Another questionable move in CTB
I am used to the tactical software Chess Tactics for Beginners counting an actual mate as an error when it has only marked one of the possible mates in the position as correct.
However, problem 389 has an error so strange it is hard to figure out what they are even thinking. Here is the problem (black to move):
CTB only gives credit for 1...Rh2+ (?) and after it moves 2. Nxh2, 2...Qh1 is the "right" answer. But then Kh3 and the position, while not good for white, is about the same as when the problem starts. I fired up Fritz and it agrees: its number one move is 1...f6, probably to contain the Knight on f3.
I guess this is just one of those problems where I'll have to memorize the wrong answer just to get it right in CTB's eyes. Note that this is the only problem where I just couldn't figure out what they were thinking: overall CTB is a great resource and I'm very happy with it.
However, problem 389 has an error so strange it is hard to figure out what they are even thinking. Here is the problem (black to move):
CTB only gives credit for 1...Rh2+ (?) and after it moves 2. Nxh2, 2...Qh1 is the "right" answer. But then Kh3 and the position, while not good for white, is about the same as when the problem starts. I fired up Fritz and it agrees: its number one move is 1...f6, probably to contain the Knight on f3.I guess this is just one of those problems where I'll have to memorize the wrong answer just to get it right in CTB's eyes. Note that this is the only problem where I just couldn't figure out what they were thinking: overall CTB is a great resource and I'm very happy with it.
posted by Blue Devil Knight at 10/31/2006 12:48:00 PM
12 Comments:
Do you mean Qh1 and Kh3?
Agreed, strange problem....I bought CTB a few weeks ago but haven't really had time to work with it, unfortunately.
Ah, right. I've changed it.
Maybe they hadn't computers in those days:)
Eric,
I ran this position through Shredder 10, Fritz 9, Fruit 2.2.1 and Rybka 2.1c 32 bit and they all had the same conclusion: 1...f6 is strongest and 1...Rh2 just loses for Black. It's almost an 8 pawn reversal.
BTW, are you sure it's problem 289? I fired up CTB and my 289 is different.
Oops. It's 389: I corrected it. Thanks.
Even you made 3 typo's in one problem. . .:)
Hi there!
I’m trying to solve some problems with my new template and wondered if you could help me out. Could you please check out my blog and see if the layout is as it is supposed to, that is with the title “Samurai Chess” at the top of the page.
It seems that people with Internet Explorer 6.0 or older has problems viewing the page correctly, namely some problems with the scrolling function which puts the title and posts further down on the page.. Some have updated their IE to the new 7.0 which seems to have worked out fine. Please get back to me if you experience any problems.
Thanks!
Sincerely
/Chris aka Samuraipawn
Tempo: but I'm not making you pay for this blog. :)
Samurai: looks fine for me, but I use Firefox.
They just forgot to put a pawn on h3 ! and the problem work
I've found a couple of other mistakes in CTB and a rather ridiculously large number in its sister Chess Tactics for Intermediate Players (CT-ART also has quite a few, though I've not spent so long with it as I have with the others). I keep meaning to put a list up on the web somewhere... one day...
Yeah, I keep meaning to put a list of errors together. It would be very helpful for others. I'll post when I do! So far, in the first couple of problem sets I've probably found four errors. The one posted is the worst: the others miss mate in one (we can call those 'Kramnik errors').
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