White to move. How should White proceed?
kr6/r6p/8/5q2/8/p6P/6RK/7B w – – 0 1
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1. Rg6+ – the only move to guarantee mate in 3.
1. Rg4 or Rg5 allows black to give his Q back favorably by blocking the heck on the same rank as the rook, then after the rook takes the Q playing Kb7. Or, after the B takes with another check, black plays Rab7 and the rook can’t get to the a-file.
Moving the R to g3, g1, or along the 2nd rank allows black to play …Rab7 and then the K goes to a7.
Beautiful study! It is a very simple case,white gives discovered check.black intercepts with a rook and white R delvers mate on 8th rank or “a” file depending on which of the two black rooks has intercepted the check.So where should the white R move to on 1st move.Possibilities are 1.Rg3,1.Rg4, 1.Rg6(with reluctance) of course not 1.g5 because black Q blocks the way to a5.The last point gives away the clue what mischief black Q can play.Black can intercept with Q to spoil white’s plan like
(a)1.Rg3+ Qf3
(b)1.Rg4+ Qe4
The only move left is
1.Rg6+ R(8)b7
1…. R(a7)b7
2.Ra6#
2.Rg8+ Qc8 or Qf8
3.RxQ#
1. Rg4+ is mate in two.
1. … Ra7b7 2. Ra4+ Qa5 3. Rxa5#
1. … Rb8b7 2. Rg8+ Qc8 3. Rxc8#
In the initial position white is down a massive amount of material as he has a bishop for a queen, rook and pawn. So white either has to checkmate or win massive material.
1.Rf2+/Rg5+ wins the queen and an exchange however that is insufficient for a win.
The light square bishop on h1 is the most powerful piece on the entire board!! The discovered check it offers is lethal given the awkward placement of the black king with the rooks blocking him in. The key is to give the white rook flexibility to attack on the 8th rank as well as the a file. This seemingly can be done with 3 moves :- Rg3, Rg4 and Rg6.
The solution is
1.Rg6+ unleashing the power of hero bishop on to the black king
1…Qf3/e4/d5 as a futile delaying move
2.Bxf3/e4/d5+ and now neither rook block is any good
if 2…Rab7 then Ra6#
if 2…Rbb7 then Rg8#
Now it is important to also see why 1.Rg3+ and 1.Rg4+ does not win.
1.Rg3+ Qf3 (1.Rg4+ Qe4 with the same idea)
if 2.Bxf3+ Rab7 and now the bishop is preventing the white rook from accessing the a file and this allows black an extra move to escape
if 2.Rxf3 Rb2+ and the king escapes and black is winning because he is still up the exchange and has the advanced a pawn.
(2…Rc8 3.Rb3+ or 2…Ra6 3.Rg7 and black may be completely losing in this variation)
Rg4+
Rg4+
Rg4+
Rg6!!
White Elephant on g4 – discovered check. Black King cannot move, so one of the Black Elephants will have to block Camel’s check.
The g4 square gives white Elephant both options to give another check by going in the 8th rank – if 8th rank Black Elephant is moved to block Camel’s check, and to move to a file – if a file Black Elephant is used to block the Camel’s check. That will be the checkmate.
Algebric notation:
Rg4+ Rb8b7. Rg8++.
Or
Rg4+ Ra7b7. Ra4++.
-Patrick.
Forgot to mention, the Black Queen can try to block Camel’s or Elephant’s check, but that will only be a waste of time and move, with the inevitable impending checkmate in the next move.
-Patrick.
My initial thought was
1. Rg3+ but Black can draw with 1. … Qf3
1. … Rab7; 2. Rxa3, Qa5; 4. Rxa5 mate
1. … Rbb7; 2. Rg8, Qf8/c8; 3. RxQ mate
If Black blocks the check with … Qe4 or … Qd5, BxQ sets up the same mating patterns.
So Black has to try … Qf3 so that White’s Bishop and Rook interfere with each other.
And now
2. Rxf3, Rb2+ wins for Black, since Black has time either the King or the R on a7, eliminating the mating threats while maintaining a material advantage.
Or
2. Bxf3+, Rab7; 3. Be4, Ka7 looks drawish.
————–
And now the solution is clear. If 1. Rg3 or 1. Rg4 or 1. Rg5, Black can block the check with the Queen on f3, e4, or d5 respectively, where capturing will make the Rook or Bishop interfere with each other, allowing Black to escape with a draw. So, where can White set up the same threats of mating on either the a file or the 8th rank, depending on which Black Rook blocks the check (after BxQ first, if the Queen interposed)? Only one move forces mate:
1. Rg6+!!
RG3+ and it is checkmate in one
RG3+ and it is checkmate in 1
Ummm in my previous post, the Elephant needs to go to g6 and not g4 and checkmates the Black King from g8 or a6, not from a4.
Hope I did not confuse the GM 😛
Rg6+ Ra7b7, Ra6++
or
Rg6+ Rb8b7, Rg8++
-Patrick
1. Rg6+ wins.
1.Rg6+ …Rab7
2.Ra6#
if 1…Rbb7
2.Rg8+ …Qc8
3.Rxc8#
1.Rg6+ …Rab7
2.Ra6#
if 1…Rbb7
2.Rg8+ …Qc8
3.Rxc8#
1.Rg6+ …Rab7
2.Ra6#
if 1…Rbb7
2.Rg8+ …Qc8
3.Rxc8#
Rg2-g6+ and wins
Rg2-g6+ and wins
1. Rg6+!!
A-1……Rab7. 2. Ra6#
B-1……Rbb7. 2. Rg8#.Qf/c8..3. Rxf/c8#
C-1.Qf3/e4/d5. 2. BxQ+ then as in variation A or B above.
Note that oe first move white rook has to move to a square which controls both a file and eighth rank and still allow bishop to capture queen with check when interposed. Wrong would be 1.Rg3.Qf3!! and 1.Rg4.Qe4!! and 1.Rg5.Qd5!! when BxQ+ would allow Rab7 and white rook does not have access to “a” file! If white plays RxQ then Kb7 spoils all white chances and black wins!
On the other hand, 1. R-along second rank cuts off access to “a” file and white loses.
Harry
Rg3!
If ….Rab7, Rxa2#
If …..Rbb7, Rg8
1. Rg4+ discovered check.
1. … Rab7 is met with Ra4++ and
1. … R8b7 is met with Rg8++
1. Rg6+ (2.Rg8++; 2.Ra6++). 1.Rg3?; Rg4?.. Qf3; Qe4.
Dear Neelkantan S,
Are you the same person we used to play with on many occasions at bombay chess Association and elsewhere decades back? If so please contact me at sgb@jobjini.com