Zorro The Fox and Mallys Trap
By on 27 Jun 25
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Back in 2014 I blogged that ZorroTheFox had just made their one millionth move.
This is the banner I used back then (I’ve no idea what the Eskimo thing was about)
I’m still on my save the planet kick so I’ll use the same gif.
(with global warming are there any Eskimos still about?)
Zorro The Fox has made three million moves here on Red Hot Pawn.
The magic move was made in the game Zorro v mig2 started in April.
White played 22. Qe2-g4. (I cannot help being moot - 22.Rf7 was better. :} )
At the time of writing Zorro has played 77,135 games. W. 39,725 and L. 31,038.
(Here is your first puzzle - how many games, so far, has ZorroTheFox drawn?)
The Zorro strategy is get the attack first and do not worry too much about gifting
a pawn or two, or a piece...or a Queen. The important thing is to attack because
defending is where most Red Hot Pawn blunders happen. The other main cause is
just seeing your threats and completely ignoring what your opponent is up too.
Of course the speed Zorro The Fox is obviously playing then slips will happen.
Two war cries on this blog are; ‘Check All Checks’ and ‘Pause Before Promoting.’
ZorroTheFox - joeboy69 RHP 2023 (White to play)
Zorro lost this by allowing the Queens to come off. The draw was a Queen’s Skewer
Triangle. First 1.Qh1+ and then checks on a8+ or h8+ till a draw can be claimed.
Shelrock57 - ZorroTheFox RHP 2023 (Black to play)
Zorro played 58....h1=Q and after 59.Qa8+ the h1 Queen was Skewered. 1-0.
58....a1=Q+ first and then 59...h1=Q+ CHECK! held better chances of a draw.
However, his tally wins is greater than that of his losses.
ZorroTheFox - wycoller RHP 2025 (Black to play)
Black is doing very well here. All they need do is cover f7. 20...Be8 or 20...Nd6.
But 20....Rxc2 with the threat of 21....Rxf2+ was played. Zorro hardly ever misses
these chances. and wrapped it up with 21.Qxf7+ Kh8 22.Ng6+ hcg6 23.Rh3 mate.
In this next one Zorro sacced (or blundered his Queen ) but still had a few checks left.
Never resign if you have a check left. His opponent relaxed and walked into a mate.
jaycocamper1955 - ZorroTheFox RHP 2025 (Black to play)
32...Bh4+ giving up the Rook which Black must not take.33. Kxh2 Bf2 mate.
Number of Zorro’s drawn games
6,372 or there abouts
J. H. Blackburne - C. H. Sherrard, England 1893 White to play
Blackburne was playing without sight of the board in a 6 or 8 board
simultaneous display (the historians are still debating the exact number.)
His only loss was this game. But here he could have saved the game.
Clue
Check all checks in the right order.
Solution
1. Rxc6+ bxc6 2. Rc7+ Kxc7 3. Qxa7+ Kc8 4. Qa8+ Kc7 5. Qa7+
N. Abdusattorov - R. Rapport, Uzbekistan, 2025 (White to play)
1.Bxa3 is a draw. How does White win this.
1.Bxg5 a2 2.Bf6 Kxf6 3.h7 a1=Q 4.h1=Q+
Between 2023 and 2025 mallys7 has caught seven RHP players with this one.
They refuse to pay me £1.00 a month not reveal this trap on RHP. So here it is.
luizandre - mallys7 RHP 2025
A few weeks ago I came across this OTB game that ended in a White win.
Black appears to have a draw when they resigned. (maybe they lost on time.)
A. Pridorozhni - E. Nakar, Bulgaria 2012
Black has just played 34...Kg8-g7 and looking at 35.Qe5+ and Qxg3 resigned. But...
I found an RHP follow my leader Queen check and Queen takes Rooks pantomime.
Khandita108 - Kewpie RHP .2024
The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 202980
