Amazing Robots, Skewers and The Beatles

Look what I picked up at a charity shop.


If you never had one of these when you were a kid then you dipped out
on a fulfilled, cherished and educational childhood. This was a great gift
to get at Christmas. People came from miles around just to stare at it in
wonder and in...er...amazement! All the kids on the block were jealous.

I never had one. I was one of the jealous kids on the block. Instead of the
Amazing Robot I got fobbed off with chess set and look what happened to me.


The amazing robot has a pointer in its hand and pointed to a question.
You guessed the answer and then put the amazing robot on the mirror.


The amazing robot then pointed to the correct answer. It was amazing.

I’ve always liked robots, not just the Amazing Robot but all kinds of robots.
I have a 1958 clockwork wind up robot that does not wind up anymore and a
Cyberman from Dr. Who that when the batteries are in shouts threats at you.


But just how amazing is the Amazing Robot? I thought I’d find out by putting
it on a chessboard just to see what happened. What happened was amazing!


The amazing robot started moving the pointer about telling me where to put the
pieces. I obeyed and the game it played was amazing. Here is the game it created.




The first puzzle of 2025 is the end of a Troitzky Study. (It’s a white to play and win.)

But before I show it here is a clue how White will win it.


Apparently this term was first used by school teacher Edgar Pennell (1902-85) in 1937.

In the ending with open diagonals, files and ranks the Skewer is your main tactical
weapon. The King in an ending is the Skewers favourite mark. Once a King starts
roaming over the empty squares it has to be very careful where it steps. Rooks,
Bishops and Queens are watching its every move and the Kings pieces, they too have
to be careful. Always remember, a Skewer, because it is a check, is very rarely missed.


Did I just say that? I wonder how rare. I bet myself a chocolate biscuit I could
find a missed Skewer in an RHP game. Finding played Skewers and Forks etc is
easy. I just look for KQ+P’s v KQ+P’s endings with a QxQ that ended 1-0 or 0-1.

rdlor - G Loree RHP 2024 (Black in check should play 48..Kh6.)

but they took the g4 pawn 48...Kxg4 49.Qe6+ and the Black Queen was Skewered.

Finding that one took a few minutes. But finding an unplayed Skewer means I might
have to go through 100’s of ending looking for a missed Skewer. Good, A challenge.
I searched for KQ+P’s v KQ+P’s ending in a draw and expected it to take quite a while.
So I put on a Beatles CD (‘Beatles for Sale) and settled down for a pleasant evening.


The second track, aptly called ‘I’m a Loser’ had just finished when I found one!

MrY2023 - phannan RHP 2024 (White in check should play 46. Kc8 or .Kd8 or Kc6.)


White, probably concentrating on not dropping the c2 pawn with check, played 46. Kd6.
Black fully concentrating on the c2 pawn played 48...Qxc2 missing the Skewer 48...Qh2+
(Thank You to MrY2023 and phannan it has been ages since I listened to that C.D.)

The most famous Skewer, the one that appears in most books covering the endgame
appears in the following game. It is a tactic has been missed quite a few times on RHP

hrast - Poisbois RHP 2011 (White to play)


An idea well knowing. White played 60.Rh8 threatening a8=Q. 60...Rxa7 61.Rh7+

And juts one example of the win being missed.

nastys so lucky - CloudsTheDestroyer RHP 2016 (White to play)


White failed to spot the Skewer pattern with 46.Rh8. The game ended in a draw.

Now onto the first and because I’ve yakked on so much, only puzzle.

White to play and win by Alexi Troitzky (1866-1942)

The artist Troitzky in full flight. The g3 pawn is not only critical in allowing White
to win it gives the solver a clue. If Black runs it then a Skewer waiting in the wings.
1.b7 (I have even given you the first move!) 1...g2 2.b8=Q g1=Q 3.Qa7+ and Qxg1.

The variation to bust is 1.b7 c2. The Black King is not going to be obliging and walk
into a Skewer you have to force it to go where it does not want to go. Good Luck.

What a way to start 2025. One puzzle and loads of waffle about Amazing Robots.


The Troitzky Study. White to play and win.





The Beatles connection and The Skewer? Edgar Pennell was a school teacher in Liverpool.

Next week will probably be Ray Guns, Pins, Forks and The Rolling Stones.

The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 201685