White to move. Only one plan will lead to a win. Can you find the right plan for White?
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Hi Susan
1 Rxd7 Rxd7
2 Nxe5
Looks pretty convincing. I think that black’s Queen must be given up or his King is finished.
Best regards,
Tom
Same as Tom, I was a bit late or would have been first to solve it.
djah805 says…
Yep, tom d nailed the solution. Remove the guard and then take advantage of the doubled pawns.
rxd7 rxd7 nxe5 wins unless blk gives up queen
Does 1. Rxd7 Rxd7 2. Rd1 do the same job?
1.Rxd7 a6
(1….Rxd7 2.Rd1 followed by Qxd7)
2.Rxd8++ Kxd8
3.Rd1+
followed by
4.Qd7+
1. Rxd7
white has some alternatives but they are less convincing to say the least. Anyway, its nice to watch these variations as they unfold some nice tactics and ideas.
For example:
1. Rd1 Be7 [Black’s e5 is pinned]
2. Rxd7 K-castles
and its about equal material-wise
3. Rxe7 loses of course to 3…….Rxd1+
1. Nxe5 Be7
2. Nxd7 QxQb5
3. axb5 Rxd7
And black is up a piece
Agreed on Rxd7, Nxe5. However, why wouldn’t the Re4 work? I argue that a pawn move would kill the pin.
Hey Susan,
Pardon the digression to a different problem…
I’ve been using your dad’s book of 5334 problems–I’ve done hundreds of them, and was
amazed to never find any mistakes–Until now–Problem #1994 seems to have a pawn on
the wrong file. Normally I wouldn’t mention such things, but I noticed that the book was
published in 1994! Was this “mistake” intentional?!?
Sorry for this late post, but we’ve been packing for a camping trip to the Grand Canyon. Plus, I don’t think the best solution has been fllushed out yet.
1. Rxd7 Rxd7
2. Nxe5
is strong, but after
2. … Qxe5
3. Qxe5
there is still a lot of opportunity for Black.
I prefer the anonymous suggestion (posted 6.6.07 @ 12:31:00 AM)
1. Rxd7 Rxd7
2. Rd1
This is much more forcing towards a win.
2. … Ke7
(2. … Be7 3. Qxd7+ Kf8 4. Qc7+ Bd8 5. Qxd8#)
3. Rxd7+ Kf6
(3. … Ke8 4. Rxb7+ Kd8 5. Qd7#)
4. g4 a6
(4. … Qh6 leads to the mate(s) noted below; 4. … Qh4 leads to mate: 5. Qxe5+ Kg6 6. Nxh4+ Kh6 7. Qh5#; 4. … Qxg4+ is a loss after 5. hxg4.)
5. Qe2
Now 5. … Qh6 allows a forced mate (6. Qxe5+ Kg6 7. Qe4+ Kf6 8. Qd4 Kg6 9. Ne5+ Kf6 (9. … Kg5 10. f4+ Kh4 11. Qf2+ Kxh3 12. Qh2#) 10. Rxf7+ Kg5 11. Qe3+ Kh4 12. Qg3+ Kg5 13. f4#).
Or 5. … Qg5 6. Nxg5 and now White is much more safely winning. (For example, 6. … Kxg5 7. Qxe5+ f5 8. f4+ Kh6 9. Qxe6+ g6 10. Qf6 Bc5+ 11. Kh1 Be7 12. Rxe7 and 13. Qg5#.)
jcheyne