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

White Black The Rebel Rook (1) Wotawa 1951 Rookending and black is a pawn up. But white can take it back in a minute. So a draw or what? No, by breaking the rules for "normal" play in a rookending, the white rook becomes the rebellious hero of the day. Test: To find the winning line for white in normal tournament level. 2. Ra3 Rc7 3. Rg3 a3 4. a7 Rxa7 5. Rg8 Ra4 6. g4+ Rxg4 7. Rxg4 b5 8. Rb4 a2 9. Rxb5+ Kg6 10. Ra5 1-0

Move

White Black Totally Paralysed (1) Horwitz,B study 1885 This one might prove as mission impossible. Black is totally paralysed from start and white is winning - but how?? Maybe more amusing for humans than for silicons. One could characterize black's position as slightly passive, but how could white make progress. Looks hard... Test: Win it! Draw scores like 0.00 are not trusted... 1-0

Move

White Black The Weekend Nicholas (1) Troitzky, (Schachmaty 1934) 1934 The title of this one is refeering to a famous movie star. Wasn't it Con Air, something with Las Vegas and Face Off?! And this person might give a clue to the solution of this riddle. It's white to move and win. He has two bishops for a knight and pawn + a rook each. Not much material left to win considered that both white's preachers are thratened at the moment...[1.-Rxd8, 1.-Rh2+]. Test: Reveal the secrets! White is winning but how? Showing +0.87 or +1.63 won't do... I like this one but then again, I like Nicholas too... 1-0

Move

White Black The Giant King (1) Reti 1928 This position is materially imbalanced. White has queen and pawn for rook and bishop. But the problem is the white king! He's in deep trouble concerning the threat 1...Be5 2.Q~~ Rh8 mate. At the moment he suffers the consequences of a very optimistic walk right into enemy territory. Still he can be the hero of the day! Logic and poetry, hand in hand... Test: This is a win for white. The solution is further down. Warning: This one might be difficult for your program... 1. Kh6 Be5 2. Kg7!! Bh2 2...Bxf6+ 3.gxf6 3. c4! bxc4 4. e5!! Bxe5 5. bxc4 Bxf6+ 5...Bh2 6.c5 Be5 7.cxd6! 6. gxf6 Rh8 7. Kxh8 Kd7 8. Kg8 Ke6 9. Kg7 +- Reti, 1928 1–0 1-0

Move

White Black The Enchanted Castle (1) Hilse-Kunstmann, Hamburg 1921 The story goes that the black player just had realized, that in the long run he would lose this game. It was an important match and he had stubbornly defended his difficult position, being an exchange down, when a sudden touch of magic and inspiration entered his mind... So, he played Kd8-e8, wrote down the move in his score sheet, and shook his head. The following deep sigh convinced the white player that his victory was close. We now have the position in the diagram above. Here white quickly played 1.Rc7 and glanced at his more and more depressed opponent. Black sighed once more and replied with 1.-Kd8. Yes, in lost positions additional mistakes come easy, white thought, and played his decisive 2.Rxd7+?. Instead of resigning, the black player now smiled, quickly played 2...Kxd7 and ordered two sandwiches with Wurst and a cup of coffee... Test: Does your program avoid the trap 1.Rc7 Kd8 *2.Rxd7+?* This position is now a draw. 1. Rc7 Kd8 2. Rxd7+? *

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