2rqrb2/p2nk3/bp2pnQp/4B1p1/2pP4/1PN4P/P1n3P1/3RR2K w – – 0 1
White to move. What is the best continuation for White? No computer analysis please.
Daily Chess Improvement: Middlegame Tactic!
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1. Nd5+ exd5
2. Bxf6+ Kd6
3. Be5+ Ke7
4. Bd6#
One additional note. Alena is correct (as usual). I had originally spotted 1) Nd5, but then thought I had “cooked” it with Nxd5, completely overlooking 2) Qh7+, Bg7 and 3) Qxg7# (in case anyone else also missed it). I actually thought 1) d5 looked very strong instead, but while it wins some material, White is already two pieces behind and would certainly not get a winning position when the dust settled. Congrats again to Alena!
Thanks Lenny.
Puzzles for Alena, or any who wish to try them:
5k2/4nP2/7r/8/2B5/5R2/K1p1pR2/8 w Ryabinin 1999 One of the toughest puzzles I have given you.
8/3k4/1K6/8/4BR2/4p3/4p3/8 w Reti and Rinck
2R5/8/2P5/6Q1/2k5/p7/2K5/8 w Hoeg Niels Find the shortest mate.
8/8/8/8/3k4/5K2/2pr2P1/2R5 b Black to move and win.
Here is the solution for the first puzzle.
1. Rg2 c1=N+
2. Ka3 Ra6+
3. Kb2 Rb6+
4. Kc2 e1=N+
5. Kxc1 Nxg2
6. Rg3 Ng6
7. Rxg2 Rc6
8. Rg4 Rf6
9. Bb3 Kg7
10. Kd2 Rxf7
11. Bxf7 Kxf7
It’s a draw.
Try again.
You are wrong on the very first move.
Here is the solution for the second puzzle.
V-1
1. Bf5+ Kd6
2. Rd4+ Ke7
3. Re4+ Kf6
4. Rxe3 e1=Q
5. Rxe1 Kxf5
V-2
1. Bf5+ Kd8
2. Rd4+ Ke8
3. Re4+ Kd8
4. Bd7 Kxd7
5. Rd4+ Ke6
6. Re4+ Kd7
7. Rxe3 Kd6
8. Rxe2
V-3
1. Bf5+ Kd8
2. Rd4+ Ke8
3. Re4+ Kd8
4. Bd7 e1=Q
5. Bb5 Qa5+
6. Kxa5 Kc7
7. Rxe3
It was a very easy puzzle.
Here is the solution for the third puzzle.
V-1
1. Rh8 a2
2. Rh4#
V-2
1. Rh8 Kd4
2. Rh4#
V-3
1. Rh8 Kb4
2. Rh4#
It was a very easy puzzle too.
Here is the solution for the fourth puzzle.
1…Kc3
2. g3 Rd4
3. Ke3 Rb4
4. Kf3 Kb2
5. Rg1 c1=Q
6. Rxc1 Kxc1
7. Ke3 Kb2
8. Kf3 Ka3
9. Kf2 Ka4
10. Kf3 Kb5
11. g4 Kc6
12. Kg3 Kd6
13. g5 Ke7
14. Kf3 Kf7
15. Ke2 Kg6
16. Ke3 Kxg5
It’s a winning position for black.
I slightly preferred this mate:
1. Nd5+ exd5
2. Bxf6+ Kd6
3. Bxd8+ Re6
4. Qxe6 mate