White to move. How should white proceed? Can you solve it in 10 seconds or less?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
A classic by Tarrasch
About Author
White to move. How should white proceed? Can you solve it in 10 seconds or less?
Source: ChessToday.net
a) 1. Bxe8 Rxc7 2. Bd7
So spare a manoeuvre to pick up, vacate and guard ! b) No, not at all ! I didn’t know what to look for, couldn’t help finding after some 3 min. W-a-y to go !
Bxe8 Rxc7
Bd7 wins
Be8!
I have seen a lot of Tarrasch’s games. But I don’t remember such a position.
1. Bxe8! Rxc7
2. Bd7!
1-0
1. Bxe8 Rxc7
2. Bd7 (a crucial move) Rc8
3. Bxc8 Qe2
4. Be6 Qxe6
5. Rb1
1.Bxe8 Rxc7
2.Bd7 Rc8
3.Bxc8 Qe3
4.Be6 Qxe6
5.Rb1 Kg8
6.Rb8+ Kf7
7.e8Q+ Qxe8
8.Rxe8 Kxe8
And white has a won pawn ending.
But I didn’t solve this in 10 seconds…
It doesn’t look to me like either side can win.
1 Bxe8 Rxc7
2 Bd7 Rc8
3 Bxc8 Qe3
4 Bd7 Qxe7
5 Bxc6 Qe6
Black wins the a pawn, and then Black’s a pawn is dangerous, and White also has a dangerous c pawn.
Initially, I see no problem with:
1. Bxe8! Rxc7
2. Bd7! Qe3/Qf7 (Rc8 Bxc8 is a material loss black can’t afford)
3. e8=Q+ Qxe8
4. Bxe8
is nicely up with a piece.
More difficult seems:
1. … Rxe8!
2. Qd8! Qf7! (only move)
3. Re1! (what else? Rf1 wasn’t possible)
Is this zugzwang? Any black R or Q move will loose?
1. Bxe8 Rxc7
2. Bd7! Rc8!
3. Bxc8 Qe2 (or Qe3)
4. Be6! Qxe6
5. Rb1 and Rb8+ with mate or promotion.
Took me way more than 10seconds to find 🙂
What’s wrong with Qd7?
What’s wrong with Qd7?
What’s wrong with Qd7?
What’s wrong with Qd7?
Well done, Tarrasch, who would have seen this coming many moves earlier – I’d like to see the entire game.
Despite often being almost denigrated for being a stickler Classical style player, he might even have been World Champion, if he’d got a match earlier in his career. Beyond my sight of the board!