Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Daily Chess Improvement: Real Game Chess Tactic!
Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Seems like you triple up on the a file with Qa6. If white attempts to hold everything together with Rc3, black steps up the pressure with b5. If axb5, white loses the a1 rook.
1…. b4 white can not take 2.axb4 because of 2…. c3 and white can not escape the noose.
Looked at both Qa6 and Qc5 – not convincing.
As Dr Bhat suggests … b4.
ab: is a disaster after c3
Bq1 suggests itself but
then … Ra3:, Ra3: ba:, Qn4 or Qd4, c3!, Qc3, Qb5.
After 1… b4 2.Bd1 c3 is very strong.
1…b4 2.Bd1 c3 3.Bxa4 cxb2 (Now white can not play 4.RxQ because of 4…. bxa1=Q+ )4.Bxc6 Rc8 5.Rcb1 bxa1=Q 6.Rxa1 Rxc6 7.axb4 Bxg4 with easy win.
Yes all in all White’s position is hopeless.
Quite surprising when you first look at it.
Don’t you think white could withstand the pressure if it were his move by playing 1Qc3? Remember theory of blockade by Nimzowitsch. Black has bad bishop but a strong passed pawn. White’s QR pawn is under attack and moreover he has weakened King side pawns. His K side weakness is exemplified by following variation ,may not be a forced variation.
1…b4 2.Bd1 c3 3.Qe2 b3 4.Bxb3 Rxg4+ 5.Kf1 d4 6.f3 ( necessary as 6… Qh1+ was imminent.)d3 7.Qf2 Rg6 8.Bxe6 fxe6 and despite material equality white’s position is very bad.
Surely after
Qc3 Qc5 is enough
If white were to move
1.Qc3 Qc5 2.Rcb1 and now 2… b4 may not be good.
2…. Rxa3 3.Rxa3 Rxa3 4.Rxb5 may be playable.I have not explored extensively.
playable? My foot!
1.Qc3 Qc5 2.Rcb1 Rxa3 3.Rxa3 Rxa3 4.Rxb5 Qxb5 5.Qxa3 Qb3 6.Qa1
(6.Qxb3 cxb3 7.Bd1 b2 8.Bc2 Bxg4 9.Kf1 Bf3 10.Ke1 Be4 11.Kd2 b1=Q 12.Bxb1 Bxb1 with apiece up.)
6…c3 7.Bd1 c2 and wins.
If we allow white a move then:
Rather than Qc3 (rather passive) try Bq1.
If … R4a5 then Rab1 or Bf3
Doubtless Black is better
This is the key line- the fork from b2 with the pawn ends it for all intents and purposes since white is going to end up down a piece for a pawn at a minimum with precise play.