Black to move. How can Black save this game? (NO computer lines please!)
Trivia: This is a classic chess composition. Can you name the creator of this puzzle and which year was it composed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Classic chess challege and trivia
1… Rd8+ 2. Rg8 Rf8 3. Rxf8+ Kxf8 4. a4 bxa4 and Black will make a queen with check before white
how about if black plays
1)…, Rd8+
2)Rg8 (forced), Rf8
Now what are white’s options.
a)Rxf8+ or b)a4. No other legal moves are possible.
If
3) Rxf8+, Kxf8
white is now forced to play a4, and after black takes the pawn on the a file; it can queen first in the race of the pawns and actually win .
Am I missing something? I must be…cause it didn’t take me much time for the above solution.
In fact, Black can even perfom more than a save ! 1…Rd8+ 2.Rg8 Rf8! 3.a4 (with or without the rook exchange doesn’t matter ) bxa4 4.b5 and the Black pawn promotes first
Black wins starting with Rd8 check as follows:
1…. Rd8 ck
2. Rg8(forced) Rf8! wins by zugzwang
3. a4 bxa4
4. b5 a3
5. b6 a2
6. b7 a1 queens with check
Rd8+ followed by Rf8! wins
Interesting zugzwang problem. My guess is the composer was Nimzowich, but could not possibly guess the year:
1. Rd8
2. Rg8 Rf8 and white is in zugzwang. No matter what White does he is lost.
3. a4 ba and mate to follow
White can try Rf8, but Kf8 leads to the same ending.
Cute.
1. … Rd8+
2. Rg8 (forced) Rf8!
Zugzwang! White has two legal moves. Let’s take a look at 3. a4 first:
3. a4 ba
4. b5 a3
5. b6 a2
6. b7 a1B# (just to rub it in)
Interposing X. Rxf8+ Kxf8 at any point changes nothing.
Doesn’t Rd8-f8 win for black?
Kela
1… Rd8+
2. Rg8 Rf8! and white is in zugzwang
3. Rxf8 Rxf8
4. a4 bxa, and the black a-pawn promotes and mates the white king.
From Spain…
1)…,Rd8+
2)Rg8,Rf8
3)Rf8,Kf8
4)a4,ba4
5)b5,a3
6)b6,a2
7)b7,a1=B++
1)…,Rd8
2)Rg8,Rf8
3)a4,ba4
4)b5,a3
5)b6,a2
6)Rf8,Kf8
7)b7,a1=B++
Greetings from Spain…
I don’t know who created this puzzle or what the year was in which it was created. But I can tell you that the author had a wry sense of humor. This is a very funny position!
1…. Rd8+
2. Rg8 Rf8
Rf8 is the move that made me burst out laughing when I spotted it.
3. a4 bxa4
4. b5 a3
5. b6 a2
6. Rxf8+ Kxf8
7. b7 a1=Q#
Perhaps that author’s maiden aunt, who taught him how to play chess, was named Zugzwang.
r-e8+ followed by r-f8
Looks very easy. Must be Rd8+ Rg8 Rf8! and white in zugzwang?
Solving it from the diagram, but can’t believe it’s wrong.
I don’t see an issue with Rd8+ Rg8 (forced) Rd5, not Rxg8?? hxg8=Q.
After the rook back black always has the check if white’s rook moves off the right rank. Rg7+ Kf8. If Rb8 Re5 white can’t move off the back rank or it will be mate.
a4 bxa4 b5 a3 doesn’t go anywhere either.
I’ll guess Reti 1913
From Spain..
1)…,Rd8+
2)Rg8,Rf8
3)Rf8,Kf8
4)a4,ba4
5)b5,a3
6)b6,a2
7)b7,a1=B++
Greeetings from Spain.
1. … Rd8+
2.Rg8 Rf8
3.Rxf8 Kxf8
4.a4 bxa4 +-
Well, the solution seems so obvious I hesitate to say it lest it’s a trick puzzle. The black pawn cannot move, and if the King moves the white pawn will end up becoming a Queen. So I’m going to say 1. . ., rd8 2. rg8, rxg8
1…Rd8+ 2.Rg8 Rf8! Zugzwang
Wow! How about 1…Rd8+ 2.Rg8 Rf8! 3.Rxf8+ Kxf8 4.a4 bxa4 5.b5 a3 6.b6 a2 7.b7 a1 (Q or B) mate!
Kamalakanta
It’s pretty straight-forward.
1. … Rd8+
2. Rg8 Rf8
3. Rxf8+ Kxf8
4. a4 bxa4
5. b5 a3
6. b6 a2
7. b7 a1=Q (or B) mate
Same result (but one move shorter) if White doesn’t exchange rooks.
Don’t know who composed it, though. It seems way too obvious and simple for any of the most famous composers.
It looks like black can draw by playing the forcing 1..Rd8+
2.Rg8 Rd3
3.Ra8 Rc3
[3.Rg7+ Kf6 4.Kg8 Rd8++]
What does white have after this?
If white tries to manoeuvre his rook to check from below, black just starts checking again on d8 or c8, etc.
Nice way to spoil white’s plans!
For Black, playing Rd8+ followed by Rf8 actually appears to win, with White’s King trapped in the corner and having to play a3-a4 and then to be mated by a Queen on a1. Phil
Now I am curious. Who is the composer, what year, and was it based on an actual game?
Kamalakanta
OK you guys, what is wrong with rxg8?
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ok, I see what is wrong with rxg8, white pawn will xg8 and become a queen. Oh well, I’m one mistake closer to getting this right.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,for the first time, I am surprised to see the comments of others for this puzzle doesn’t fit the reality.
Well let me discuss .
Most of them said that after rook exchange, White’s 4th is “a4” ? Why should it be ? If White’s 4th move ( after rook exchange ) is “Kg8”,the game is in favor of White.
Let me emphasis the fact with moves.[Puzzle’s situation,Black has to move]
1… Rd8+
2.Rg8 Rf8
3.R*Rf8 K*Rf8
4.Kg8 …
Rest of the moves are child’s play for white to win the game.
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As per the puzzle question [ How Black save its game ],my view & approach will be as given below [ Black can push the game to draw or Black may win if white is careless ]
Example one( Draw )
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1… Rh5
2.Rg7+ Kf8
3.Rg8+ Kf7
(Several combination exist but still Black can push White to draw)
By
Venky(Chennai – India)
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,guys I apologize for my previous comment about this puzzle because though you guys had said rook exchange at the position “f8” – I had just mentally visualized the position at “e8” – I am terribly sorry,so that wrong visualization of position had prompted me to give,my earlier wrong comment about this puzzle.
Susan,if possible,please don’t publish my earlier wrong comment about the puzzle,to avoid unnecessary confusion to others.
By
Venky[Chennai – India]