The tradition of celebrating Independence Day with fireworks began in 1777 in Philadelphia. Prior to that, fireworks had been used for royal birthdays, military victories or other significant events. The first recorded use in America of fireworks was in 1608 in Jamestown, when Captain Smith set off fireworks to impress the Native Americans and colonists.
In this week’s position white sets off fireworks to deliver checkmate. Just as potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal are the ingredients of fireworks, so, too, are white’s queen, knight and rook the ingredients of white’s fireworks. With this hint, please find white’s three move mating combination.
Black’s pawns on the queenside are ominous but too slow. White first shoots its knight in the air and onto f6. If the knight is taken, white’s queen retakes with check and next mates on g7. Meanwhile, the knight prepares the queen take h7 for a checkmate. Black’s only defense is pawn to h6 (see next diagram).
White next fires its queen into h6, with check. In the explosion on h6, the queen is captured by black’s g7 pawn. The fireworks display continues with rook to g8, checkmate (see next diagram).
In chess, it’s good to have a flare for fireworks. Just make sure you have the right ingredients.
In conclusion, what do you call a duck with fireworks? A firequacker.
Reach Eric Morrow at ericmorrowlaw@gmail.com or (505) 327-7121.