Black to move. Can you find the best continuation for Fabiano Caruana as Black?
8/5pk1/1p1p2p1/3Pp2r/2P1P1q1/PQ2R1P1/5PKn/2R3Nr b – – 0 1
This position is based on one of Caruana’s games in Budapest in 2007.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Caruana chess tactic
Nf3?
I first looked at 1…Rxg1+ (which wins after 2.Kxg1 Qh3) 2.Kxg1 but after 2…Nf3+? 3.Rxf3 Qh3 4.Rxf7+!! white turns the tables. So I started to look for something other than 1…Rxg1+ (I later discovered that 1…Rxg1+ 2.Kxg1 Qh3 3.Ree1 g5! wins.
But the best move is in fact 1…Nf1! The knight cannot be taken of course.
Some sample lines:
2.Rf3 Nd2!
2.Re2 Rxg1+ 3.Kxg1 Rh1+ 4.Kxh1 Qh3+ 5.Kg1 Qh2+ 6.Kxf1 Qh1#.
2.Qd3 R4h2+ 3.Kxf1 Rxg1+ 4.Kxg1 Qh3 and mate.
Nf1 look very good.
1….R:g1+ seems to do the trick. If 2. R:g1 Qh3+ 3. Kh1 Nf3#.
Or, if 2.K:g1 Nf3+ 3. R:f3 Qh3 and White is powerless to prevent Qh1#
So that leaves 2. K:g1 Nf3+ 3. Kg2 Rh2+ 4. Kf1 (or simply 3. Kf1) Nd2+ picking up the Q.
Rxg1+ leads to mate whether Kxg1 or Rxg1
Do not see how white could defend against the simple Rxg1+…
Beelze
Rxg1+ wins!
if …rxg1+ 2.kg1 nf3+ 3.rxf3 qh3 4.rxf7++… is the killer move for wht to win. so let try 1…Nf1 first then 2.kxf1 rxg1 3.kxg1 qh3 4.f3 qh1 5.kf2 rh2 mate. Then there other moves which prolong the mate but they still works out to mate.
…Rxg1 any recapture leads to mate
If 1… Rxg1+. 2. Kxg1 Nf3+ 3. Rxf3.Qh3. 4.Rxf7+ Kxf7. 5.Qf3+ defends the mate threat on H1 and gives and advantage? Now am I wrong if 1…Nf1 Kxf1. 2.Rxg1+ Kxg1 3.Qh3 and mate can’t be stopped? ??
why is white powerless to prevent Qh1#?
1.- Rxg1+ 2. Kxg1 Nf3+ 3. Rxf3 Qh3 and now 4. Rxf7+ Kxf7 5.Qf3+ after which h1 is protected. 😉
Nf3 is awfully strong. 2 kf1 is the only move I see to prevent mate, then white loses at least knight and queen.
Anon @ 1:46 – change the move order (first Qh3+, then Nf3) and you will see why white is lost.
Nf1 is the not rxg1 try it mate can’t be stop
(without computer) 1….Nf1 2.Kf1 Rg1 3.Kg1 Qh3 4.f4 Qh1 5.Kf2 Rh2#
How about …Rxg1+? Then he can move the knight out of the way to f3 and mate on h3 with his queen.
Anonymous said…
(without computer) 1….Nf1 2.Kf1 Rg1 3.Kg1 Qh3 4.f4 Qh1 5.Kf2 Rh2#
after 4. Qf3 the win is gone
4. Rh1 Kg2(Kxh1 5. Qh3+ Kg1 6. Qh2+ Kxf1 7. Qh1#)
5. Qh3+ Kf3
6. Qh5+ Kg2
7. Rg1+ Kxg1
8. Qh2+ Kxf1
9. Qh1#
a mate with a 3-pieces sacrifice.
Anonymous said…
(without computer) 1….Nf1 2.Kf1 Rg1 3.Kg1 Qh3 4.f4 Qh1 5.Kf2 Rh2#
I forgot:
The white mistake is 2. Kxf1
correct is 2. Re2 Rg1+ 3. Kxg1 ….