1r3r1k/4Rppp/n1b5/2p5/pq3P2/1P3N2/P1P3P1/1K2Q2R w – – 0 1
This is a double exercise. White to move. How should White proceed? However, you must also find the best defense for Black as well 🙂 Then you must reach a final assessment of the position after you are done with all the lines 🙂
Level of difficulty: 2.5 out of 4
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
The beginning is clear I think.
1. Rxh7+, Kxh7 (1.-, Kg8 2. Rh8+ leads to the main line, 2. Qh4 probably gives even more) 2. Qh4+, Kg8 (Kg6 3. Qg5 4. Qh5 almost leads to the main line; 3. Ne5+, Kf5 4. Qg5+, Ke4 5. Nxc6+ 6. NxQ seem to give big advantage to white) 3. Ng5
Now Rf anywhere loses to mate:
4. Qh7+, Kf8 5. Rxf7+ 1:0
But there is 3. -, Be4!? (forced!) 4. Rxe4
Now again Rf anywhere leads to mate (Qh7+ Qh8#) so 4. -, QxR 5. NxQ.
The position now is too complicated for me to analyse without board – material is almost even (RR vs QP), much better for white than in the beginning. I have to et up the board and take a closer look…
I think jochen has it right. White is a piece down and is in serious trouble on the queen side, so he must do something forcing on the king side so…
1. Rxh7+, Kxh7
2. Qh4+, Kg8
3. Ng5, Be4
4. Rxe4 Qxe4
5. Nxe4 f6 (preventing Ng5)
At this point the material is about equal, but I think white wins by pushing the g pawn and trapping the black king in the corner.
Rxh7+ Kxh7
Qh4+ Kg8
Ng5 Be4
Rxe4 Qxe4
Nxe4
theres no mate. how do you deal with the bishop. i analysed without a board. do you say in the middle of a complicated game wait a minute let me get a board and set up the pieces and analyse this position.
Jochen says:
“1. Rxh7+, Kxh7 (1.-, Kg8 2. Rh8+ leads to the main line, 2. Qh4 probably gives even more) 2. Qh4+, Kg8 (Kg6 3. Qg5 4. Qh5 almost leads to the main line; 3. Ne5+, Kf5 4. Qg5+, Ke4 5. Nxc6+ 6. NxQ seem to give big advantage to white) “
if
1.Rxh7+ Kxh7
2.Qh4+ Kg6??
3.Ne5+ Kf5
4.Qg5+ Ke4
5.Nxc6++ or
5.Nf3++
The rest is OK.
or better
1.Rxh7+ Kxh7
2.Qh4+ Kg6??
3.f5+ Kxf5
4.Qg5++
Best Regards
Xargon
for the main line:
1.Rxh7+ Kxh7
2.Qh4+ or Qxh1+
2. … Kg8
3.Ng5 Be4
4.Rxe4 Qxe4
5.Nxe4
The position is difficult but seems to be balanced.
I dont know which one is better square for the White Queen, h1 or h4 ?
Xargon
1. Rh7 Kh7 2. Qh4 Kg8 (2..Kg6? 3 f5 Kf5 4 Qg5 mate) 3. Ng5 Be4 4. Re4 (4.Ne4? Rfd8) Qe4 5.Ne4 f6 (5..Rfd8 5.Ng5 a3 6.Kc1 is risky for black)
The position is roughly equal. White has Q + N vs 2R + N of black and an extra pawn on Q side.
If white can somehow win the c5 pawn and exchange off the Knights, White can create two passed pawns on Q side and win. White needs to be careful about black playing a4-a3 and trying to exploit the back rank weekness. After 4..f6, if white can play f4-f5 & somehow manage to plant the Knight on e6, he will get a slightly better position.
Black can exchange off on b3 (a4 x b3 & c5-c4 followed by c4xb3) and then duble the rooks on b file and finally exchange off everythng on b3 and go to an equal King & Pawn endings.
Considering blacks plans, white may want to continue with 6.Nd6 followed by putting the Knight on c4, followed by K-b2-c3. But the position is roughly equal.
Rxh7 is not a check! If
Rxh7 Qxe1+
Rxe1 Rxe1+
Nxe1 Kxh7
and now white is also down by a rook.
What position are you lokking at ?
Xargon
After the much discussed Jochen line reaching a position with a queen knight and pawns vs 2 rooks knight and pawns, the move Rb6 for Black is thematic. After Rb6 played, I prefer Black’s position because as I see it White’s tactical shots are at stop while Black’s are only beginning.
I cut and pasted the game position in fritz and it placed the king’s position on g8! Nevermind.
“The rest is OK.”
Why only the rest? I also posted that variation you posted.
It was my second line which can even be read in the quoted part. 🙂
Btw. (after Nxe4) I couldn’t decide between the solide f6 (I’d also say this would probably end in a draw) and the someway obscure a3.
I think a3 is a very interesting move. Black cages the white king and gets a real strong passed pawn if he manages to capture a2. The mating threat on the first line could help to access this goal.
The good question is what white can do inbetween.
Any opinions to 5. -, a3!? (or ?!) ?
Greetings
Jochen
Can you archive all your blog since existence and zip for download, to view offline? For slow users would be great. And then update once a month. Thank you.
what about 1.c3? I don’t see other option for Black than retreating the Queen, then the combination starting with Rxh7+ should end in mate.. right? wrong?
1. c3!? is a cute idea (and I rarely find such brilliant moves) but here it wont’ work:
1. -, Qxf4
Sorry but I hav to admit I didn’t look at that move which gives black only one defense – and I think many others didn’t.
Good proposal!
The “sorry” meant “sorry for you that it doesn’t work” not sorry for not having looked at this myself. 😉
We may never know the right solution, sigh.