White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Gallagher tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
White can safely take on f7
1- Rxf7+ ; Rxf7
Playing Kg8 allows Qxh6 and brings about the same result as variant B (below) with just a different move order.
2- Qxh6+…
Now 3 variants are possible :
A) … ; Kxh6
3) Nxf7+ ; K any
4) Nxd6 and white has netted two pawns
B) … ; Kg8
3) Qh8+ ; Kxh8+ (now forced)
4) Nxf7+, etc…
C) … ; kf6
3) Qxg6+ ; ke7
4) Qxf7+, and white is up 3 pawns instead of two.
Funny simplification!
1.Rxf7+ Rxf7 (1…Kg8 2.Qxh6 will transpose)
2.Qxh6+ Kf6 (2…Kxh6 3.Nxf7+ fork; 2…Kg8 3.Qh8+ Kxh8 4.Nxf7+ fork)
3.Qxg6+ Ke7
4.Qxf7+ Kd8 and now with three pawns plus White will win but with the thematic move
5.Qxd7+ Bxd7
6.Nf7+ they show Black that they couldn’t avoid a fork and that “resign” is the most sensible move here!
1. Rf7:+ Rf7:
2. Qh6:+ Kg8
3. Qh8+ splat.
Rxf7# Rxf7
Qxh6# Kxh6
Nxf7#
followed by Nxd6
White wins at least two pawns in all of these variations :
1.Rxf7 check , Kg8
2.Rxf8 check , Kxf8 or Nxf8
3.Qxh6
or
1.Rxf7 check , Rxf7
2.Qxh6 check , Kxh6
3.Nxf7 check , K any
4.Nxd6
I predict most solvers will think “hmmm..Joe Gallagher ..King’s Gambit..Q sac!”:-)
and post only the second solution !
1. Rf7+ Rf7
2. Qh6+ Kh6
3. Nf7+ King moves
4. Nd6
Up 2 pawns.
Rf7 & Qh6
1 R:f7 R:f7; 2 Q:h5+!! K:h6: 3 N:f7+ +-
1 R:f7 R:f7; 2 Q:h5+!! K:h6: 3 N:f7+ +-
The actual game between Gallagher and Curran went as follows:
23. Rxf7+ Rxf7
24. Qxh6+ Kg8? {Kxh6 might have been better.}
25. Qh8+ Kxh8
26. Nxf7+ {Black resigns here. Why?}
This could play out something like:
26… Kg7
27. Nxd6 Nb6
28. b3 Bf5?
29. Nxf5+ gxf5
30. Re1
Now, in terms of development, black is behind white since black is down two pawns and white controls the open e file and black will have trouble advancing or even holding on to his pawn at f5, leaving his king in a very exposed position.
It definitely would be a difficult struggle for black to win from this position. Perhaps, difficult enough to resign if one can see that far ahead.