Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Daily Chess Improvement: Middlegame Chess Tactic!
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Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Re1!
1. Re1+ Rxe1 2. Qxd3
…. Kh2 2. Qxd3 Rxd3 3. Rxb1
I think Steven below, despite the misnotations, has the more accurate move after 2.Kh2 since 2. …Be5+ closes off the e-file forces white to accept the loss of a full rook rather than to try the line where he just loses the queen for a rook, though the subsequent move of 3. ….Rh1 then ends up in the same material edge as 2. ….Qxd3. Either move 2 wins easily though.
I can’t understand what you say, Yancey. What is supposed to be the advantage of closing off the e-file, how does that force white to accept the loss of a full rook?
1. …………..Re1
2. Kh2
And now, the two lines:
2. …………..Qd3
White can choose between…..
3. Re1 losing a queen for a rook, though now that I am actually thinking about it, it probably won’t matter since 3. ….Be5 is still going to be coming. However, let’s continue:
2. …………..Be5
3. Kh3 Qd3
4. Rd3 Rb1 and white is down a full rook with literally no chance of counterplay.
Either line is materially close to the other but, in general, full rook is a greater material edge than queen for rook. The particulars of this position, however, might change that balance- so I can’t say definitively which option for black at move two is technically best here- am only guessing.
Well, you haven’t given the blow by blow explanation I was looking for!
But, here’s what I’ve now worked out:
1. …….Re1
2. Kh2 Be5
3. Kh3 Qd3
and if
4. Re1, then
4. …….Qf5ch
5. Bg4 Qf2
But, I still don’t understand what might be significant in your saying the e file is closed off.
Well, better for you to work it out for yourself, which you did- clearly white does worse with 4.Re1 in your line than with 4.Rxd3. That is why 2. ….Be5 is stronger overall, in my opinion>. Now, consider the alternative line in question to finish off the analysis:
1. ………..Re1
2. Kh2 Qd3
3. Re1 Be5
4. Kg1
It is this move at #4 for white that isn’t available if black had played Be5+ a move earlier when the black rook was still on e1. Now white gets a somewhat better material edge, though still clearly decisively lost. In addition, the white rook has no path up the e-file with the bishop at e5 closing it off.
1…. ….Rd1+
2. Kh2..Bh5+
3. Kh3 Rh1+
4. Kg4 Qxd3
5. Rxd3 Rxb1
.
2. Be5+ corrected