White to move. What is the best continuation for White?
r2q1k1r/1p2n1pp/2p3B1/3pNbB1/8/p4QP1/1b3P2/R5K1 w – – 0 1
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Choosing the right continuation
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This is a tough puzzle. Can I have a hint?
1.Bxe7+ Qxe7 2.Qxf5+ Kg8 3.Re1
Winning a knight is the best I can do.
I’m not sure that it wins outright, but 1.Bxf5 looks strong.
1.Bxe7+ Qxe7
1…Kxe7 is much better.
2.Qxf5+ Kg8
2…Qf6 instead.
3.Re1
3.Bf7+ is much better.
After 3.Re1 hxg6 Black coasts to a win.
The best I could find was a draw.
1.Bxe7+ Kxe7 (b)
2.Qxf5 PxB
3.Qg5+ Kd8 (3…Kf8 4.Nxg6+ wins)
4.Qxg6+ Kd7
5.Qg5+ Kd8 and a draw by repetition.
B) 1…………Qxe7
2.Qxf5+ Qf6
(2….Kg8 3.Be7+ Kf8 4.Nd7+ QxN 5.QxQ Bxa1 6.Be6 mates)
3.Nd7+ Kg8 (3…Ke7 4.Re1+ wins)
4.NxQ+ PxQ
5.Re1 wins for white)
1.Bxe7+ Kxe7 (b)
2.Qxf5 PxB
3.Qg5+ Kd8 (3…Kf8 4.Nxg6+ wins)
4.Qxg6+ Kd7
5.Qg5+ Kd8 and a draw by repetition.
A couple of typos, surely. ITYM:
1.Bxe7+ Kxe7
2.Qxf5 hxg6
3.Qg5+ Ke8
(3…Kf8 4.Nxg6+ wins)
“Wins”? For Black, I think, after 4…Kg8.
4.Qxg6+ Ke7 5.Qg5+ Ke6 and a draw by repetition.
Sorry, I don’t see it. 6.Qg4+ Kxe5 or 6.Qg6+ Qf6.
B) 1…………Qxe7
2.Qxf5+ Qf6
(2….Kg8 3.Be7+ Kf8 4.Nd7+ QxN 5.QxQ Bxa1 6.Be6 mates)
3.Nd7+ Kg8 (3…Ke7 4.Re1+ wins)
How so? Why can’t Black just stroll away with either 4…Kd6 or 4…Kd8?
4.NxQ+ PxQ
5.Re1 wins for white)
I don’t see that, either. Why doesn’t 5…a2 or 5…hxg6 draw? (Not that Black should be going in for this line to begin with.)
Henry, I’ve fixed what I thought were some typos in your post, so if I’ve misrepresented your intentions, please enlighten me.
Winning move is Bxf5, e.g.,
1. Bxf5 Bxe5
2. Be6+ Bf6
3. Bxf6 gxf6
4. Qxf6+ Ke8
5. Qxf7++
Winning move is Bxf5, e.g.,
1. Bxf5 Bxe5
2. Be6+ Bf6
3. Bxf6 gxf6
4. Qxf6+ Ke8
5. Qxf7++
I like 1.Bxf5 too, but you’ve some gimme’s in there for Black. How about:
2…Nf5 (instead of 2…Bf6) 3.Bxd8 g6 4.Rxa3 Rxd8 5.Bxf5 Kg7
? And 3…gxf6 just staggers into the mate, not that Black is in any great shape anyway.
anon @1:19, your 2. … Nf5 leads to a quicker checkmate. No need to take the black queen with Bxd8. To wit,
1. Bxf5 Bxe5
2. Be6+ Nf5?
3. Qxf5+ Ke8
4. Qf7++
anon @1:19, your 2. … Nf5 leads to a quicker checkmate. No need to take the black queen with Bxd8. To wit,
1. Bxf5 Bxe5
2. Be6+ Nf5?
3. Qxf5+ Ke8
4. Qf7++
3…Bf6 and Black cruises to a win.
oh man, I really should buy me a chess set so I can actually see all the moves 🙂
You’re right. 3. … Bf6 wins for black.
So after black’s 2. … Nf5, then the game should continue with:
3. Bxd8 Rxd8
4. Qxf5+ Bf6
5. Rxa3 and white should have better chances in winning the game.
So after black’s 2. … Nf5, then the game should continue with:
3. Bxd8 Rxd8
4. Qxf5+ Bf6
5. Rxa3 and white should have better chances in winning the game.
That all looks sensible. Another possibility for Black is 3…g6 — not so much to protect the knight on f5 as to clear an escape square for the king. Whatever Black does, he’s got an ugly position.