What about 1. Rf8, f1Q (I do not see anything better) 2. Rxf1, Rxf1 3. Kb4! [4. f8Q; 3. -, Rb1+ or Rf8 are impossible due to 4. Nb3 or 4. Ne6+], Rf4+ 4. Kc3, Rf3+ 5. Kd4!, Rf4+ 6. Ne4+ (it’s check, that’s important!)
Jochen has the solution. I saw the game. Leko played 3. Ka4, but’s the same, and Cheparinov resigned. Black isn’t able to stop the b-pawn, because the fork on e6 makes Rf8 impossible.
What about 1. Rf8, f1Q (I do not see anything better) 2. Rxf1, Rxf1 3. Kb4! [4. f8Q; 3. -, Rb1+ or Rf8 are impossible due to 4. Nb3 or 4. Ne6+], Rf4+ 4. Kc3, Rf3+ 5. Kd4!, Rf4+ 6. Ne4+ (it’s check, that’s important!)
Is there anything I’ve overseen?
Best wishes
Jochen
Black is about to queen the pawn… how hard can it be to select the move Rf1?
Susan, I tried without computer to understand why white won this game and couldn’t. To me it seems that the game ends with King vs King & Knight
Anon @ 12:05:
Maybe Rf8 is an obvious choice, but Rf1 is indeed very hard to select, isn’t it?
Jochen:
Did you consider 4. Ka5? (Though it may amount to the same thing. In your line, Black plays 6. … Kf5 to nab the knight.)
1. Ne4+!
… Rxe4, which precludes Rb1+.
2. Rg8+ (anything)
3. Rf8 for any move other than 2… Rf4.
Jochen has the solution.
I saw the game. Leko played 3. Ka4, but’s the same, and Cheparinov resigned. Black isn’t able to stop the b-pawn, because the fork on e6 makes Rf8 impossible.
Leko-Cheparinov, Elista 2008, rd 3
3.Ka4 played by Leko is better than Kb4
h
1. Rf8 ! f1=Q+
2. Rxf1 Rxf1
3. Kb4 Rf4+
4. Kc3 Rf3+
5. Kd4 Rf4+
6. Ne4+ ! Kf5
7. b8=Q Rxe4+
8. Kd5 Rg4
9. Qb1+ Kf6
10. Qxh7
Several tempo moves are won by White and then the game is won by White.
Peter / chesstoplay