Summer is a tough time to be in the house blogging. Your humble scribe will strive to work harder ...and golf less.
Anyway, LCCC is doing well - both over the board and on line on Chess. com.
Our every other Monday meetings at the Buffalo Wild Wings in Brighton, MI from 4pm until 10pm continue to draw crowds. Both new and old members seem to show up every week.
We had 16 players on June 21 - including 5 new members. We had 15 players on July 12 with another 5 new players! Welcome everyone! See you all again on Monday July 26 at 4pm until 10pm.
And if you would like to play for the Club in Daily (3 or more days to make a move usually) Matches on Chess dot com, feel free to join both the site and the Club for free. The only requirement is that you sign up for some of the matches as the challenges are accepted and don't forfeit!
Now some endgame analysis for beginners:
So you won the race to queen first, but your opponent is about to queen his pawn to tie the game. How do you stop him?
Well it requires careful handling. But the Queen, if handled correctly, will do the work for you.
1. Qd1+ Kf2
2. Qd2+ Kf1
3. Qf4+ Ke2
4. Qg3 Kf1
5. Qf3+ Kg1
Mission accomplished. The black king blocks his own pawn so now you are free to move up your Monarch for the surrender or mate.
6. Ke7 Kh2
7. Qh5+ Kg1
8. Qe2 Kh2
9. Qf2 Kh1
10. Qh4+ Kg1
Again, the white king can move and will soon be close enough to force checkmate!
11. Ke6 Kf1
12. Qf4+ Ke1
13. Qe3+ Kf1
14. Qf3+ Kg1
15. Ke5 Kh2
16. Qf4+ Kh1
17. Qh4+ Kg1
18. Ke4 Kf1
19. Qh3 Kf2
20. Qh2 Kf1
21. Kf3 Black resigns
Faced with either:
A) 21. .....g1=Q, 22. Qe2 mate
B) 21. .....g1=N+ 22. Kf4, Nh3 23. Ke3, Nf4 24. Qf2 mate
C) 21. .....Ke1 22. Qxg2, Kd1 23. Qb2, Ke1 24. Qe2 mate
