Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Daily Chess Improvement: Game Closing Tactic!
Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1. ……Rg3!
2..fxg3. Rxh2+. 3. Kxh2. Qh6+. 4. Qh5. Qxh5#
2. Qxg3. fxg3. 3. fxg3. Rxh2+. 4. Kxh2. Qh6#
2. h3. Rxf3. 3. gxf3. Rxh3+. 4. Kg2. Qh4. and so on
2. Qe2/d1/d5. Rxh2+ mates as in first variation.
1….. Rg3 2.Qxg3 fxg3 3.h3 Qh6 (threatening Rxh3+ gxh3 Qxh3#) 4.Rd1 Rxh3+ 2.gxh3 Qxh3+ 3.Kg1 Qh2+ 4.Kf1 Qf2#
too tired not to have made a mistake, I meant 5.gxh3 Qxh3+ 6.Kg1 Qh2+ 7.Kf1 Qf2#
What? Counting beyond 4 is really hard for me at the best of times.
1. …Rg3
2. Qxf4 (the strongest defense for white) Rxg2
3. Rxg2 Rxf4
Black wins eventually
There is a certain elegance to 1. ….Rg3, and it does win, but there is a better move for black here, isn’t there?
In the actual game, Sandalakis did play Rg3, and white took the rook with the pawn rather than play the stingier defense of Qf4, and got mated quickly. Playing 2.Qf4 avoids the quick mate, but black can force the mate with a different first move, and then playing Rg3 later.
I think it could be like that:
1. …Qh6
2. h3 Rg3
3. Qxg3 fxg3
4. Rgb1 Rxh3+
5. gxh3 Qxh3+
6. Kg1 Qh2+
7. Kf1 Qxf2#
Yancey Ward, I have been studying your explanations about rook ending. It’s so kind of you to give me detailed explanations. I like them very much.
Yes, 1…. Qh6 is best, e.g. 2.Qh3 Rxh3 3.gxh3 Qc6+