Happy Father's Day

Quote of the Day: My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." -- Harmon Killebrew

For the second year in a row, Tash and I spent Father's Day in Idaho. And like last year we had a wonderful time visiting Tash's parents, Gene & Celeste Fox. With the temperature in the upper eighties and not a cloud in the sky, we sat on the lawn at Ste. Chappelle Winery in Caldwell, Idaho, sipping wine and listening to a live concert by Steve Eaton. Mr. Eaton is a talented vocalist who played the keyboard and accoustic guitar. He was accompanied by Steve Flick on saxaphone and flute.

The last time I was with my children on Father's Day was 2006 when my daughter Elizabeth drove me from Massachusetts to Connecticut to visit my son, daughter-in-law & granson before taking me to the airport for a flight to Seattle. Sadly, I have not been able to fly back east since.

I'll be right back with more text and photos...

Problem Solution

White to move.

Position is after 31...exf3+. The game is between F. Niro & D. Gregoryev, Eastern Open, Washington D.C., 1996.

Your choices are:
a. gxf3
b. Kxf3
c. other

Answer and analysis:
Best is b. 32.Kxf3 with a dead draw after 32...h5 33.Kf4 g6 34.h3 Re7 35.Kg5 Kf7 36.g4 (1/2-1/2).

a. 32.gxf3? loses after 32...Re7+. For example, 33.Kd3 g5 34.Ra2 Kf7 35.Kc3 h5 36.Kb4 g4 37.fxg4 hxg4 38.Rc2 f4 39.Rg2 f3 40.Rxg4 f2 41.Rf4+ Ke8, etc. (0-1)

c. Any other move will lose because once the king steps aside, White has the choice of f2 or fxg2. One or the other will win easily in every situation.

What's the best move?

White to move.

Position is after 31...exf3+. The game is between F. Niro & D. Gregoryev, Eastern Open, Washington D.C., 1996.

Your choices are:
a. gxf3
b. Kxf3
c. other

Click here for answer and analysis.