This is from the Hammer – Anand game in Norway this morning. White just played 31. c4. How should Anand proceed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar
August 29, 2010
Chess Improvement, Chess Puzzles, General News, Major Tournaments
21 Comments
Bishops are on opposite colors, and therefore DRAW.
..Qe6 0-1
Qe6
…Qe6
The bishop on the long diagonal seems to be the key, as if white can get the queen into play, threatening mate on g2 would be formidable.
I see two moves. The ‘obvious’ one, and weaker of the two, is simply to move the queen to the corner with Qa8, threatening the Bishop on f8 and as well as …Bh1 with Qh2 mate coming next.
But White’s rook is pinned to the back rank, because of the R-d1-h1 mate threat. So just shoving the queen in the rook’s face is stronger:
…Qe6!
Black has to move the rook sideways to avoid the back-rank mate, and then black has …Qxh3, with mate on h2 next move.
1..Qe6!
if 2.Rxe6, 2..Rd1+ 3.Kh2 Rh1#
if any other move by white than 2..Qxh3 and mate next move
…Qe6
Qa8
How about 1…Qe6 threatening …QxR & …Qxh3
If 2.RxQ, R comes down to 1st rank with a check and finally 3. Rh1#
Qe6 was the right move. I was watching this game online, so I saw the analysis on the site and didn’t have to figure it out, but I think I would have seen the move anyway after a few minutes of pondering it, but not in an over-the-board game at this time limit. If I remember correctly, Anand played Qa2 instead, but he had Hammer way down on time and probably was not taking as much time to consider it as a result. As it turned out, Hammer kept blundering under time pressure and lost anyway, though I think it was due to his flag falling- I am not sure the final position was lost technically (though it might make for a good puzzle as it was a bishop of opposite colors endgame with black up three pawns to 1). Ironically, Anand missed another mate at move 38.
The queen can’t be taken due to mate with the rook and bishop:
31. ….Qe6
32.Re6 Rd1
33.Kh2 Rh1#
Of course, the other threat is Qh3 followed by mate:
31. ….Qe6
32. Qb4 Qh3
33. Qb7 and white is down a queen for a bishop and a pawn. Other moves ate 32 are no better for white.
Qe6 !!
1…Qe6 threatening 2…Qxe1(r) and ….Qxh3.
If 2.Rxe6 then Black rook checks from 1st rank and mates at 3…Rh1#
1. … Qe6
2. Rxe6 Rd1+
3. Re1 Rxe1+
4. Kh2 Rh1#
If White protects the rook on move 2:
2. Qe3 Qxh3 and now white has to do something ridiculous to prevent immediate mate.
Maybe the best for white is:
2. Kf1 Qxh3+
3. Ke2 Qg4+ which might lead to a perpetual check. Maybe it would be risky to play:
2. … Bg2+
3. Qxe1, as white still has two pawns for the exchange in this line.
greets, jan
…Qe6!
Qe6…Qxh3
De6! looks winning
Qe6 R moves and Qe4
If Qb4 to protect the R, Qc6
Q-e6
@Lukas: Ba8 is not decisive. Qe6!! wins
1. … Qe6!!
2. Qe3 Qxe3
3. Rxe3/fxe3 Kxf8 wins a piece and the game 0-1
Or
1. … Qe6!!
2. Kf1 Qxh3+
3. Ke2 Qg4+
4. Kf1 Rd2 (if 4. Ke3 Qf3 mate)
and now black wins in view of Qh3+ followed by Qg2/Qh1 mate
Or
1. … Rxe6?
2. Rd1+ Kh2
3. Rh1+ mate
Very nice position!
And I am just seeing the actual game. Can’t believe Anand missed it!!
Time pressure maybe…
I think 1..Q e6 works.
I hope I am not missing something.
Best wishes
A. Weiler
… Qe6 does it.
I admit to have never ever seen it otb …