Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Chinese Chess Tactic
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Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Rh3! wins
1Rh3 gxh3
2Rxh2# easy but pleasing.
….Rh3 seems to not only threaten h2, but also guards against the counter shot of Rh5+. Themes and Motifs are of great interest, combinations seem to overcome an illusion in the position ( here h3 being guarded).
The very beautiful Rh3 wins here, though it took me a few minutes of trying to make Qh2 and and Rg2 work. Of course, gf5 will probably secure a draw by forcing white to go for a perpetual (I don’t see a real way for black to capture at f5 and avoid the queen checks after Qxh5+).
1. …..Rh3
The rook is immune since 2.gh3 allows Qh2#. Also, black is threatening Qh2# anyway, and the the queens line can’t even be blocked by g3 since either rook can then capture at h2 with mate.
So, white can delay this mate by blocking the b8/h2 diagonal with the rook at e5 or f4 and/or sacrificing the queen at g8/h8 or g6, or sacrificing the rook at h5. The rook blocks are clearly pointless since the black queen just captures at each square. The rook sacrifice at h5 is completely dealt with by retaking with the rook (the line below). Sacrificing the queen at g6 allows the capture at h3 with check, but white will be down an entire queen and facing a sure mate anyway after the black king captures at f5. So, of these lines, the only halfway interesting one is
2. Rh5 Rh5
3. h3 Rh3! and mate with Qh2 or Rh2 will follow.
1… Rh3!
1. … Rh3
If 2. g3 Rxh2#
If 2. any other move Qxh2#
Rh3
Rd5
Rh3
Regarding Lucymarie’s enquiry why she does not get such positions in her game is that she is not “Ruth”less.
Rh3!
Rh3!
The first thing that comes to mind is 1. .. Rh3! Only by giving up the queen and a rook (2. Qxg6+, Kxg6 3. xh3+ Kxf5) white can avoid mate for a couple of moves, but he is dead lost.
Rh3 looks devastating
rh3
After 1… Rh3 the white has only a move to delay the defeat.
1… Rh3
2. Qxg6+ Kxg6
3. gxh3+ Kxf5
4. Rf1+ Kg6
5. Rg1+ Kh6 and black wins
Best regards
Stef
1. … Rh3! easy 🙂
Rh3 seems to do it. Threatening mate
on h2.
If gxh3 Qh2 mate
White has Qxg6+ but after Kxh6 there seems to be nothing.
1…,Rh3 a la Marshall
Rh3
If White is a masochist or has a droll sense of humor, he can play on after
1. … Rh3 [threat Qxh2#]
say by 2. Rxh5+ Rxh5 3. Qxg6+ Kxg6 4. h3 Qg3 5. Ne4 Rxh3+ 6. gxh3 Rh2#
That way White has succeeded from allowing Black giving mate with the Queen, which is pinned.
That’s really a pretty picture.
But I very much doubt if Guanchu Liu continued on after 1. … Rh3.
Dear Prof. S.G.Bhat:
Regarding your very excellent and humorous comment that I am “Ruth”less,
permit me to say that was a great swat with your “Bhat”.
If I am not “Ruth”less, at least I am “Lucid”.
🙂
Lucymarie Ruth
Dear Anup, be specific.2… Rxh2 is ambiguous which rook? If you seal an ambiguous move you have lost the game.By the way do younger players nowadays know what is meant by “sealing a move” since all games are finished on the same day now.
Dear Prof Bhat
Since it made no diff which rook, I was casual. However, you are right, it is ambiguous & I should have mentioned it.
As regards “sealing a move”, the last time I remember reading about it was way, way back during one of the World Championship titles. I am not sure, but I think it was Karpov vs Korchnoi.
Can someone enlighten – when was the last time a move was sealed in a top-level competition?
Hi Susan Polgar,
Easiest puzzle.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]