Puzzle 8 – chess and astronomy January 1st, 2011
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Proof game in 10 moves

Here’s the final puzzle in this year’s Christmas series and in my opinion it’s the most challenging of the set. However, as with many puzzles, a lot depends on whether you see the key idea quickly or, like me, pursue several false trails before hitting on the correct approach. The task is simple: how can this position arise after Black’s 10th move in a normal (though not very sensible) game of chess?

And now a bit of astronomy

At the start of the Christmas Puzzles, I promised that on the last day there would be a puzzle having nothing to do with chess. This puzzle will be used as a tie-break in awarding the prizes if two or more entrants have equal scores in the chess part of the competition.

The puzzle is simple enough. I will present three astronomical pictures I have taken recently and you have to identify which object is featured in each picture. Your answer has to be specific; for example, just ‘a galaxy’ isn’t sufficient, you have to say which galaxy it is.

Object 1 – click to enlarge

Object 2 – click to enlarge

Object 3 – click to enlarge

The 2010 Christmas Puzzle competition

Now's your chance: from January 1st to January 15th you can send in your solutions or comments to the ChessBase Christmas puzzles (including the astronomy tie-breaker). Please use this feedback form to do so. It is important that you include your full name, your place of residence and a return email address (which will NEVER be published or given to a third party). The following prizes are up for grabs:

The final submission date is January 15th. Please note that you will not gain an advantage by sending in your solutions early – the correct answers are more important. So take your time. Full solutions and the names of the winners will be published after the 15th of January.