10 Red Hot Pawn Positions.

This weeks blog came about due to a diagram in saw in the Mike Fox
and Richard James column ‘Addicts Corner’ CHESS magazine May 2003.


It was sent in by a reader and was played in 2002 in the U-10 BCF Ch.


White, in check can play 1.Kf4 or Kg2 etc but they saw an idea.
Why not play 1.Kh4 and threaten 2.g5 mate. This only succeeded
in dropping a massive hint for what Black played next. 1...g5 mate.

I thought I’ll use that and add on one or two RHP examples.
I found dozens and whilst pruning what ones to leave out I
kept changing my mind. Eventually I said; ‘I’ll use them all!’

Ten RHP blunders all linked to same idea as the one above.

TAZ220 - CaptainP RHP 2011 (black to play)


Black can play 1....b5 mate but instead 1....Nd3 2.b5 mate.

Ooops - scoop122 RHP 2021 (Black to play)


1....g5 mate was not played. The game went 1...Rxa3 2.g5 mate

rfurness - david1947 RHP 2021 (Black to play)


1...Kg8 and soon it will be 0-1. 1...Kh6 was played and so was 2.g5 mate.

There were quite a few like this next one. The dream of getting a new
Queen clouds the vision and the dream soon turns into a nightmare.

Joe1949 - SERGEANTPMAIN RHP 2022 (Black to play)


1...e2 the pawn cannot be prevented from Queening. 2.g5 mate

Titotot - Peterbowen8 RHP 2021 (Black to play)


The Black Rooks chased the White King to h4 and now they must be careful.
The move to stop the mate and win is 1....fxg4. But we saw 1...Rb4 2. g5 mate.

How many is that? Five. Halfway. Here is an advert.


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Petman3000 - Nortel RHP 2009 (Black to play)


White has just played 1.c4-c5 Black should now play 1...dxc5.
Instead Black took the Queen. 1...Rxd3 2. c6+ Ka6 3.b5 mate.

SirLurch - Nikola Stokic RHP 2013 (Black to play)


Another trap. White left the Rook hanging, Black took it 1....Qxd1 2.g5 mate.
Instead Black has a clear perpetual with a 1...Qf2+ 2.Kh3 Qf3+ etc and etc.

Miracle - jaycocamper RHP 2013 (Black to play_


White is called ‘Miracle’ and Black actually needs one, there is one!
1.Qxh3+ Kxh3 stalemate. But it was not played. 1...Qf3 2.g5 mate

This time, for a change, Black wins and I could easily give 20 White wins
and 20 Black wins all with the same theme but I think we have had enough.

ghaith - Benor RHP 2022 (White to play)


Same bad move as one we saw above. What is it with RHP players that
whenever there is a promotion on the horizon their brain turns to jelly

1.g5 mate was not played. instead we saw 1 e7 g5 mate.

Last one, because there is no study/puzzle this week...here is one


ahoy - Samu31 RHP 2018 (Black to play)


1...g5+ will force a mate for Black in a few moves.
1...Qd4 was played. Now you have to find White’s win




The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 206428