White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Carlsen chess tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
I had watched this game earlier in weekend. Black had blundered with the capture at g2 with the rook. It appears that white has a bishop en prise that compensates for the knights about to be forked with a pawn, but it only appears that way:
1. Rd2! Rd2
There is nothing better here. The rook can only retreat to g1, but this drops the knight at c5. Black can concede the exchange with 1. …Ne4, but he is in a lost endgame since the c4 pawn can’t now be captured. Continuing:
2. Nd2
And now we see black’s problem- the knight at a5 has no safe retreat square, and the c5 knight has no way to threaten the unprotected bishop. The fork with the b-pawn can’t be prevented:
2. …..Nd7 (Vallejo played b5)
3. b4 Nc4
4. Nc4 and white should win from here with ease. One should actually look up the actual game, here. Carlsen very cleanly finished off the ending, though not this particular one.
I’d play Rd2
I suppose many of you have seen this game, I have not.
Here seems to be an obvious threat with b4, if only not two white pieces were hanging.
It’s not only the fork, but also the fact that Na5 has nowhere to go.
1. Nd2
is an interesting move. Both white pieces protected, both black knights threatened by b4 next, black has no time to both play Nd7 and b6. Enforced seems:
1. … Rxd2 (this quality sack saves the knights)
2. Rxd2 Nxc4
3. Rd4 Nd6
4. b4 Nd7
This should probably be good enough for a draw, but hardly more (black has 2 extra pawns). Without this gain of a quality, white might be loosing.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,okay puzzle,White wins the game.
To me,when this puzzle is compared with the previous one,this puzzle is the easiest.
For the previous puzzle,I had taken much time : posted the comment at early hours of the day [ 3:47 AM in Indian time ],but when I read the comments by others for that(previous)puzzle,I was really stunned,to read comments like “funny one” ,just took 5 min and rest of others,with neat set of matting moves,Which means other than me,others are so clever that they got to be champions [ May world champions in future ].
So this has really turned me so curious to know,the moves of others first,before I post my moves for any reasonably good puzzle.[ May be their moves,may teach me better chess ]
So eagerly awaiting the moves for this puzzle from all those,who had posted their comments for the earlier puzzle(though this is a easy one),so that I may have the opportunity to learn better chess from their moves.
I honestly assure that if the set of moves for the puzzle from others are commendable,I will readily appreciate and endorse it.(In my capacity )
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
I already saw the game.
Nice tactic!
Rook to d2
1 Rd2 RxR
2 NxR
now b4 can’t be prevented winning a knight for white.
which is least worst way for black next ?
I don’t know but I would be tempted, if black by,
2 … Nd7
3 b4 Nxc4
4 NxN
1.d6 Rxc2 2.Nxc5 Rxc4 3.d7+ Kd8 4.Nxb7+ Nxb7 5.Rxc4 Kxd7 and White is up on the exchange
1. Rd2 Rxd2
2. N on c5 moves, and then b4 wins the N on a5
TimLovesTiffanie
1.Rd2! is nice, menacing the fork in b4 and the Rook g2, which is the immediate target. After the forced Rxd2, 2.Nxd2 threatens once again to fork the knights by b4, with the c4-pawn protected!
The sting of this is that if the knight c5 moves, the knight a5 is lost anyway after 3.b4, no squares left!
So, synthesizing it:
1.Rd2! Rxd2 (if 1…Rg~ 2.b4)
2.Nxd2 Nc~
3.b4 and the knight a5 is lost.
Never seen a so strong rook swap!
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,I see many just replicate and justify,that they had seen from the top contestants – Its Okay & fine.
Yesterday itself I had worked out the moves for this puzzle but waited to see others approach to this puzzle.
Now coming to the puzzle.
White wins the game,variations exist.[ In fact this puzzle is an easy one when compared to the previous ]
Example One
===========
1.N*Nc5 R*Bc2
2.d6 N*c4
3.d7+ Kd8
4.N*b7+ Kc7
5.d8(Q)+ K*Nb7
6.Rd7+ Kc6
7.Qc8+ Kb5
8.Rb7+ Ka5
9.Qc7+ Ka4
10.Qc6+ Ka5
11.Qc5+ ka4
12.Qb4++ Mate
Example Two
===========
1.N*Nc5 b6
2.N*a6 R*Bc2
3.d6 N*c4
4.d7+ Kd8
5.Nb8 R*b2+
6.Ka1 Rd2
7.Nc6+ Kc7
8.d8(Q)+ K*Nc6
9.Qd5+ Kc7
10.Q*Nc4+ Kb7
11.R*Rd2 f5
12.Qd5+ Kb8
13.Qd7 f4
14.Qc2 f3
15.Rc8++ Mate
White wins the game.[ Variations exist]
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]