White to move. How should White proceed? See if you can solve it between 3-5 seconds.
r4r2/2q2pk1/3b2p1/1p2p2p/p4nb1/P3QNB1/BP3PPP/3R1RK1 w – – 0 1
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1. Bxf4 is winning a piece.
1. .. exf4
2. Qd4+
or
1. .. Bxf3
2. Bh6+ Kh7
3. gxf3
3. gxf3
Why not 3.Bxf8 ?
3-5 seconds?? Come on, Susan! That makes us in the 3-minute group feel dumb.
1. Bxf4?? exf4
2. Qd4?? Be5
3. Qxe5+?? Qxe5
4. Nxe5 Bxd1
5. Rxd1
I don’t think Bxf4 is the right move
Rxd6 !
1. Bxf4 exf4
2. Qd4+ Be5
3. Nxe5
Nearly everything wins here for white.
Why not simply 1.Rc1 attacking the queen and simultaneously unpinning the Knight on f3.
The threat 2.Bf4: and winning the Bd6 with 3.Qd4 (check) is still on…
1.Rc1 Qe7 and Black breathes easy.
I don’t see a win with any move other than 1.Bxf4.
Rxd6 !
Mmm … rooks ….
1.Rxd6 Qxd6 wins (2.Nxe5 Nd2+).
“1. Bxf4?? exf4
2. Qd4?? Be5
3. Qxe5+?? Qxe5
4. Nxe5 Bxd1
5. Rxd1 “
What a senseless punctuation.
Even if Nxe5 (instead of queen exchange) wasn’t possible (after 3. Nxe5 Bxd1 is a real big mistake because Nxf7+ mates) and white only won both bishops against the rook it would still give material advantage.
So all these “??” seem really silly….
Btw: 3-5 seconds? For SEEING the first move Bxf4 perhaps but for CALCULATING it out… never for me!
Best wishes
Jochen
1. Bf4 Bf3 2. Rd6! ef4 3. Qd4+ and gf3 +-
1. Bf4 Bf3 2. Rd6! ef4 3. Qd4+ and gf3 +-
I agree that your line does win, but why the “!” for 2.Rd6? 2.Bh6+! looks clearly stronger.
Jochen, Nxf7+ doesn’t mate but you are right. Putting ?? is really silly..
Anonymous first posting has the key move and point.
Best line is: 1. Bxf4 winning a piece.
1. .. exf4
2. Qd4+ forking Black’s dark square Bishop on d6 and Black’s King.
or this other Black line leads to checkmate.
1. .. Bxf3
2. Bh6+ Kh7
3. BxR (f8) BxR (d1)
4. Qh6 + K g8
5. Qg7 ++ 1-0.
All variations – and there are many – all lead to White wins the piece and the game.
Peter / chesstoplay