White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Middlegame chess tactic
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White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1. Nxh7! point being that after takes white has crushing moves like Qh5, Bh6 and Bxg6 to get at blacks king.
1. Nxh7,Kxh7 (otherwise Nf6 and mate on g7 later)
2. Qh5+, Kg8
3. Bxg6, fxg6
4. Qxg6, Kh8
5. Re3!
At a quick glance
1. Nxh7+ Kxh7
2. Qh5+ Kg8 (Kg7 is met by Qh6)
3. Bxg6 fxg6
4. Qxg6+ Kh8
5. Re3 seems to force mate or massive material loss e.g.
5… Bh5
6. Rh3 Qa4
7. f4 etc
1. Nxh7 Kxh7
2. Qh5+ Kg7
3. Qh6+ Kg8
4. Bxg6 fxg6
5. Qxg6+ Kh8
6. Re3 Bh4
7. Rh3 Qa4
8. f4 and soon mate
If I would have that position in a blitz game I would play Nxh7, hoping for Nxe5, 2. Nf6+ Bxf6, 3. Qxf6, Nxd3, 4. Bh6
But of course there a lot of other lines possible. However I feel that Nxh7 must be ok in all variations.
I’m stuck on this one. I’d probably play Qh3 in a real game, trying to get a trade of black’s good bishop for white’s knight.
Nxh7!? is the most interesting try, though. Unfortunately, I can’t see the follow-through. White has both bishops and the queen poised at the black kingside, but I don’t see anything decisive with the knight sack.
I have posted already that Nxh7 would be my Blitz favourite; I add to that comment, that after Kxh7 of course
2. Qh5+ Kg7
3. Qh6+ Kg8
4. Bxg6 fxg6
5. Qxg6+ Kh8
6. Re3 will win the game (if I am right …)
hmm…Nxh7 kxh7 Qh5+ Kg8 Bxg6 fxg6 and Qxg6+ forcing a draw?
Or probably Re3 first,and then follow up with the sequence for delivering a mate with Rh3…im struck on this one too!:D
Ok,i think it goes like this:
Nxh7 kxh7 Qh5+ Kg8 Bxg6 fxg6 Qxg6+ Kh8 and Bh6,threatening a mate!
1. Nxh7!
1.N:h7 should win material. If Black takes the Nite than Qh5+ looks decisive.
1.N:h7,K:h7 2.Qh5+,Kg7 3.Qh6+,Kg8 4.B:g6,f:g6 5.Q:g6+,Kh8 6.Re3 heading for the square h3.
Cesar
1.Nxh7 Kxh7 2.Qh5+ Kg8 3.Bxg6 fxg6
4. Qxg6+ Kh8 5.Re3 (w/ Rh3+ mating)
if 2…Kg7 3.Qh6+ Kg8 4.Bxg6 etc.
after Nxh7 black plays obv. Nxe5, and not Kxh7?? – things are not that clear after, a least I couldn’t find a forced win.
best line seems to be:
Nxh7!? Nxe5
Nf6+ Bxf6
Qxf6 Qd8!
Qxe5 Qxd3
and though I think white has a clear edge here, thanks to the better development and the fatal weak black squares around the black king I don’t see a direct win here yet.
If you play this position against a Computer you might not win it with white…
Funny, I was watching this game at this very moment. I considered 1.Nxh7, because of course the knight is taboo, but I don’t think Black is in any danger after 1…Nxe5. For example:
2.Nf6+ (the only try) Kg7
3.Rxe5 (3.Nh5+ Kg8=) Qxe5
4.Ng4 Qh5 and White has nothing.
Nxh7 Nxe5
Nf6 Kg7?
loses to the very nice
Bh6+!! Kxh6
Rxe5 Qxe5
Ng4+
and the queen is lost.
but as I said in my previous comment, I believe after Nf6+ Bxf6 Qxf8 Qd8! black is worse, but not lost yet…
is there a better way for white?!