Menchik tactic

7 comments

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  Jochen says:

  May 22, 2008 at 12:45 pm

  First I thought of Qxh5? which looks easy winning but with the knight on g5 hanging black can play Qxh2+! and gets away (2. Qxh2, Nxh2 3. Kxh2, Bxg5).
  Second thought is 1. Rd7! to deflect the queen. If Qxd7 2. Qxh5 mates.
  Anything else leaves black with a figure down e.g.
  1. Rd7, Qxh2+ 2. Qxh2, Nxh2 3. Kxh2, Bxg5 4. Rxb7

  I just ha a short look on it so maybe I overlooked something.

  Best regards
  Jochen

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  ספריית הצעירים במדיה-טק העיר נתניה says:

  May 22, 2008 at 12:56 pm

  Jochen, you are a star!

  I pondered over this puzzle for 10 min.. Then I had an enlightment: I saw 1.Qxh5 . I was so proud that I had found it. But, alas, you had shown that it is the wrong move and right indeed you are.
  1. Rd7! is beautiful.
  Best wishes
  A. Weiler

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  Anonymous says:

  May 22, 2008 at 12:57 pm

  1. Ne6 fxe6
  2. Bxg6

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  Anonymous says:

  May 22, 2008 at 3:29 pm

  Jochen, one tiny nitpick: after 1.Qxh5 Qxh2+ 2.Qxh2 Nxh2 White can use Anon 7:57’s idea and play 3.Nxe6. So I think your original idea does win after all, just not as vividly as 1.Rd7 does.

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  Anonymous says:

  May 22, 2008 at 3:58 pm

  Anon @10:29:

  With this sequence:

  1. Qxh5 Qxh2+
  2. Qxh2 Nxh2
  3. Nxe6 Nxf1
  4. Nxf8 Bxf8
  5. Kxf1

  white ends only with a pawn advantage. Whereas 1. Rd7 wins, certainly – either as proposed by someone else, or with:

  1. Rd7 Bxg2
  2. Qxh5 Qxh2+
  3. Qxh2 Nxh2
  3. Kxg2 (not 3. Kxh2 – 3. … Bxf1)
  3. … Bxg5 (3. … Nxf1 loses after 4. Rxe7 – the knight is trapped on f1).
  4. Kxh2 – and now white is a minor piece to the good for a pawn.

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  Anonymous says:

  May 22, 2008 at 4:03 pm

  Isn’t that what I said? So I think your original idea does win after all, just not as vividly as 1.Rd7 does.

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  Jochen says:

  May 22, 2008 at 8:50 pm

  I can’t remember anyone calling me ‘a star’ before…
  Thanks, A. Weiler, you made my day. 🙂