White to move. What is the best continuation for white?
2rr3k/1p1b1p1p/3ppp2/p4n2/1qP1P2Q/1P2B2P/n5P1/2R2R1K w – – 0 1
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RxN then Qxf6 then Bh6
I would play Rf5 almost without thinking about it. White would really like to play Qf6 followed by Bh6 in order to mate black with Qg7, but doing so immediately allows black to defend with Ng7 and Rg8 shutting off the white attack- so the knight has to go:
1. Rf5 ef5
2. Qf6 Kg8
3. Bh6 and mate is unstoppable.
It does black no good to not take at f5, either:
1. …..Rg8 (to use as a blocker)
2. Qf6 Rg7
3. Bh6 Rg8
4. Bg7 Rg7
5. Rg5 and the mate can only be delayed, not prevented.
1. Qxf6+ Kg8 2. Bh6 Qc3 3. Rxc3 Nxc3 4. Bg7 mate.
Please disregard my last comment and don’t publish it. When i set up my board I forgot to include the back knight. Sorry.
I knew it was too easy.
– Remington3200
1. Rxf5 .. Rg8
2. Qxf6+ .. Rg7
3. Bh6 .. Rcg8
4. Rg5
1 R:f5 !
Gabriele
1. Rxf5 Rg8
if 1… exf5 2. Qxf6+ Kg8 3. Bh6
2. Qxf6+ Rg7 3. Bh6 Rg8 4. Bxg7+ Rxg7 5. Rg5
Q#f6 Followed by R#f5 and Bh6 looks simple enough.
1. Rxf5 {This is White destroying a Sicilian Defence, right?}
1. … exf5 {I’m taking.}
(1. .. Rg8 {Hmm, maybe not.}
2. Qxf6+ {Doesn’t matter either way, dear.}
2. … Rg7 3. Rg5 Rg8
(3. .. Qc3 4. Rxc3 Rg8 5. Rxg7 Rxg7 6. Bh6 Nxc3 7. Qxg7#)
4. Rxg7 Rxg7 5. Bh6 Qc3 6. Rxc3 Nxc3 7. Qxg7#)
2. Qxf6+ Kg8
3. Bh6 Qe1+
4. Rxe1 a4
5. Qg7#
Lucymarie
1Rxf5 does not simply serve to eliminate the N which would have been inserted at g7,it also serves to utilise the services of rook in case black chooses not to recapture at f5.1exf5 in lieu of 1Rxf5 will not work.