Alekhine – Shishko [Moscow, 1919]
White to move. How would you assess this position? How should White proceed?
This was sent in by Andreas.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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1. Rxf2 gxf2 2. Rxf5 Kxf5 3.g4! with the win as the king can now move to g2.
Hello,
I have a different idea:
Rxf5 Kxf5 Rxf2 gxf2 g4+ and the white king goes to g2, prevents the f2 pawn from queening and black can do nothing agains the a pawn reaching th 8th rank.
regards
ecki
One request, Susan! Do you ever post the solutions? It would be helpful if you could post solutions later.
rxf5 qxf5 rxf5 a6 white wins
For those who like to see semi-offical answers to Susan’s problems:
Tim Krabbé’s wonderful site discusses this position here.
Or you can practice your Italian here.
1.Rxf2 is better cuz 1.Rxf5 can be met by, e.g. Qd4 and black can try to draw
So far as I can see, posts 1, 2, and 4 are all correct in their analysis. Is this a first for us?
… and now, #6. Won’t somebody please something incorrect?
DRAW!!! Oh no..wait…is not Annand playing….so there must be a win for white.
“So far as I can see, posts 1, 2, and 4 are all correct in their analysis.”
2 and 4 which are suggesting Rxf5 instead of Rxf2 aren’t correct as ano 1:33 points out.
It’s going to be quite a hard win while white has to defend the first rank, the h-file and push his pawn everything against a mobile black queen.
I predict 1. Rxf5, Qd4 is an easy draw for black.
Best regards
Jochen
Jochen –
Yes, we agree that 1.Rxf2 is the cleanest win, but even after:
1.Rxf5(?) Qd4
2.R5f4 Qxd3
3.R4f3 Qb5
4.Rxg3+ Kf7
5.Ra1
… do you really think Black has an “easy draw”?
Do not take on d3 as this gives white time to capture g3.
Play Qc5 instead. White’s rooks must defend h5 now. If Rf4 does (Rf5) black can again go to d4 threating on h4. If Rf1 goes to f4, queen checks on the first rank and rook must go back.
How should white proceed? Capturing f6 won’t change the whole thing, will it?
I am quite tensed if you can show me that I am wrong here. I do not use a board and did not look at the picture while posting this so there may be faults in my analysis but I predict the basic defending idea should be okay!?
Best regards
Jochen
Jochen –
I think you’re right. Maybe White can win after:
1.Rxf5 Qd4
2.R5f4 Qc5
3.Rxf6+ Kg7
4.Rf7+ Kh8
5.Rf8+ Kg7
… but it’s a lot of work. For that matter, I can’t demonstrate a sure win after 2…Qxd3, either.
1.Rxf2! is clearly the best move, we’re agreed about that.
yea u dont want to give option for queen escape so… Rxf2 gxf2 then Rxf5 kxf5 then g4+ Ke5 Kg2 Kd5 Kxf2 Kc5 Kg3 Kb5 (kf4 or kh4) take both of the pawns. promote pawn to queen, white wins.