Zalkind 1914, presented by Andreas
White to move. What should White do?
1r2B1k1/4P3/p6P/2p5/8/8/1B4K1/8 w – – 0 1
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1. h7+ Kxh7
2. Ba4 Rxb2+
2. Bc2 Rxc2+
3. Kf3 etc.
1-0
Yes, its very easy if black plays along 🙂
But what if he is not?
Nice!
I wasted a lot of time looking at 1.Bg6, which isn’t quite good enough. Black just plays 1…Rxb2+ and 2…Rb8. Then he pushes his c-pawn; when White captures (or blockades), Black immediately replies …Re8 and exchanges his rook for White’s e-pawn, leaving White with the impotent pair.
ebutaljib –
How do you think Black can improve on Anon 1:15’s line?
Oups.
I missed that 3.Bc2+ is a check. The solution is right.
I was wrong.
on anon 1:15’s line, what if 3… rb8 instead of rxc2.
looks like a draw, doesn’t it?
oops, didn’t see that …. rb8 is not possible because of the check. sorry
1.h7+!! Kxh7 (must capture other wise white queens)
2.Ba4!! Rxb2+ (must capture otherwise white queens and would leave white with the decisive 2 bishops)
3.Bc2+!! Rxc2+ (Once again, must capture otherwise white queens immediately!)
4.Kf3 (stops Re2 stopping white’s pawn) Rc3+
5.Kf4 (stops Re3) Rc4+
6.Kf5 (no more checks and prevents Re4, pawn can now promote) +-
Failed to solve this beauty.