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
Rxg8+
1) ….. Rxg1
2) Kxg1(forced). Qh3
3) f3(otherwise checkmate) Qh1
4) Kf3. Rh2++
Knight F1
Knight F1
RxG1+
1….Nf1 2.Kxf1
(2.Re2 Rxg1+ 3.Kxg1 Rh1+ 4.Kg2 Qh3+ 5.Kf3 Qh5+ 6.Kg2 Rg1+ 7.Kxg1 Qh2+ 8.Kxf1 Qh1#)
(2.Rc2 Nxe3+ 3.Qxe3 Rxg1+ 4.Kxg1 Qd1+ 5.Kg2 Qh1#)
( 2.Rf3 Nd2 threatens 3.R(either)h2# this can not be stalled.)
2… Rxg1+ 3.Kxg1 Qh3 4.f4 Qh1+ 5.Kf2 Rh2#
1. … RxN 2.KxR Qh3 3.f4 Nf1 4.Re2 Qh1+ 5.Kf2 Rh2+ 6.Ke1 Nxg3+ crushing.
Here I first tried the goodlooking 1. Nf3, but I like even better:
1. Rxg1+ Kxg1 (1. … Rxg1? 2. Qh3+ Kh1 3. Nf3#/Ng4#/Nf1#)
2. Qh3!
KIng is immobile (Kh1? Nf3#) and the threat is Nf3+ Rxf3 Qh1#. Impossible to protect h1 field when K is in the way for Rc1. Only 2 ways to give king an escape field are:
A)
2. … f4?
3. Ng4! (controlling f2) any (king is totally immobile)
4. Qh1#
B)
2. … f3 (critical, seems to prevent Ng4 but …)
3. Ng4!! fxg4 (only)
4. Qh1+ Kf2
5. Rh2#
So this should be mate in 5.
Important was to avoid Nxf3+? Rxf3 and K has an escape field on e3.
1. …. Rxg1+
If 1 RxR, Qh3+ 3. Kh1, Nf3 discovered checkmate.
If 1 KxR,Nf3+
If now 2. Kf1, Nd2+ forks the White Queen.
Else if 2. Rxf3, … black moves Qh3, Qh1 checkmate is unavoidable.
Else if 2 Kg2 Rh2+ forces Kf1,Nd2 and White Queen gets forked.
1. Nc6 threatening Ra1a7#
A:
1. …, Nxc6
2 Qa6#
B
1 …, Rxc6
2. Rxb8+
B1:
2 …, Rxb8
3. Qa6#
B2:
2. …, Kxb8
3. Qa6, any
4. Qa8#
C:
1. …, Kc8
2. Rxb8+, Kd7
3. Ne5+ forks Q and wins.
Here all options lead to heavy material loss for Black.
1…Rxg1+
If
2. Rxg1 Qh3+
3. Kh1 Nf3 mate
If
2. Kxg1 Qh3
and white cannot prevent mate, for example
3. f2-f3 Ng4
4. f3xg4 Qh1+
5. Kf2 Rg2 mate
If
3. Kh1 Nf3 mate