Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1…exf4 forces White to trade Queens.
2. Qxf7+ is best because Black has to recapture leaving White with a tempo to reorganize and maybe prevent 3…Bxb2+ which could lead to 4…Nc3# if the Knight on b5 leaves his post or 4…Nd2# if the Room on d1 leaves his.
What happen if..
1. ……exf4
2. Nc7+, what’s black best move???
Things would have been far worse for white if she played 2.Nc7. Cory had mentioned the problem white had with that move, but had done so indirectly:
1. ………..ef4!
2. Nc7? Kd8!
Black prevents white from capturing with check at f7, thus white, with the queen now unprotected faces an insoluble dilemma- he can’t take at f7 without allowing mate:
3. Qf7? Bb2
4. Kb1 Nc3#
I am not 100% sure which move is best for white after 2. ….Kd8. The white queen cannot retreat without allowing the same mate, so I can’t see any way to avoid giving up the queen for the bishop at g7.
Things would have been far worse for white if she played 2.Nc7. Cory had mentioned the problem white had with that move, but had done so indirectly:
1. ………..ef4!
2. Nc7? Kd8!
Black prevents white from capturing with check at f7, thus white, with the queen now unprotected faces an insoluble dilemma- he can’t take at f7 without allowing mate:
3. Qf7? Bb2
4. Kb1 Nc3#
I am not 100% sure which move is best for white after 2. ….Kd8. The white queen cannot retreat without allowing the same mate, so I can’t see any way to avoid giving up the queen for the bishop at g7.
Sorry, KV had explicitly covered it in his comment below- hadn’t seen that.
1……exf4!.
B is 2 pieces up. d6 is adequately protected.
WQ is attacked and undefended.
2. Qxf7+. Kxf7. Leaves W with no compensation and he will soon perish.
And finally, Ng5 is immobile!
2. Nc7+. Kd8!. 3. Qxf7. Allows …Bxb2+. 4. Kb1. Nc3#!! Here….alternatives are equally hopeless:-
3. Ne6+. Bxe6!
3. Be7+. Clearing lines for attack…Kxe7!. 4. d6+. Kf8! And W will run out of checks and Black’s mate threat remains intact. 5. Ne6+. Bxe6! And B is 4 pieces up! With a easy win!
Black could probably win with a direct 1. …Qg6 given the material balance at the start- black has a bishop for 3 pawns, one of which might not be salvageable for white. However, the fork at c7 gives me a bit of a pause for what to do after 2.Ng6. It might continue..
1. ………..Qg6
2. Ng6 Ncd6
3. Nc7 Kd7
4. Na8 Rg8 (or maybe Rg8 at move 2?)
And white won’t be able to extract the knight at a8. Black’s edge should be decisive- 3 pieces for what will turn out to be a rook and 4 pawns?
However, I can see that Cory and KV’s idea is more correct than my idea- 1. ….ef4 is cleaner and more decisive. After the exchange of queens, white’s position is full of holes- the pawns at b2, and f2 are pretty indefensible because of the inadequately protected bishop at d6.
1. Nc7+ Kd8 (not 1…Kd7? 2. Qxf7+ Kd8 3. Qe7#)
2. Qxf7 Bd7
3. Qxg7 Re8
4. Ne6+ Kc8
5. Nxe8 and now Black’s in a world of hurt