Wednesday Clubnight

We are continuing to run our events on Lichess.  Tonight we had two tournaments, both and Arena set-up.

Fischer Random
We started with Fischer Random (also known as Chess960.  This is where the board is set up differently.  The Pawns are in the usual places, but the other pieces, while remaining on the back rank, are mixed up.  Why play this form of chess?  Well, it is nice to have a change and it is fun.  It is also good to mix things up a bit.  Players get used to using certain openings and rely on this knowledge.  By changing the set-up, it forces players to play a bit more on instinct, which sharpens them up.  But the main reason? - it's fun.

 So - how did everyone do?  RowanKent managed the change in set up best to secure a win, even lose in his last match to a very amusing Checkmate after only 5 moves.  Well played to OliverRichards for seeing it.  The position has been used in the Checkmate in 1 puzzle below.  Can you find Checkmate?

Koliyfl0w37 and OliverRichards finished equal on points, with Koliyfl0w37 taking second place on tournament performance grade.  Well played to all the players.

If you have a Lichess account, you can see the full results and all the games here: lichess.org/tournament/pj0F722b

Blitz
In our second Arena style event this evening, we had a half hour Blitz competition.  There was a very close finish to the event with Midnight17 pushing RowanKent all the way and very nearly winning himself.  AbleLopsidedGiraffe looked on course for victory after winning his first three matches before losing a few towards the end.  Very well played to all.

If you have a Lichess account, you can see the full results and all the games here: lichess.org/tournament/EKqfAGfQ

Chess Problem - Checkmate in 1
This position is from the game between OliverRichards and RowanKent.  How did OliverRichards deliver checkmate in only one move here?
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By the way - you may wonder how the pieces came to be in these positions - surely it is an impossible position?  Yes, in normal chess it would be an impossible position, but this was a game of Fischer Random chess - otherwise known as Chess960.

Answer: Ne7#
This is a very strange smothered mate - what a great way to win!!! Well played OliverRichards.