It is very common for chess players not being able to convert a superior position into a full point. In this position, White is down a pawn. However, White has more than enough compensation for the pawn. How should White continue? (This is not a regular tactical puzzle. This is more of knowing how to finish off a game)
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Nd5 maybe …
Ne5 sorry
NE5 then if NXQ, NXQ white has the threat on the rook but the rook must stay on the 8th rank or else R-b8+ so the black knight falls
I think of 1 Ne5, too, though without conviction. If 1…Nxe1 and 2 Nxc6, white will be a piece up. (if 2…Rd6, 3 Na7+), so either 1… Nxe5 or 1… Qc7 etc, either way I presume that white queen will occupy e4 square and threaten a mate or pinning the opposite queen…
Qc3
Qe3 seems better. Then Rb3 (attacking the knight) and Rfb1 (invading on b8).
I prefer 1.Qa5
Now that I see that the white pawn is safe as long as the King and Queen are on the same file, I prefer the Qe3 or Qh5
I like Qc3 to grab pawns at g7 but that opens up for black to attack the white king who is already weakened by the loss of the h2 pawn.
the other choice is to attack the black king by Qa5. and the a7 pawn instead of the g7 pawn. I think the attack against the a7 pawn and king has to be stronger. so I go for Qa5.
now black has lots of responses and I just can not work it out. I am not really that good a player. but I love the game.
black can not take Qxc4 or he loses the queen to a rook to c1 pinning the queen to the king. so the pawn is safe for now.
he can not defend a7 with the queen or Qa6 check and the rook comes down to pin the queen. so he must defend with Rd7.
well I was working it out as I write. but what to do after Rd7. Probably white should double up rooks on the b file. this is really pretty difficult for me.
how about Ne5 then Nxe5 Qxe5 gives a mate attack at b8 and the pawn on g7. but it seems to lose the idea of attacking the king.
so lets try doubling rooks. there are 2 squares. b3 and b5. b3 allows Nc5 so Rb5 is probably better the knight can not attack it in one move on b5. the rook also supports white Ne5 forking the queen and knight. good to give black some extra problems to worry about.
that is it. I throw in the towel. I need to see what black actually plays.
there you go. if white now plays Ne5 then it takes the black knight away from guarding c5 and Rc5 pins the queen. this is looking pretty good so far. keeps the pressure up anyway. also it is bringing more pieces against the black king. that is good.
tommy
qa5 rd7
rfd1 nc5
rxd7 nxd7
qa7 (threats ne5) f6
nd4 qe4
ne6 1-0
I like 1. Ne5 too. If 1…Nxe5 then 2. Qxe5 with the threat of 3. Qb8+. If. 2….Qc7 3. Qb5 (But not 3. Qxg7? as 3…Rdg8 is very strong. In the same vein, White can ignore his pawn on c4 because Black can not take the c pawn with his Queen because of Rc1).
If 1…Qc5, 2. Qe4 threatening Qb7#.
The next idea for White is to build up his position by doubling the rooks on the open B file and eventually invading the 7th rank with Rb7.
I would go for Qc3, keeping an eye on g7 and the potential of playing Ne5, exchanging NxN and putting the Q in a position that would pressure on b8.
I like Ne5 as well…Ne5 Nxe1 Nxc6 Nd3 Nxa7+ and that passed a pawn is real nice. Ne5 Nxe5 Qxe5 and white improves the position of his queen and gets rid of black’s strong knight, and then wins either the a7 pawn or the g7 pawn. Ne5 Qc7 Nxd3 Rxd3 Qe4 threatens the hanging rook and Qa8+, winning the h8 rook. if Rdd8, then Qa8+ Kd7 Rfd1+ Ke7 Rxd8 Rxd8 Rb7 Rxa8 Rxc7+ Kf6 …ok nevermind I’m busted there…lol. back to the drawing board. 🙁
Qe3, on the other hand, as the first move…
Qe3 Rd7 Ne5 Nxe5 Qxe5 wins the g7 pawn.
Qe3 a6 Qa7 wins easily.
Qe3 Qc7 Rfd1 Nc5 Nd4 and white is making some headway…Qf3 will come next. Nb5 will likely come soon.
I think Qe3 does it.
1.Qa5 Rd7 (Qc7?? Qa6+ Kd7 Rb7+-) 2.Rfd1 intending Rxd3 and Ne5 looks good.
Dear Susan,
What is the solution to this position?
I read on another site that Karpov might run for president of fide. Isnt that awesome!!!
I would probably go for 1.Ne5 and then after 1…Nxe5 2.Qxe5 Qc7 3.Qb5 Rd7 4.c5 I don’t see what black is doing to prevent c6, creating dangerous threats. Or 1…Qc7 2.Nxd3 Rxd3 3.Qe4 Rd8 4.Rb2 followed by doubling and advancing the c-pawn again, where black looks even more squeezed to me.
Of course the chess computer immediately showed me what I had been overlooking. 🙁
To clarify, in my second line I was thinking of 3…Rdd8 (which was also my mistake).
Since White’s advantage lies in his attack (not material), it’s probably not wise to trade Qs. Therefore Ne5 is suspect, unless you can show a forced win, or transference to a new kind of advantage (e.g. material). The c-pawn is poison, as White can decoy the N to pin the Q to the K, so White need not protect it. Opening up the g-file doesn’t sound like a good plan, so Qc3 is out. That leaves Qa5 or Qe3 to analyze.
Wow!!! great new look to the site Susan!!
This is the continuation:
[White “Lutz, Christopher”]
[Black “Khenkin, Igor”]
[Result “1-0”]
[White Elo “2596”]
[Black Elo “2587”]
28. Qa5 Rd7 29. Rb3 Rhd8 30. Rfb1 Rc7 31. Qd2 (31. Ne5 Nxe5 32. Rb8+ Kd7 33. Qd2+) 31… Qd6 32. Ne5 1-0
1. Qa5 was White’s best cont.