This is a compilation of a large set of positions posted by Sune Larsson at the CCC computer chess forum. Try your silicon and find out that there is still hope for human kind as these are the strategic kind of positions computers still have a hard time. You even may find out you will do better than the silicon.

Enjoy!

Move

Master Paradox Mr.Doubt The Beauty Queen (1) Study by Paul Keres 2001 It was late one night in the smoky, old club house. Master Paradox was blitzing as white against the stubborn Mr.Doubt. In highest time pressure Master Paradox played 1.Qa2+ and hissed out: "Mate". "Hah, this is no mate. I just take it!", Mr Doubt yelled and played his 1.-bxa2. "I said mate", replied Master Paradox with rugged voice - lifted his knight and placed it with a thud on c6 (2.Nc6). Mr Doubt stared at the position. Naturally he couldn't believe his own eyes...shuffled up the pieces and left the room without a word. True? Not really ;) This position is from Keres. White, a queen up, faces the unpleasant ...b2+. The only way to bring it home is the paradoxical 1.Qa2+! After 1.-bxa2 2.Nc6! black is helpless against the threat 3.Nd4 with mate on b3(c2). A true beauty! Test: This position should be solvable since there is a forced mate. 1. Qa2+! bxa2 2. Nc6! 1-0

Move

White Black The Burial (1) EPD2diag V1.5 2001 The story goes that the unknown white player had made some miscalculations in the middlegame. Now he sat there staring at the black h2 pawn, which was just about to promote. His opponent was walking around with a big smile on his face. Heavy clouds entered the white player's mind. Not only was he facing a loss in the team match but just recently a good friend of his had passed away. When suddenly an ingenious idea flashed his mind! Oh yes, there was indeed a miraculous way to save half a point! Test: White to move and make a draw. Fritz seems to have a good idea about these queer things. The solution: 1.h7+ Kh8 2.Bg7+! Kxh7 3.Ba1+! [The point. White has to bury his own bishop.] 3...Kh6 4.Rxc6+ Kh5 5.Kb2!! [Very surprising! Now the bishop is no longer alive] 5.-h1Q [The threat was Rc1. On 5.-Bc2 there follows 6.Rc8 and Rh8+] 6.Rh6+! Kxh6 and white cannot move... 1. h7+ Kh8 2. Bg7+! Kxh7 3. Ba1+! Kh6 4. Rxc6+ Kh5 5. Kb2!! h1=Q 6. Rh6+! Kxh6 1/2-1/2

Move

Dr J. Perlis N.N. The Royal Miracle (1) Germany 2001 True story this time. The above position happened in a free game between Dr J. Perlis and N.N., many years ago, in Germany I think. The good doctor was a generous man and played without a queen from the start. So it's not strange that he is missing one in the above position. And since we are careful, scientific people we shall have a closer look at it with Fritz. Okey, white is a queen down, is standing in check right now, Fritz gives 3 ways to go: 1.Ke2 -19.44 1.Ke1 -19.75 1.Kg1 -19.12 Guess it's time for a new game... In fact it is - because after 1.Kg1! *black* is mated in 6 moves. 1-0

Move

Minev Dukanovic Bishop against 3 pawns (1) Beograd 1977 This position happened in Minev-Dukanovic, Beograd 1977. Black played 1...Bc3? and lost after 2.h7! Kg7 3.Ke6! But the draw was there with 1.-Bc1! 2.h7 Kg7 3.g6 Bb2 4.Ke6 Kh8!! Test: The above position is a draw after 1...Bc1 and should be evaluated close to 0.00. 1... Bc1 1/2-1/2

Move

Kurt Richter Schlage The Silence of the Knight (1) Berlin 1930 1930 This is the game Kurt Richter - Schlage, Berlin 1930. We can call it a positional test. The theme is about immobilizing your opponent's pieces. Guess Richter was in a splendid mood when he played 1.c5! bxc5 2.b5! Nb8 3.Lc4! The black knight was a mere spectator for the rest of the game: 1.c5! bxc5 2.b5! Nb8 3.Bc4! Rde8 4.f4 Rc8 5.a4 h6 6.Rd5 g5 7.fxg5 Qxg5 8.Qxg5 hxg5 9.g4! fxg4 10.Rxe4 Rf4 11.Rxf4 gxf4 12.Rg5 g3 13.hxg3 fxg3 14.Kg2 Kh7 15.Kxg3 a6 16.Kf4 axb5 17.axb5 Kh6 18.Rg8 Rxg8 19.Bxg8 Kg7 20.Bc4 Kf6 21.Ke4 Kg5 22.Kd5 Kf4 23.Kxc5 Ke5 24.Bg8 Kf6 25.Kb6 1-0 Test: Your program should give white a big +score for the moveorder 1.c5! bxc5 2.b5! 1. c5! bxc5 2. b5! Nb8 3. Bc4! Rde8 4. f4 Rc8 5. a4 h6 6. Rd5 g5 7. fxg5 Qxg5 8. Qxg5 hxg5 9. g4! fxg4 10. Rxe4 Rf4 11. Rxf4 gxf4 12. Rg5 g3 13. hxg3 fxg3 14. Kg2 Kh7 15. Kxg3 a6 16. Kf4 axb5 17. axb5 Kh6 18. Rg8 Rxg8 19. Bxg8 Kg7 20. Bc4 Kf6 21. Ke4 Kg5 22. Kd5 Kf4 23. Kxc5 Ke5 24. Bg8 Kf6 25. Kb6 1-0

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