White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Russian chess tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1. axb4 and due to the back rank weakness, black can’t recapture with the rook. Capturing with the queen would lose the other rook.
After:
1. Rd4 ed
2. ab the Black Q can no longer protect the R on a3 (2. Qb5, 3. Qb5 and mate if recaptured).
Rd4 followed by ab4 looks ok. It takes advantage of the rook at a6 only being protected by the queen and the back rank only protected by the b8 rook:
1. Rd4 ed4 (or concede the piece)
2. ab4
And now black must move the queen since Qb4 or Qb5 is met by Qxb4 or Qxb5 since black’s rook can’t leave the 8th rank without allowing Re8#. However, both Qc7 and Qd8 allow Qa6 netting piece for white. Black could try alternatives at move 1, but I don’t see them as materially better:
1. …..ab3
2. ab4 Qa2
So, the a6 rook is still protected, but now white just moves the rook at d4 out of danger still netting a piece:
3. Rdd1 and white should have a decisive edge. Or
1 …..ba3
2. b4 Qc7
3. Rd2 and again netting a piece.
I will take another look before leaving, but I really don’t see anything better than this line for white.
1. Rxd4 exd4
2. axb4
now, if
2. …. Rxb4
3. Re8#
or 2… Qxb4
3. Qxb4 threatening back row mate
or 2… Qb5
3. Qxb5 wins
or 2… Qc7
3. Qxa6 wins a piece
White, however, cannot play
1. axb4 Rxb4
2. Rxd4 Rxc4
and the black Q is guarding d8 against the back row mate
1. R:d4 for if ed 2. ab Qb5 3. Q:b5 and recapture is punishedc by mate on e8.
How about
1. Rxd4 if exd4 then
2. axb4 & black cannot take at b4 because of the back rank mate.
Now the when the Q moves the R at a6
falls.
So,
1. Rxd4 axb3 or something else
1.RxN PxN 2.ab wins the rook, or should I say, white is up a bishop.
Anonymous,
There is no useful line for white to the back rank after 1.ab4:
1. ab4 Rb4! (the only move)
And the white queen must be moved since 2.Rd4 fails to Rc4 (the black queen has d8 covered). I think white is going to lose another pawn before all is said and done in this line.
I would like to go
1. Rxd4 exd4
2. axb4 Qc7 forced.
3. b5! and followed by bxa4.
I feel that the triple connected passers are more than sufficient for the sacrificed exchange.
I can’t find out a technical win here.
1. Rxd4 exd4 2. axb4 Qxb4 3. Qxb4 Rxb4 4. Re8+ mate. if 2. … Qc7 or 2. … Qd8, the black rook falls which leaves white a knight up.