White to move. White is down a Rook. However, the Black King is not so safe. What is your assessment? Would you take White or Black? How should the game proceed?
Qf2 looks good. If QxRd6, then Qf7#, and if QxBc3, then Qf7+, Kh8, Rxh6#. If blacks queen does not move, then Qf5 followed by Rg6 looks hard to stop, just looking at it quickly…
I would take black. The attack is survivable and Qf2 is only effective if black makes a serious error. When black recovers positionally white will likely be forced to exchange and black has a major advantage with the extra rook in the endgame.
OK, having looked (a little) more closely at Qf2 (and Qf1), it looks like Rf8 rather spoils things. Qd4 looks promising, but after Rad8 the options Rf6 and Qf6 suggested by Vohaul look problematic. After: 1 Qd4 Rad8 2 Rxd8 RxRd8 (…QxRd8 Qg7#) 3 Bxe4+ looks inadequate due to BxBe4 4 QxBe4 Kg7 and I can’t see how white can close it out. It seems that it must be necessary to bring the white square bishop into the game, but at the moment I am stumped as to how. Has anyone got any winning lines from here?
Let’s try as a first question: Does White have a reliable way to force a draw, say by perpetual check? Look at one or more of the lines posted by commenters here with that question in mind…
The important difference between Qf2 and Qf1 is that you need be able to answer ..Rf8 with Qd2. Then there the weakness h6 can’t be protected properly.
Anonymous said… 1. Qf2 wins, because of the double threat 2. Qf5+ and 2. Qd2.
(1.Qd4 doesn’t work due to ..Qe7)
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 11:48:00 AM
So what is your answer to
Qf2 Qxc3
now what????
lets try your other comment you say Qd4 does not work because of Qe7 OK I will respond and what will you do??
Qd4 Qe7 Re6
you cannot take or I mate on g7 so what is your move? I say white has a won position here. on some queen moves white will play Bxe4 Bxe4 Qxe4 and white wins. so check that out first. It mates in some lines.
(3.Rxb6 Qxd4 4.Rxb7+ Kg8 5.Bxd4 Rd8! is unclear, but not [ 5…e3? 6.Rg7+ Kf8 7. Bxa8 e2 8.Bd5!? e1Q 9.Rf7+ Kg8 10. Re7+ Kf8 9. Rxe1, The two Bishops should ultimately beat the Rook.] )
Now the threats of Qf5+,Rf7 as well as discoveries to the Black Queen are irresistable threats.
1. Qf2 is not that bad: 1. … Qxc3 2. Qf5+ Kg8 3. Rg6+ Qg7 because white does have time to improve the position 4. a5!! Re7 (4. … Nc8 5. a6!!) 5. axb6 axb6 6. Rxg7+ Kxg7 7. Qg4+ Kh7 +/= but I am not sure whether white has a real chance to win; looks drawish
1. Qd4! Qf7! (King was right, it’s the best reply) 2. Rf6 Qg7 3. Rxb6! 3… Qxd4 4. Rxb7+ Kg8 5. Bxd4 rd8 but black goes nowhere 6. BC6 rd3 7. bxe8 Rxc3 8. Bb5 +-
Bb4. White is in a better position with more control of the center and black’s undeveloped pieces.
Suggest Qf2
Qf2 looks good. If QxRd6, then Qf7#, and if QxBc3, then Qf7+, Kh8, Rxh6#. If blacks queen does not move, then Qf5 followed by Rg6 looks hard to stop, just looking at it quickly…
Maybe Qd4 defending Rc6 and Bc3 and threatening Rc7 and Qg7.
This one is hard susan. But then I am not a strong player.
I can not find a solution. however it seems white has an unprotected rook and bishop.
Qf2 Qxc3 looks good for black. If Qf7+ then Qg7 holds
Qd4 is defensive. But a follow up of Rc6 or Qg7 and the queen simply takes on either c6 or g7. The knight helps protect c6.
This one is not so easy.
I suggest Qf1 for white. The rook or the Bishop cannot be captured. The threat is Qf5.
I would take black. The attack is survivable and Qf2 is only effective if black makes a serious error. When black recovers positionally white will likely be forced to exchange and black has a major advantage with the extra rook in the endgame.
of course the solution is
1.Qd4!! and black has no defense against either 2.Qf6 or 2.Rf6…
greetings
btw … 1.qf2? is met by 1… qxc3 2.qf5+ (2.qf7+?? qg7 – and black is even better!)2… kg8 3.rg6+ qg7 4.rxg7+ kxg7 and white has nothing
greetings
OK, having looked (a little) more closely at Qf2 (and Qf1), it looks like Rf8 rather spoils things. Qd4 looks promising, but after Rad8 the options Rf6 and Qf6 suggested by Vohaul look problematic. After:
1 Qd4 Rad8
2 Rxd8 RxRd8 (…QxRd8 Qg7#)
3 Bxe4+ looks inadequate due to BxBe4
4 QxBe4 Kg7 and I can’t see how white can close it out. It seems that it must be necessary to bring the white square bishop into the game, but at the moment I am stumped as to how. Has anyone got any winning lines from here?
Vohaul,
1. Qd4(?) seems to run into:
1. … Rad8
2. Qf6 RxR
3. Qf5 Rg6 and black wins
1. … Rad8
2. Rf6 RxQ and white has nothing
1. … Rad8
2. RxR RxR
3. Qf6 Qd7 seems to stop all checks and white is a rook ahead.
This is why I prefer:
1. Qf2! QxR
2. Qf7+ leading to mate, as others point out
1. Qf2! QxBc3
2. Qf5+ Kg7?
3. Qg6+ Kh8
4. Qxh6+ Kg8
5. Rg6+ Kf7 (Qg7 6.QxQ#)
6. Qh7+ mating
1. Qf2! QxBc3
2. Qf5+ Kg7?
3. Qg6+ Kf8
4. Rf8+ Ke7
5. Qg7+ Kd8
6. Rd6+ picking up the black queen
1. Qf2! QxBc3
2. Qf5+ Kh8
3. Rxh6+ Kg8
4. Rg6+ and best is to give up the queen via Qg7, leading to at least perpetual for white, otherwise:
4. … Kh8
5. Qh6#
1. Qf2! QxBc3
2. Qf5+ Kg8…leads to same as above, only white retains the h-pawn.
Am I missing something?
if Qf1 then Rf8 holds for black
Vohaul can you show a little more. Not sure I see your point.
1. Qf2 wins, because of the double threat 2. Qf5+ and 2. Qd2.
(1.Qd4 doesn’t work due to ..Qe7)
I would give away another rook. Rd4, then KxR and then Qe3, followed by Be4, maybe black rook takes bishop then QxR…
what about
Qf2 Rf8
Qd4 wins
Qd4 Qe7
Re6
or
Qd4 Rad8
Rxd8 Rxd8
Bxe4+ Bxe4
Qxe4+ Kg8
Qg6+ Kf8
Qxh6+ Kg8
win for white after this
Let’s try as a first question: Does White have a reliable way to force a draw, say by perpetual check? Look at one or more of the lines posted by commenters here with that question in mind…
1 Qd4 Rad8
2 Rxd8 RxRd8 (…QxRd8 Qg7#)
3 Bxe4+ BxBe4
4 QxBe4 Kg8 (Only move)
5. Qg6+ Kf8
6. Bb4+ Rd6
7. Bxd6 Qxd6
8. QxQd6 and White is winning.
I think Qd4 wins
Qd4 Qe7
Re6 should win for White
Qd4 Rad8
Rxd8 Rxd8
Bxe4+ Bxe4
Qxe4+ Kg8
Qg6+ Kf8
Qxh6+ Kg8 (Ke7 loses the Queen to Qf7+)
Qh8+ Kf7
Qh7+ winning the Queen
I think Qd4 wins
Qd4 Qe7
Re6 should win for White
OR if
Qd4 Qf7
Rf6 should win for White
OR
Qd4 Rad8
Rxd8 Rxd8
Bxe4+ Bxe4
Qxe4+ Kg8
Qg6+ Kf8
Qxh6+ Kg8 (Ke7 loses the Queen to Qg7+)
Qh8+ Kf7
Qh7+ winning the Queen
Qd4 Rad8
Rxd8 Rxd8
Bxe4+ Bxe4
Qxe4+ Kg8
Qg6+ Kf8
Bb4+ and not Qxh6+ as I had earlier mentioned because it allows the Black King to escape via Ke8
KERRY
Yes you miss the simple
Qd4 Rad8
Rxd8 Rxd8
Bxe4 Bxe4
Qxe4 Kg8
Qg6 Kf8
Bb4+
is totally won for white. some other deviations in moves produce immediate mate.
The important difference between Qf2 and Qf1 is that you need be able to answer ..Rf8 with Qd2.
Then there the weakness h6 can’t be protected properly.
So, 1.Qf2 is the move.
Anonymous said…
1. Qf2 wins, because of the double threat 2. Qf5+ and 2. Qd2.
(1.Qd4 doesn’t work due to ..Qe7)
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 11:48:00 AM
So what is your answer to
Qf2 Qxc3
now what????
lets try your other comment you say Qd4 does not work because of Qe7 OK I will respond and what will you do??
Qd4 Qe7
Re6
you cannot take or I mate on g7 so what is your move? I say white has a won position here. on some queen moves white will play Bxe4 Bxe4 Qxe4 and white wins. so check that out first. It mates in some lines.
And mind you 1.Qd4? needs to be answerd with .. Qe7.
PWJW overlooks that after
1. .. Rad8?
2. Rxd8 Rxd8
3. Bxe4+ Bxe4
4. Qxe4+ Kg8 (Kg7 is in check!!)
5. Qg6+ Kf8
6. Bb4+ Qe7 (.. Rd6, Bxd6+ etc)
7. Qf6+ etc.
1-0
But, to repeat: 1. Qf2 is the right move.
Surely Qf2 is met by ….Rf8 ??
1. Qd4 is too complicated for me. But that would be my practical choice
1. … Rad8 2. Rxd8 Rxd8 (2. … qxd8 3. Qg7#) 3. Bxe4+ Bxe4 (3. … Kg8 4. Qh8+ Kf7 5. Qg7 Ke6 6. Qxc7 +-) 4. Qxe4+ Kg8 5. Qg6 Kf8 6. Bb4+ +/-
1. … Nd5 2. Bxe4+ Rxe4 3. Qxe4+ Kg8 4. Qe6 +-
1. … Qe7 2. Re6! for example Qf7 3. Bxe4+ bxe4 4. Qxe4+ Kg8 5. Rg6+ Kf8 6. Qb4+ (Bb4+ Re7 7. Rxb6 Qf2 1/2) Re7 8. Rf6
1. Qf2 Qc3 2. Qf5+ Kg8 3. Rg6+ Qg7 I see no continuation
Nice problem, thanks!
Alex
Greetings,
1.Qd4!(With the main threat of 2.Qf6)
1…Qf7 (1…Rad8 2.Rxd8 Rxd8 3.Bxe4+ Bxe4 4.Qxe4+ Kg8 5.Qg6+ Kf8 and Bb4+ decides.;1…Qe7 2.Re6!; 1…Nd5 2.Be4+; 1…Rf8 2.Be4+ )
2.Rf6! Qg7
3.Qf2!
(3.Rxb6 Qxd4 4.Rxb7+ Kg8 5.Bxd4 Rd8! is unclear, but not [ 5…e3? 6.Rg7+ Kf8 7. Bxa8 e2 8.Bd5!? e1Q 9.Rf7+ Kg8 10. Re7+ Kf8 9. Rxe1, The two Bishops should ultimately beat the Rook.] )
Now the threats of Qf5+,Rf7 as well as discoveries to the Black Queen are irresistable threats.
3…Rf8
(3…Bc8 4.Rf7; 3…Re7 4. Qf5+ Kg8 [4…Kh8 Rh6+!] 5. Rg6)
4.Qf5+! Kg8 (4…Kh8 Rh6+!)
5.Qe6+! Kh7(5…Rf7 6.Rg6)
6.Rxf8 Qxf8 (6…Rxf8 is symbolically better but does not alter Black’s faith after 7.Bxg7)
7.Bxe4+ Bxe4
8.Qxe4+ Kg8
9.Qg6+ mates
My Regards
King.
1. Qf2 Qxc3 2. Qf5+ seems to win. For example, 2 …. Kg7 3. Rg6+
correctionms to my previous post:
1. Qf2 is not that bad:
1. … Qxc3 2. Qf5+ Kg8 3. Rg6+ Qg7 because white does have time to improve the position 4. a5!! Re7 (4. … Nc8 5. a6!!) 5. axb6 axb6 6. Rxg7+ Kxg7 7. Qg4+ Kh7 +/= but I am not sure whether white has a real chance to win; looks drawish
1. Qd4! Qf7! (King was right, it’s the best reply) 2. Rf6 Qg7 3. Rxb6! 3… Qxd4 4. Rxb7+ Kg8 5. Bxd4 rd8 but black goes nowhere 6. BC6 rd3 7. bxe8 Rxc3 8. Bb5 +-
possibly, 3. Qf2 also wins 3. … Kg8 (3. … Rf8 4. Qf5+) 4. rb6 Qh7 5. Rd6 Rad8 6. Rd8 Rd8 7. Qxa7 +/-
1. Qd4 is met by Qe7
and Re6 is not at all winning after …Qg5.
Qf2 is the move.
And the guy questioning my remark of the double threat Qf5+ and Qd2, shouldn’t be surprised that I propose Qf5+ to Qxc3.