Enough figgy pudding - Bedford Chess Club

Now I’ve taken the delightful Christmas trimmings down from the site, I thought I should let Richard put you out of your misery (or just confirm what you had already cleverly worked out for yourselves?).

Christmas Puzzle 1

White to play and win.

It does appear impossible to prevent the pawn on a3 advancing

  [SetUp "1"]  [FEN "3N4/8/K7/3k2B1/3p4/p7/2PP4/8 w - - 0 0"]  [PlyCount "11"]   1. Nc6 Kxc6 (1....a2 2. Nb4+) 2. Bf6 Kd5 3. d3 a2 4. c4+ Kc5 ({  Not} 4....dxc3 ep 5 Bxc3{ winning}) 5. Kb7 a1=Q 6. Be7# 1-0

Christmas Puzzle 2

White to play and win.

  [SetUp "1"]  [FEN "2b4k/8/5Pr1/5N2/8/8/8/K1B5 w - - 0 0"]  [PlyCount "21"]   1. f7 {No prizes for this move, but what follows is very  neat} Ra6+ 2. Ba3 {Other moves lose or draw} Rxa3+ 3. Kb2 Ra2+ 4. Kc1 (4 Kc3  {only draws after }Rc2+!) Ra1+ ({After }4....Rc2+ 5 Kd1 {and there are no more  checks}) 5. Kd2 Ra2+ 6. Ke3 Ra3+ 7. Kf4 Ra4+ 8. Kg5 Rg4+ 9. Kh6 Rg8 {Drawing?!}  10. Ne7 Rf8 11. Ng6# 1-0

Christmas Puzzle 3

White to play and draw.

  [SetUp "1"]  [FEN "7k/6p1/6K1/qb2R3/p2P4/4PB2/8/8 w - - 0 0"]  [PlyCount "10"]   1. Bc6 {Threatens mate on the move} Bd3+ 2. e4 Qd8 3.  Rh5+ Kg8 4. Bd5+ Qxd5 {Black gives up his queen! White's pawn is pinned } 5. Rh8+ (5 Rxd5 Bxe4+ 6 Rf5 a3{ and wins}) $1 Kxh8 {Stalemate} 1/2-1/2

Christmas Puzzle 4

White to play and draw.

  [SetUp "1"]  [FEN "7k/7p/8/8/K2R4/6p1/6b1/8 w - - 0 0"]  [PlyCount "18"]   1. Rd8+ ({Clearly if }1 Rg4  1...Bc6+ {followed by  g2 h5 and h4 winning}) Kg7 2. Rd3 Bc6+ 3. Kb4 g2 4. Rg3+ Kf6 5. Kc5 $1 {An  important finesse attacking the bishop and gaining time} Bb7 6. Kd4 h5 7. Ke3  h4 {Now where can the rook move? It doesn't!} 8. Kf2 hxg3+ 9. Kg1 Kg5 {Stalemate}