White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
10 second chess tactic
White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Ba3
Ba3 – idea Nf6-Qh6
Ba3 Bd8 Rd8!
Ba3 idea Nf6-Qh6
Ba3 Bd8 Rd8!
Ba3
Ba3!
1Ba3 wins
1.Ba3 threatening Nf6 and Qh6
B a3 !
B a3 !
B a3 !
B a3 !
B a3 !
1. Ba3 (wins a bishop) Bxa3 2. Nf6+ Kh8 3. Qh6# There are other deviations too, but none of them will save black from losing.
I think the key is Ba3:
1. Ba3, Bxa3
2. Nf6+, Kh8
3. Qh6#
1…., Bd8 doesn’t help Black as 2. Rxd8, Rxd8 follows and then White can do Nf6 which in this position means that the black king is doomed.
I didn’t even come close to getting this in ten seconds. Checking with the knight from f6 just held my attention too long. Of course, once I realized the weakness of that move (the black knight covers h6 and g7 from f5), it then did immediately occur to me to play Ba3 first:
1. Ba3! Ba3??
2. Nf6! Kh8
3. Qh6#
So, can black defend better? Yes, but only by losing material:
1. Ba3 g5 (Bd8 2.Rd8!+-)
2. Qc1 f5 (Ba3 3.Nf6 Kh8 4.Qg5)
3. Be7 fe4
4. Bf8 with a decisive material edge.