White to move. How should White proceed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Middlegame Tactic
About Author
White to move. How should White proceed?
Rxe6 with threat of Qh8 mating
Qh7+,Kf8
Q*g7,K*g7
R*e6,a*b2
R*e7
“Rxe6 with threat of Qh8 mating”
What about fxe6, then the King has the f7 square to go to.
1. Rxe6 fxe6
2. Bxg7 Nxg7
3. Qxc8 wins a piece
1. Qh7+ Kf8
2. Qxg7+? Nxg7
is a disaster!
I think the best move is 1.Qh7+, but let’s see what happens after 1.Rxe6:
1.Rxe6 fxe6
(the only move e.g. 1. … Qxe6? 2.Qh8+ Bxh8 3.Rxh8#)
2.Bxg7
(if 2.Qxb8 black plays 2. … Bxb2)
2. … Qxg7!
3.Qxb8 Qb2#
So black is winning after 1.Rxe6.
Let’s see what happens after 1.Qh7+:
1.Qh7+ Kf8
2.Qxg7!Kxg7
(2. … Nxg7 3.Rh8#)
3.Rxe6+ axb2
4.Rxe7
and white is an exchange up: +-
Greetings,
A Striking position….
The Obvious 1.Rxe6 ? fails to
1…fxe6! ( 1…Qxe6?? 2. Qh7+ Kf8 3. Qh8+! leads to mate)
2. Bxg7? 3. Qxg7! And white cannot take the rook on b8 because of mate on b2.
The right and path is
1.Qh7+! Kf8
2.Qh8+!! Bxh8
3.Rxh8+ Kg7
4.Rxe4+!! Nf6!? (4…f6? allows rapid mate with 5. Reh4 and mate cannot be averted on h7)
5.exf6+! (5.Bxf6+? Qxf6! 6. gxf6+ Kxh8! And white is losing)
5…Kxh8 (6…Qxf6? 7. Bxf6+ Kxf6 8. Rxe6+! fxe6 9.Rxb8 wins a whole Rook)
6.fxe7+ axb2
7.Rd4! (The threat is Rd8)
7…Re8
8.Rd8 Bd7
9.Rxd7 (Threat is Rd8 again)
9…Kg7
10.a4! (The Whole point of the combination, A winning Rook endgame, Black cannot seek counterplay to create a passed pawn with his g&doubled f pawns.)
10…bxa4
11.bxa4 f6 (11…g5 12. a5 f4 13. gxf4! Is decisive)
12.a5 Kf7 (12…Ra8 13.e8Q Discovered Check)
13.a6 Ra8
14.a7 Ke8
15.Rb7 and wins
A very lovely combination, in which I thoroughly enjoyed solving, Bring it on Suzy!!! The more Difficult the merrier; then again I could have made a BIG blunder somewhere, something these eagled eye bloggers are quick to spot.
My Regards
King.
To King 5:05:
1.Qh7+! Kf8
2.Qh8+!! Bxh8
3.Rxh8+ Kg7
4.Rxe4+!! Nf6!? (axb2, Reh4? Qxg5 white losing)
Qh7, then Qxg7, Rxe6, Rxe7 exchange up seems the right path.
Rxb5, threathening Dh7+ Kf8, Dh8+ and mate looks easy enough
… we had this one already, unless i’m very much mistaken.
*smile
Yeah that one was easy…r#e6 and the mate on h8 is unavoidable..
@King
in your variation you missed 4 …. axb2 (Qh8+ doesnt work, the right path is Qxg7+)
1Bd4!
Yep Vohaul, you’re mistaken. Where’s the second suggestion Rxb5 here?
This puzzle is still unclear to me. How does white win this ?
As mentioned right above your comment: Rxb5 wins a clear exchange as you can’t defend Rb8 due to the immediate threat Dh8+ and mate.
I’m sorry: wasn’t satisfied with such a prosaic move as Rxb5 after all.
I think I got it:
1. Rxe4, Lxb2 2. Rd4 blocking off the bishop and a quick mate will follow along the h-file.
I think black hasn’t go real alternatives on his first reply as white also threatens Rh4.