White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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1. Qh6 Bh6
2. Nh6 Kh8
3. Rf8#
Alternatives for black’s second move are no better.
1. Qh6 Rf7
2. Rd8 Rf8
3. Rdf8 Bf8
4. Rf8#
Or
1. Qh6 Rcc8
2. Qh8 Bh8
3. Nh6#
1. Qxh6 wins
it guards against back row mate threats by guarding the c1 square.
if 1. … Rxf7
2. Rd8+ Rf8
3. R8xf8+ Bxf8
4. Rxf8#
else the threat is
2. Qh8+ Nxh8
3. Nh6#
even 1… Qxb2 cannot defend 2. Qh8+
Moving the rook on f8 doesn’t work either… because the f-file is controlled by white rook on f1. Even the desperate 1… Qf2 giving up the queen doesn’t work against 2. Qh8+
1. Nxh6, however, does not win. e.g.,
1. Nxh6 Bxh6
2. Rxf8+ Kxf8
3. Qxh6+ Ke8
and Black has the upper hand.
at a glance one wants to play Qxh6 and it appears to work
Qxh6!!
That is a dreamlike position – was Tal really playing black? It looks like he should be white, because of
1. Qxh6!!
Now if 1. … Bxh6 it´s an obvious mate in two: 2. Nxh6 Kh8 3. Rxf8++
If 1. … Rxf7 2. Rd8+ and mate in two by taking twice at f8 with the rooks.
But the most fantastic mating position arises if black tries to bring the other rook to protect the king:
1. … Rf6
2. Qh8+!! Bxh8
3. Nh6++ (That´s a poster-diagram.)
So black´s only defensive resource is 1. … Qc1 – and after 2. Rxc1 (or 2. Qxc1) white wins the resulting ending, once it takes care of the back rank threats, e.g.:
1. Qxh6 Qc1
2. Rxc1 Bxh6
3. Rxc6 Kxf7
4. Kg1 +-
nxh6 – black has no way out.
if bxh6 then Qxh6 followed by mate on the 7th rank.
if kh8, then
1. rxf8 bxf8
2. Nf7+ K moves
3. Qh8#
1. Qxh6 Bxh6
2. Nxh6+ Kh8
3. Rxf8#
Or 1…Rxf7
2. Rd8+
or 1..Qxb2/Rc8
2. Q-h8+ Bxh8
3. Nh6#
1.Dxh6 Nxh6 (1.. Rxf7 2.Rd8) 2.Nxh6 Kh8 3.Rxf8
Kxh7. Wasn’t it Tal-Schneider ?
Nxh6# followed by Qe6# and Rxf8##
Qxh6! and white wins in every variation!
1.Q:h6 g5
(otherwise 2. Qh8+, B:h8
3. Nh6#)
2.Q:g5 1:0
Threads Nh6+ and mate will follow
1. Qxh6 Rxf7 (.. Bxh6, Nxh6+ 1-0)
2. Rd8+ B/Rf8
3. Rxf8+
1-0
Tal was big patzer to looose like that.
1. Q:h6 B:h6 2. N:h6+ Kh8 3 R:f8#, or 1… R:f7 2. Rd8+, 3.Rdf8+, 4. Rff8#
1. Qxh6+(1.Nxh6+ Bxh6(1… Kh7/8 2.Nf5+ Kg8 3.Rxg7++) 2.Rxf8+ Kxf8(2…Bxf8 3.Qh7++) and I don´t see a good continuation for white( 3.Qxh6+ Ke8; 3.Rd8+ Ke/f7 4.Qd7+ Kf6)) 1…g5 (1…Bxh6(1…Rxf7 2.Rd8+ R/Bf8 3.R(f/d)xf8+ R/Bxf8 4.Rxf8++) 2.Nxh6+ Kh1 3.Rxf8++; 1… e3?? 2.Qh8+ Bxh8 3.Nh6++) 2.Qxg5+
1. Qxh6+(1.Nxh6+ Bxh6(1… Kh7/8 2.Nf5+ Kg8 3.Rxg7++) 2.Rxf8+ Kxf8(2…Bxf8 3.Qh7++) and I don´t see a good continuation for white( 3.Qxh6+ Ke8; 3.Rd8+ Ke/f7 4.Qd7+ Kf6)) 1…g5 (1…Bxh6(1…Rxf7 2.Rd8+ R/Bf8 3.R(f/d)xf8+ R/Bxf8 4.Rxf8++) 2.Nxh6+ Kh1 3.Rxf8++; 1… e3?? 2.Qh8+ Bxh8 3.Nh6++) 2.Qxg5+
Q X h6
qxh6
Qxh6
qxh6
Interesting that in the actual game Schneider missed Qxh6!! and played 30. g3 instead, in the end losing.
1.Qxh6!! (with the threat of Qh8+ BxQ and Nh6 mate!) if BxQ then 2.NxB and RxR mate
So 1…Rxf7 and now 2.Rd8! with mate to follow