White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Find the right continuation
About Author
White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Nxe6 Qxe4
Qxe4 Nc3
bxc3 Rxd1+
Rxd1 Bxd4
Rd8+ Ke7
Rxh8 Kxe6
zee problem isnt so simple yes? german accent…
I would be looking to bust open that e-file on black’s king. White could take at d5 first, or clear the knight by taking at e6 first. Let’s look at both:
1. Bd5 Bd5
Not Rd5 since 2.Ne6 kills: [Rd5 2.Ne6 Qd6 (fe6 3.Qe6 Kd8 4.Rd5 Bd5 5.Qd5 is going to be mate for sure) 3.Nc7 Kd7 (Kf8 4.Qe8#) 4.Nd5 Bd5 5.Rd5 Qd5 6.Rd1+-]. Continuing:
2. Ne6
Not the best move for white in this position, but I show it just so that we can understand better why the right move at move 1 is the right move. Continuing:
2. …..Be6
What the rook couldn’t do at move 2 in the line where black took at d5 with the rook. Continuing:
3. Rd8 Kd8 and it is hard to see any compensation for the piece white has sacrificed. The key was the fact that the bishop could retake at e6 in this line keeping the file closed up and the black king had a place to hide even after white exchanges rooks at d8. Now, let’s look at the transposition of moves at moves 1 and 2 for white to see the effect of clearing the knight asap:
1. Ne6
Now, this move is obvious, of course, since it has two basic threats- a discovered check on the king, and it attacks the queen at f4 and the rook at d8. There really is no good reply but to take at e6:
1. …..fe6
2. Bd5 Bd5
Again, not Rd5- we saw that in the earlier line, and it led to a naked black king vs queen and rook. Continuing:
3. Rd5
Compare to the earlier line- there, when the black bishop was at d5, white’s knight was still in the way of his rook on the d-file- here, it is clear for another sacrifice. Black is in a tough spot, now- taking at d5 is going to give the same position with the black king out in the open against white’s queen and remaining rook. He can either castle, or play the queen back to f7 to protect the e-pawn. Castling looks better to me:
3. …..O-O
4. Qe6 Kh8 (Qf7 5.Rd8 Rd8 6.Kc1)
5. Rd8 Rd8
6. f3 Rf8 (Qg5?? 7.Qe8)
7. g6 and the pawn can’t be taken without allowing mate on the h-file. All in all, white is ahead two pawns in a heavy piece endgame.
Now, is there anything better for white here? I don’t know. Nothing else jumps out at me other than pushing g6 on the first move, but in that line, black can take with his h-pawn, and then white can try the sac at e6. I just don’t see how that line is superior to playing Ne6 immediately.
Nxe6 looks like the first move in any attack. Black pretty much has to take the knight, and then white has moves like Qh5+ and Bg6+. I don’t see the whole line out to force a win, though.
Nxe6?
Look like it should all start with 1. g6 making the spot e6 crash
1.Nxe6 fxe6 2.Bg6+ ! hxg6 (Kf8 43.Qxe6 with the idea Qe8,Rxe8 mate) 3.Qxe6+ Kf8 4.Rxd4 Bxd4 (what else ?)5.Qe7+ Kg8 6.Qxd8+ Kh7 7.Rh1+ rien ne va plus !
Dear Susan,
What happened exactly 15 years ago?
Congratulations:-)
Nxe6
Nxe6 and Qh5+
1 Ne6 fxe6
2 Bxd5 Bxd5
3 Rxd5 Rxd5
4 Qxe6+ Kd8
(if … Kf8 5 Ke8#)
5 Qxd5+ Kc7
6 Re7+ and wins
nxe6
han
I think this looks like:
1. Nxe6 fxe6 (what else?)
2. Bg6+
and now may follow:
2. … hxg6
3. Qxe7+ Kf8
4. Rxd5! threating Rxd8#
Whether black takes or not takes this rook, it seems to end with Qxd8# in 2 or 3 moves.
Instead of 2. … hxg6, other possibilities were
2. … Kf8 or Kd7
I think both are answerwd with
3. Qxe7(+) ….
fantastic anti-climax… made delicate by move, Nxe6,Qxe4 queen sac, only to regain parity after the chain of skirmishes that follow… in line with wolverine’s post is da way 2go!!!