White to move. How should White proceed?
2b1r1k1/1p3ppp/2p5/5q2/pBP5/P6P/1P1Q1PP1/3R2K1 w – – 0 1
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White’s Move
1. Qd8
Black’s King is in danger of a Back Rank Checkmate
The sequence is part of a “Combination” – sacrificing White’s Queen to land Checkmate with the Rook, which is currently down on ‘d1’.
Here’s how it could happen:
White’s Queen, by going up to the d8-square, performs an “X-Ray Attack” (Definition 2, see link below), through an enemy Piece (Black’s Rook), threatening Black’s King.
White’s Queen is sent up as the sacrfice. Unless Black sees there’s no way out and resigns, Black’s Rook will capture White’s Queen (1. … Rxd8) …
However, that will allow White’s Rook to capture Black’s Rook and land the Back Rank Mate (2. Rxd8#).
Black’s Weaknesses
1)
Black’s Queen and Bishop aren’t in a position to tackle White’s Queen and/or Rook, which are forming a Battery Attack along the d-File.
2)
Black’s King is trapped by his three defending Pawns … He need one of the Pawns to move forward (to make “Luft”), in order to provide an escape route.
Chess Tactics – X-Ray Attack
1.Qd8 Qe6
2.Be7 1-0
1 Qd8 Qe4
2 Be7 1-0
The back ranks determine this one.
1. Qd8 Qe5 (The back rank prevents 1. … Rxd8)
2. Be7 Bd7 (2. … Qxe7 3. Qxe7 Rxe7 4. Rd8+)
3. Rxd7 Qb8 (or 3. … Qe1+ 4. Kh2 Qe5+ 5. g3 Qb8 etc.)
4. Qxb8 Rxb8
5. Bd6 Re8
6. Rxb7 +-
LOL! Though I saw Qd8 pretty quick, I missed the interposition move for several frustrating minutes.
1.Qd8 Qe6
And the move that was hard to see-
2.Be7! Bd7 (Qe7 3.Qe7 Re7 4.Rd8+-)
3.Rd7 Qe1
4.Kh2 Qe5
5.g3 Qb8
6.Qb8 Rb8 and white wins a full piece.
Qd8 Qe6, for example
Be7 Qxe7
Qxe7 and if Rxe7 then Rd8 mate
Qd8 was an obvious idea but I didn’t immediately see Be7
Looks like 1. Qd8 does it. Neither 1. … Bd7 nor 1. … Qe6 can save the game for Black.
1. Qd8! Qe6
(How else to guard the Rook?)
2. Be7! and Black is toast
1. Qd8 Rxd8
2. RxR#
1. … Qe6
2. Be7 Qxe7
3. Qxe7 Rxe7
4. Rd8+ Re8
5. RxR#
1. … h5
2. Qxe8+ Kh7 1-0
Mark
Q-d8 IS THE KEY.
Whits wins as follows
1)Qd8,Qe4(2)Be7,Bd7(3)Rxd7,Qe1+Black tries desperate attempt for repeated moves4)Kh2,Qe5+(5)g3,Qb8.
Advantage for white.
S.Krishnamurthy