistic problem if he chances on the key in the first instance and fail to notice the tries but here he cannot but look at the other moves of the key-piece. The ultimate test of a good try lies in the subtlety of the black defence which makes it inoperative.

H.Ahues & Volkmann
I Pr, SVDortmund Hombruch 1951

Mate in two moves

The second problem by the try expert has obvious tries by the WBd5 and its duel with the black knight is interesting.

'Tries': 1.Ba2? …Nb3! 1. Bh1? …Ne4! 1. Ba8? …Nb7! 1.Bg8? …Ne6! 1.Bc6? …Rd8! The first four tries are thematic tries where white crosses a critical square, black knight closes the bishop line so that white is unable to close WRd1 for 2.Nd3. An original conception.

Problems for solving:
M.Lipton The Problemist 1979	J.C.Van Gool I Pr, Urania TT 1980
		Solutions to the problems in The Ideal Rukhlis Ellerman 1. Qf5! Parthasarthy 1.Qg4!
Mate in Two moves	Mate in Two moves

- C G S Narayanan

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Glossary

Symbol	Meaning
+	Check
#	Checkmate
x	Capture
!	Good Move
!!	Excellent Move
?	Bad move
??	Blunder
!?	Interesting Move
?!	Dubious Move
1-0	White Wins
0-1	Black Wins
1/2	Draw
Twoer	Mate in Two Moves

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About the author

C G S Narayanan C.G.S.Narayanan, an international composer of repute, has been composing Chess problems for the past thirty years. He has won several awards for his compositions in International composing tourneys and he has an output of over 300 problems to his credit. He is the second Indian to win the prestigious Brian Harley Award for the best two-mover composed by a subject of British Commonwealth twice in 1977 and 1991. He has been editing THE HINDU Chess problem column from 1982 onwards, after S.K.Narasimhan. He has captained the Indian team in the World Chess Compositions Tournaments held by FIDE.

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