White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Middlegame chess tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
I got this in less than 5 seconds, though the first move is an obvious one to look at:
1. de6! Rd4
It is this (get mated) or just lose massive material. Continuing:
2. ef7 Kh7
If black plays Kf8, Ng6 is mate immediately, and on Kh8 white just queens with check and mates on the next move with Qg8. However, Kh7 allows white to underpromote:
3. f8N! Kh8
4. N4g6#
Rather obvious, but with a cute under promotion in one variation.
1. d x e6, R x d4?
2. e x f7+ not only wins a piece but actually mates:
2. … Kf8
3. Ng6 mate
2. … Kh8
3. f8=Q+, Kh7
4. Qg8 mate
2. … Kh7
3. f8=N+!, Kh8
4. N(f4)g6 mate
Obviously, Black can’t play 1. … R x d4, but it’s difficult to stop the mates without losing not just the Bishop but the Rook as well.
Some nice variations here.
1. dxe6 Rxd4 2. exf7+ Kf8 (2. .. Kh7 3. f8=N+ Kh8 4. N4g6#) 3. Rxd4 Qg5
(3. .. Ke7 4. Ng6+ Kf6 5. Rd6+ Kg5 6. h4+ Kf5 (6. .. Kh5 7. g4#) 7. f8=Q#)
(3. .. Nc4 4. Rxc4)
4. Rd8+ (4. Ng6+ Qxg6 5. Rd8+ Ke7 6. f8=Q#) 4. .. Qxd8 5. Ng6#
dxe6 and wins
1.dxe6! winning a piece with a raging attack to net at least an exchange more if not mate!
>A-1….Rxd4.2.exf7+.
>>A1-2..Kf8.3.Ng6#
>>A2-2..Kh7.3.f8=N+!.Kh8 4.N4-g6#
>>A3-2..Kh8.3.Ng6+.Kh7.4.f8=N#!
>B-1….Rf8..2.exf+
>>B1-2..Rxf7.3.Qd8+.Kh7.4.Bxf7.Qe8 5.Qxe8.h5.6.Qg8+.Kh6.7.Qg6#
>>B2-2..Kh7.3.Qe4+.Qf5.4.Qxf5+.Kh8 5.Ng6+.Kh7.6.Nxf8+.Kh8.7.Qh7#
>>B3-2..Kh8.3.Ng6+.Kh7.4.Nxf8+.Kh8 5.Ng6+.Kh7.6.f8=N#!
>C-1….Re8..2.exf+..Kh7/8. 3.fxe8=Q.Qxe8.4.Qxb6 and white is 2 pieces and a rook up with mate in clear sight.
>D-1….Ra/b/c1.2.exf+.
>>D1-2..Kf8.3.Ng6#
>>D1-2..Kh7.3.Qe4+.Qf5.4.Qxf5+.Kh8 5.Ng6+.Kh7.6.f8=N+!.Rxf8.7.Nxf8+.Kh8.8.Qh7#
Harry
A piece hangs, take it and see what happens!
1. dxe6!! Rxd4 (what else?)
2. exf7+ Kf8 (more exciting alternative below)
3. Ne6+! Ke7
4. f8=Q+ Kd7
5. Rxd4+
White is up with R+B, black resigns
Blacks best alternative:
2. … Kh7
3. Bc2+!
Also f8=Q+ would probably be up with piece and win, but Bc2+ is so fantastic! f8=N+? was hopeless.
3. … g6 (Kh8 f8=Q#)
4. Bxg6+!!
Looks risky to leave protection of Rd1.
4. … Kg7
5. Ne6+!! Kxf7 (Kf6/Kh8 f8=Q#)
6. Nxd4+ (the point) any
7. Nxb5
White is up with R+B.
Really beautiful!
I had of course not seen that many moves ahead, but the situation invited me to investigate this line.
1. dxe6 wins a bishop.
If black takes white’s Queen mate will follow in a few moves.
1. … Rxd4 2. exf7+ Kh7 (2. … Kf8 3. Ng6#; 2 … Kh8 3. f8Q+ Kh7 4. Qg8#) 3. f8N+ Kh8 4. Nf4-g6#
After finishing only I realized the beauty of the play.
1.dxe6 Rxd4
2.exf7+ Kh7
(2… Kf8 Ng6#)
(2…..Kh8 3.f8=Q+ Kh7 4.Qg8#)
3.f8=N+ Kh8 4.Ng6#
1. xe6 Rxd4
2. xf7+
If Kf8, 3. Ng6+ and 4. Rxd4.
dxe6 and if Rxe4
exf7+ Kh7 (Kh8; Ng6+ Kh7; f8=N mate)
f8=N+ Kh8
N4g6 mate