White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Rapid chess tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1 Be7 Rd1 2 Bd1
Be7!
1.Be7! winning material -at least a piece with a continuing attack, through a double attack on Rd8 and Nh4.
>A-1….Rxe7?.2.Rxd8#
>B-1…Ng6?.2.Bxd8.Rxd1(if Rxd8.3.Rxd8+.Nf8.4.Rxb8 and white is 2 rooks up).3.Rxd1 and white is a rook up.
>C-1…Rxd1.2.Bxd1!.Re8(if Rxd1.3.Rxd1.Ng6.4.Rd8+.Nf8. 5.Rxf8#).3.Bxh4 and white is a piece up
>D-1….Bc7.2.Bxh4! Winning a piece! ( not 2.Bxd8.Rxd8 and white only wins the exchange)
Harry
Black has a back rank problem and e7 is a double attack.
With the right sequence, white wins material. Starting with his Rook…
1. Be7!! forking Rook & Knight
1. ….. Rxd1
2. Bxd1 1-0
Be7 wins
1. Be7
If Rxe7, Rxd8 mates.
If Re8, Bxh4 wins the knight.
Here I quickly get the feeling that it should have something to do with the move Be7, double attacking rook and knight.
But playing this instantly only leads to Rxd1, so I guess I have to play:
1. Rxd7 Rxd7 (alternative below)
2. Rc1!
To avoid both Rc8# and loosing Bb8, black must now play:
2. … Rd8
3. Be7!
gaining the Nh4.
Alternative:
1. Rxd7 Bxd7 (Bd7 is now pinned)
2. Rd1 Ng6 (prevents Be7)
3. Nc5 Nf8 (prevents Rxd7/Nxd7)
4. Be7! R move
5. Nxd7
Again Be7 was the decisive move but here delayed to move #4.
1.Be7! Rxd1
2.Bxd1 wins
I solved it but not with the rapidity required in Rapid Chess.
1.Be7! Rxd1
(What else? 1… Rxe7 2.Rxd8#)
2.Bxd1!! Rxd1
3.Rxd1 threatening mate on move.
3…. f6!
This move saves the N but exchange has been lost.
After the double attack
1. Be7! Black is completely lost. The bishop cannot be taken
(1. … Rxe7 2.Rxd8+ Re8 3.Rxe8#)
Trying to escape by trading rooks does not change much:
1. … Rxd1
2. Bxd1!
Not 2.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 3. Bxd1 Ng6/f5 and Black has nothing to fear.
Now Black can try to give an exchange instead of the knight, but after
2. … Rxd1
3. Rxd1 the knight cannot move because of the threat Rd8 with mate. So
3. … f6 blocking the bishop’s way to h4 and opening a square for the king.
4. Bxf6 gxf6
5. Rd8+ Kg7/f7
6. Rxb8
White has won the exchange and a pawn and will soon eliminate Black’s queenside pawns
+-
The position is screaming for:
1. Be7!
1.Be7 looks like it does the trick- skewers the rook at d8 and the knight at h4. Black can exchange at d1 first, but white just recaptures with the bishop at d1 and black must lose a piece.
Very good analysis by many readers. Especially nice find by SG Bhat and fajac to see the …f6 maneuver to at least reduce Black’s losses to the exchange and not a whole piece. I missed that – sometimes those little things are crucial.
I have to say this was another case of it helping to know there IS a tactical solution in order to find it. How often can the doubled Rooks against a single Rook be exploited in this way? Knowing there’s a winning tactic allowed me to see at least the possibility of the Rook on d8 being subject to an indirect attack. Of course the loose Knight helps in spotting the winning idea.
– Craigaroo
Actually, Craigaroo, the line including 2. …Rd1 is an error, in my opinion. Fajac is correct with the even deeper analysis beyond that point where white simply pseudosacrifices at f6 to completely destroy black’s pawns. Black maintains the position better by conceding the knight at h4, though that is still lost.
Dear pht,
I was stunned by your 2.Rc1! but after 2… Rc7 what?
Analysis by fajac is very good but white is not in a tearing hurry for the move 4.Bxf6. He can play 4.Rd8+ Kf7 5.Bxf6 with same result.Not to worry about 5…. Bc7 because of 6.Bxh4.