White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Nice puzzle! It took a few minutes to identify the major weakness in black’s position- the queen is only protected by the f8 rook- if he could be deflected to f7, then Qd8 wins the queen. Once I noticed that, the rest was easy:
1. Rh8! Kh8 (Kg7 below)
2. Nf7 Rf7 (else Nd8)
3. Qd8 Kg7 (one last hope)
Here, all white really need do is avoid allowing Rd7 on a move like, for example, f3 or b3 (the queen is trapped on a safe Rd7). Here, I think white can do fine with Nf6 and/or castling long. He is up a queen and a pawn for a rook and knight.
At move 1, black cannot decline the rook sacrifice at h8 without ending up deeper in the hole:
1. Rh8 Kg7
2. Qd8 Rd8
3. Rd8 leaves white up a full rook.
1.Rh8+ Kxh8 (1…Kg7 2.Qxd8 +-) 2.Nxf7+ Rxf7 3.Qxd8+ +-
1. Rh8+ w/ 2. Nxf7+
1, Rh8+ Kxh8
2. Nxf7+ Rxf7
3. Qxd8 or
1. … Kg7
2. Qxd8 Rxd8
3. Rxd8
greets, jan
1.Qxd8 Rxd8
2.f3 wins knight
White wins material.
1 Rh8+! Kxh8
Or 1 … Kg7, 2 Qxd8, winning a Rook.
2 Nxf7+ Kg7
A bit better is 1… Kxf7, 2 Qxd8+ Kf7, 3 Nc5 c6, 4 Nf6+ Kh6 ( Or 4 … Bxe6, 5 Qxa8, and White is up a Queen and pawn for two minor pieces).
3 f3 Nh2
4 Qd2+
White will win more material.
This should work
1. Rh8+ Kxh8
2. Nxf7+ if Rxf7
3. Qxd8+
or 2. … Kg7
3. Nxd8
1. Rh8+ Kg7
2. Qxd8 & black is down a rook
Rh8+!
and if…
1…Kxh8 2. Nxf7+ Rxf7 Qxd8 (K any move Nxd8) wins the queen
1…Kg7 2. Qxd8 Rxd8 Rxd8 is even worse
1. Rh8+ Kxh8
2. Nxf7+ Rxf7
3. Qxd8
1-0
1. Rh8+ (a) KxR
2. Nxf7+ RxN
3. QxQ+ 1-0
1. … (b) Kg7
2. Rh7+ Kg8
3. QxQ RxQ
4. Rxf7 and I don’t care for black’s position, though maybe I’ve missed stronger white moves at 3 and 4.
Mark
1.Qd8 Rd8 2.Nf6+ Nf6 3.Rh8+ Kh8 4.Nf7+ followed by Nd8 winning a pawn.
Rh8+ followed by Nxf7+ or if Kg7 then Qxd8