White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Attacking tactic
About Author
White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1.Rd8+ Kh7 2.Rh8+ Kxh8 3.Qf8+ Kh7 4.Qxq7#
1.Re8+ Kh7
2.Rh8+ Kxh8
3.Qf8+ Kh7
4.Qxg7#
1.Re8+ Kh7
2.Rh8+ Kxh8
3.Qf8+ Kh7
4.Qxg7#
My first thought is incorrect:
1. Qf6?? Bc2!
2. Kb2 Qf6
3. Kc2 Qf5!
4. Kb3 Qh3 and black should win this with all the extra kingside pawns.
With that out of the way, the next thought was a check on the back rank, and the one with the rook leads to mate:
1. Rd8 Kh7 (Ne8 2.Qe8 Kh7 3.Qh8#)
2. Rh8!
The hard move to spot, but it allows the white a big juicy tempo:
3. …..Kh8
4. Qf8! with Qg7# to follow
1. Rd8+ Kh7
2. Rh8+ Kxh8
3. Qf8+ Ng8/Kh7
4. Qxg7 checkmate
What about:
Rd8+ Kh7
Rh8+ Kxh8
Qf8+ Kh7
Qg7#
Rd8+ Kh7. Rh8+ Kxh8. Qf8+ and Qxg7++
1. Rd8+ Kh7 (1. … Ne8 2. Qxe8+ Kh7 3. Qh8#)
2. Rh8+ Kxh8
3. Qf8+ Kh7 (or Ng7)
4. Qxg7#
1. Qxf6? threatening 2. Qxg7# looks tempting, but fails due to:
1. … Qxc2+
2. Ka1 Qxd1+
3. Rxd1 gxf6
1. Rd8+ Kh7
2. Rh8+ Kxh8
3. Qf8+ Kh7 or Ng8
4. Qxg7#
1. … Ne8
2. Rxf8+ etc.
This seems to be easy!
1.Rd8+ Kh7 2.Rh8+ KxR (Forced)
3.Qf8+ K any OR, Ng8 4.Qg7#
If the king were in h8, we’d checkmate with Gf8+ and Gxg7. Hence…
Rd8 Kh7 Rh8 Kh8 Qf8 Ng8 Qg7++