White to move. How should White proceed? Can you find the solution in 5 seconds or less?
6k1/R4rp1/2p2p2/Bp1bp2P/3p4/R5P1/1PP2P1K/r7 w – – 0 28
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
- About Us
- Chess Improvement
- Chess Puzzles
- Chess Research
- College Chess
- General News
- Home
- Major Tournaments
- News
- Polgar Events
- Privacy Policy
- Scholastic Chess
- SPICE / Webster
- Susan’s Personal Blog
- Track your order
- USA Chess
- Videos
- Women’s Chess
- Contact Us
- Daily News
- My Account
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
5 seconds is insane. No one can think that fast.
Nice, easy one this time though I didn’t beat five seconds.
Both the White Ra7 and the Black Ra1 are hanging; Black is slightly up material.
1. Rxf7 Rxa3 fails
1. Bb6 similarly fails (1. … Rxa7, 1. … Rxa3
Desperado time!
1. Ra8+! Rf8 (on other moves 2 Rxa1) 2. Rxf8+ Kxf8 3. Rxa1
hahaha, Sweet Susan 5 seconds! hehehe! ROFL.
Heh, there’s also the little matter of 1. … Ra1# to contend with. That makes things easier.
Definitely not in 5 seconds. It takes me at least 10-30 seconds to just assess what is what in a totally new position. If I were playing this game and this position arose, maybe I would spot the winner in 5 seconds after my opponent moved.
With that out of the way, the winner is clearly Ra8+ to win a rook:
1. Ra8+ Kh7 (Rf8 2.Rf8+ Kf8 3.Ra1)
2. Ra1
The other options
1. Rf7?? Rh1#
Or
1. Ra1 Ra7 and the temporary pin on the bishop will cause white much problems considering the weakness of of c2 and h5 pawns. I would wager this is a lost position for white since he is already down a pawn.
1. Ra8+, …
If 1. … , Kh7 then 2. Rxa1, and if 1. … , Rf8 then 2. Rxf8+ and 3.Rxa1
this is not too hard to see while playing blitz.
regards, miguel
not in 5 seconds!
R-a8ch, RxR
1.Ra8+ first so you can save your rook, then play Rxa1 to prevent mate. That should do it.
I used to be able to think that fast.
But the way to win a rook is:
1. Ra8+ and if
1… Rf8
2. Rxf8+ Kxf8
3. Rxa1
or if
1… Kh7
2. Rxa1
1. Ra8+ , leaving the rook on a1 en prise
1. Ra8+ Rf8 2. R:f8+ and 3. R:a1. Took me about 20 seconds, though. I guess I’ll never be a GM. ROFL
Well,it took me about 15 sec,but when I saw the rook on a1, then the reat is easy.First check on a8, then take on a1. You have saved the rook on a7, and no mate on h1.
5 seconds is hard, you have to look around at least 10 sec. But some have so trained eyes after many years solving, that maybe the best see it at once.
Once you realize both rooks are under attack (regardless of mating threat) then just find the way to save a7 rook and pick up your opponent’s on a1…
Ra8+ then take rook a1(if black wanna trade rook a8 white have material advantage)