White to move. What is the best continuation for White?
r2r2k1/2p1qp2/2b3pQ/p3p3/1p2PnN1/1P1B3P/P1P5/1K1R1R2 w – – 0 1
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Attacking chess tactic
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Rf4!…….ef4
e5! the rest are easy….
I remember this puzzle, though I seem to not have it in my notes for some reason. Rxf4 is powerful since the recapture allows white to push the e-pawn.
Candidates move are :
a. 1.Qxg6+ (check) fxg6)
b. 1.Nf6+ (check) Qxf6
c. 1.Nxe5 (take material) Qxe5 2. Rxf4
d. 1. Rxf4 (take material) 1… exf4 2. e5 Rd6 3. exd6 cxd6
if :
a. 1.Qxg6+ fxg6 nothing for white
b. 1.Nf6+ Qxf6 nothing for white
c. 1.Nxe5 Qxe5 2. Rxf4 is equal position
d. d. 1. Rxf4 exf4 2. e5 (attacking Nf6+#) Rd6 (the only move) 3. exd6 cxd6 white is material advantage
1.Rxf4 exf4 2.e5 followed by 3.Nf6+ next move.
1Rxn 2e5 wins
1. Rxf4 looks strong with the idea …exf4, 2. e5 threatening 3. Nxf6+ forcing Black to sac his Queen to stop mate but I’m drawn to the immediate counter-sac 1… Rxd3. I think it’s an important defensive idea to get rid of that Bishop. I think White may win in either case but I’m having trouble foreseeing all the variations some of which I’ll try to come back to unless someone else covers all the important ones.
1 Rxf4 exf4
2. e5 Rxd3 This Queen counter-sac is too late now but how else does Black stop Nf6? 2… f5 (…f6 is essentially the same), 3. Bc4+ forces useless interpositions as the King’s flight squares are covered. E.g 3… Rd5, 4. Rxd5 with the threat of discovered check.
3.Nf6+ Qxf6
4. exf6 Rxd1+
5. Kb2 …. and there’s no stopping Qg7 mate. The Pawn on f6 has taken the place of the White Knight in the mating attack.
So what of the immediate counter-sac?
1. Rxf4 Rxd3
2. Rxd3 …. 2. Nf6+ Qxf6 (forced of course), 3. Rxf6 Rxd1+ just doesn’t seem all that clear to me. The material is pretty even and I don’t see immediately how White proceeds with the attack
2… exf4
3. e5 … Renews the Nf6 threat but now White doesn’t have the devastating Bishop check on c4 after Black plays either …f6 or …f5 to create a flight square
3… f6 I think the hanging Bishop (followed by the hanging Rook) dooms Black if 3… f5, 4. Qg6+ with the double attack on the King and the Bishop at c6
4. Qg6+ …. I have a feeling this is best but this is where I’m having trouble seeing alll the variations. But the loose Bishop and Rook may still prove the decisive weakness.
4… Qg7+ Still have to look at the alternatives …Kf8 or ….Kh8
5. Nxf6+ Kf8 If …Kh8, 6. Qh4+ forces mate …Qh7, 7. Qxh7#
6. Nh7+ followed by 7.Qxc6
But as I said, I haven’t covered all the bases yet – Craigaroo
Nxe5 Qxe5, Rxf4 Qh5, Qxh5 g6xh5,Rg1 then take the h pawn and push white h pawn devatating for me..frm mbd
Square f6 is easily spotted as the most promising target of the attack. At the moment ist is well guarded by the queen, but after
1. Rxf4! exf4
(or concede the knight)
2. e5 f6 it becomes accessable. Other black moves lead to mate more quickly, e,g,
2. … Bf3
3. Bf6+ Qxf6
4. exf6 and
5. Qg7#
3. Nxf6+ Kf7
4. Qxg6+ Ke6
4. … Kf8
5. Nh7+ Qxh7
6. Qxh7 +-
5. Bc4+ Bd5
5. … Kxe5
6. Qg5#
6. Nxd5+ Kxe5
6. … Qf6
7. Qxf6#
7. Qg3+ Ke4
7. … Kf5
8. Nxe7+ Kf6
9. Qg6+ Kxe7
10. Qf7#
8. Re1+ Kf5
8. … Kd4
9. Qe3#
9. Nxe7+ Kf6
10. Qg6#
6. Qg5#
There is a fault in my previous comment – after
1. Rxf4! exf4
2. e5 Rd6! Black will not be mated, but after
3. exd6 Qxd6 White is a piece up and should win.
1.Rxf4 exf4 2.e5 and 3.Nf6+ will win.
Here I first looked at Nxe5 Qxe5 Rxf4, but though this looks good for white I find nothing desicive here.
But I do like the position after:
1. Rxf4 exf4
2. e5!!
The immediate threat is Nf6+ mating. To prevent it with Rd6 isn’t possible, so king must be given an escape on f7.
2. … f5
3. Bc4+ Bd5
4. Rxd5
Discovered check next can’t be avoided. Black is out of good moves.
1 – 0
Rxf4
1.Rxf4!.
>A-1….exf.2.e5!.
>>A1-2…..Rd6.3.exd6 and white is a piece ahead with a continuing attack
>>A2.2.f6.3.Nxf6+.Kf7.4.Qxg6+.Ke6.5.Bf5+.Kxe5.6.Ng4#
>>A3-2.f5.3.Nf6+.Kf7.5.Qh7+.Ke6.6.Bc4+.Bd5.(Kxe5 loses to Qxe7+).7.Bxd5+.Rxd5.8.Qxe7+.Kxe7.9.Nxd5+ winning easily a piece up.
declining the exchange sac does not make sense here. White will remain a piece up with a continuing mating attack.
>B-1…f5.2.Qxg6+.
>>B1-2….Kh8.3.Rxf5.and mate is in sight. .Qg7.. 4.Rh5+.Kg8.5.Qe6+.Qf7.6.Nh6+..Kg7.7.Qxf7+.Kh8. 8.Nf5#
>>B2-2…Kf8.3.Rxf5+.Qf7.4.Qxf7#
>>B3-2….Qg7.3.Qe6+.
>>>B31-3…Qf7.4.Nh6+ etc as in B1 mating
>>>B32-3…Kf8.4.Rxf5+.Qf7.5.Qxf7#
>>>B33-3…Kh8.4.Rxf5 and should mate with Nf6 if necessary.
Harry
How I solved this was by thinking:
“If I had a pawn on e5, then I should have mate in 3 moves, starting with Nf6.”
Then I saw that pawn on e5 is easily obtained after Rxf4, and that black not finding defense of the f6 field shall have to play f pawn to give the king air.
And that Bc4+ is then deadly. Black must put a piece on d5. White takes with rook.
Black is unable to move king out of B diagonal and must sack queen to protect king, or suffer similar after a check (discovered or after exchange on d5).