White to move. How should white proceed?
6k1/1p3ppp/p1n1b3/q1B4P/2p5/P5P1/1PPr1QB1/1K2R3 w – – 0 1
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Rxe6 threatening Re8# if RxQ and if fxe6, then Qf8#.
Well white can take the bishop with 1.Rxe6. Though threatening mate in two ways, it is not a completely forcing move, however. One must think on 1… Rd1+. The bishop protects the b4 square, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Black can perhaps retreat with Rd8, but white will be up a piece. I’d do that.
After looking at various moves, you have to stumble onto Rxe6. However, I feel a bit stupid for not looking at this right from the start rather than wasting my time on moves b4, Bb6, or Qe3 (the skewer on g2 kills). Re6 threatens a back rank mate that black must address, and is probably the only saving move for white:
1. Re6! Rd1(fe6 2.Qf8#; Rf2 2.Re8#)
Other moves aren’t really any better that I can see. Any of the pawn pushes, f6/g6/h6 look to lose to Re8+. Retreating the queen or rook back to the 8th rank just concedes being down a piece: [1. …Qd8 2.Qd2! Qd2?? 3.Re8#]; or [1. …Rd8 2.Re1+-]. Continuing:
2. Ka2 Rd8 (Qd8 3.Re3 should win)
3. Re2 preserves white’s advantage and should win.
1. Rxe6 – Rxf2
2. Re8#
1. … fxe6
2. Qf8#
Otherwise, piece down +-
1. Rxe6
If 1…fxe6 then 2. Qf8#
If 1…Rxf2 then 2.Re8#
If 1…Rd1+ then 2. Ka2
and white king is safe, and white just won a piece.
1. Rxe6
I was just about to give as the complete solution to this problem the routine 1. Rxe6 when I noticed that after 1. .. Rd1+ 2. Ka2 Rd8 White has something to consider. If Black can deflect the White bishop on c5-square away from the a3-f8 diagonal, a check by the Black knight, Nb4+, combined with the the Black rook returning to d1, would turn the tables. Therefore the most cautious play to secure the win would be 3. Re1
Fortunately, that was the last option I considered, because otherwise I wouldn’t have had the fun of looking at 2 other options that lead to interesting play.
3. Re2!? b6 4. Bd5 Nb4+
(4. .. bxc5? 5. Qxf7+ Kh8 6. Re8+ Rxe8 7. Qxe8#)
5. Bxb4
(5. Kb1? Nxd5)
5. .. Qxd5 6. Qxb6 is
winning.
3. Re4?!!!?!? This move leads to tons of fun.1. .. b6 4. Rxc4
(4. Bxb6??? Nb4+ 5. Kb1 Rd1#)
4. .. Qb5
(4. .. bxc5 5. Bxc6)
5. b3 bxc5
(5. .. Ne5 6. Bxb6 Nxc4 7. Bxd8)
6. Rxc5 Qb6
(6. .. Rd2 7. Rxc6 Qxc6 (7. .. Rxf2 8. Rc8+ Qe8 9. Rxe8#) 8. Qxd2)
7. Bxc6 Rc8 8. Qf5 Qd8
(8. .. Rxc6 9. Qc8+ Rxc8 10. Rxc8+ Qd8 11. Rxd8#)
9. Be8 Rc7 10. h6 gxh6
(10. .. g6 11. Qe5)
11. Qf4 Re7
(11. .. Rxc5 12. Qxf7+ Kh8 13. Qf8#)
12. Qxh6 Rxe8 13. Rg5+ Qxg5 14. Qxg5+ Yep! That’s my preferred solution for the day.
Lucymarie Ruth
1.Bxc6! leaves black with weak pawns.
1.Bxc6! leaves black with weak pawns.
Rxe6
1.Rxe6 Rd1+
(1…fxe6 2.Qf8#)
(1…Rxf2 2.Re8#)
(1…Qa4)
2.Ka2 Rd8
Bxc6 leaves white with no queen
Bxc6 leaves white with no queen