White to move. Is this a win, draw, or loss for White? No computer analysis please.
5Q2/8/8/8/8/5K2/8/4rk1r w – – 0 1
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1. Qf5 zugzwang
I will discuss some possible lines later on.
Qc8, threatens checks from c4 and a6 (double threat), while guarding h3 as well, preventing checks from the rook.
1 Qf4! and Black has no defense. White threatens Qc4 with mate to follow.
1…Rh3 2 Kg4 Kg2 3 Qd2 wins.
-Justin Daniel
Qf5
Qf4 mate threat wins rook
main line Rh3+ Kg4+ Kg2 Qd2+
Both Qf4 and Qf5 seem to work
Is there a difference? Is one more correct than the other?
QC8 also seems to work ..
how can this possibly be “important”?!
Against
1. Qf4
Black can defend with Rh3+ and after
2. Kg4+ .. Kg2 and follows the connection of the rooks…
Against
1. Qf5
Black defends with .. Rg2
but i’m possibly wrong, and i’ll wait the possible lines by Miguel.
I love you guys – when a GM tells you something is important, you argue with her. Good grief.
1. Qf5 Rh2
2. Qd3+ R1e2
3. Qd1+ Re1 and I see no way for White to make progress. This also seems to work against 1. Qc8.
So, it appears that you guys who “don’t see how it matters” just tossed away a win. It probably cost you a chance to win $12.50 by failing to reach a tie for 3rd in Class D.
1. Qf4 prevents Rh2, and wins a R nicely after 1… Rh3+ as others have shown.
1. Qf4 Re2
2. Qc1+ Re1
3. Qc4+ Kg1
4. Qg4+ Kf1
5. Qg2#
Thanks, Susan, for your tireless work to teach chess to all who would learn.
I would agree it is not all that important. Having beaten a few GMs in my life, perhaps I am allowed to have an opinion 🙂
The chance of such a position arising in a practical game appears to be very slim.
@CraigB: Sorry, but i’m just a patzer. Could you give me the line after
1. Qf4 .. Rh3+
White -> KG3
Black -> KG2/KG1
White -> QF6 Check.
consul you are not a patzer, but after 1.Qf4 Rh3+ 2.Kg4+ Kg2 3.Qd2+ white wins one rook
i agree to the Qf4 winning solution (i analyzed every possible move), on Qf5 Rh2 i couldn’t find a win
CraigB,
There is a simpler line for white
1. Qf4 Re2
2. Kg3+
If 2…Ke1, 3.Qc1+ wins the rook
If 2…Kg1, 3.Qf2++
Qf4 win
Qf5 draw
One line I like is the following:
1. Qf4 Re8 2. Qc1+ Re1 3. Qc4+ Kg1 4. Qd4+ Kh2 5. Qf2+ Kh3 6. Qg3#
/Rauan