White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1. Bd5 Ke8 [… cxd5 or exd5 2. Qh5] 2. Bxe6
Black can play Qc1+, but the king can hide at h2 long enough for white to finish.
1 .. Qxd5 2. Rxd5 cxd5 and white seems stuck?
After 1… Qd5, 2. Rd5 cd position actually is hopeless for B.
Eg 3. Qa4 winning pawn a5 [3… Rc5 4. Qa3 winning R]
Then black pieces have no good support and black B
awkwardly placed.
I would guess the passed and connected a and b pawns would be decisive in that line (and I don’t see a way to save the black a-pawn)- it won’t be possible to stop them in any way less than sacrificing the bishop for both, and even that might not be possible. That leaves a blockade using one of the pieces (most likely the rook on either the a or b file using the bishop for long range protection, but the white king would then be free to aid the queen on either side of the board.
I think black would do best to play 1. ….Re8 with the intention of 2. ….Re7 protecting f7, but white has powerful initiative, but I haven’t looked too deeply after that point yet.
3. Qa4 Bd3 4. Qxa5 Be4 threats mate
5. Kf1 Rc2
I don’t see how to make progress for W. Black can play Rb2, e3 and d4 and then perpetual checks are coming.
not e3, e5 for sure
I would retreat the queen to d2 at move 5 rather than play Kf1. Sure, black can play a move like Rc2 after Kg7, but then Qg4 followed by e3 removes a lot of black’s pressure:
3. Qa4 Bd3
4. Qa5 Be4
5. Qd2 Kg7
6. Qd1 Rc2
7. Qg4 Kf8
8. e3 Rc1
9. Kf2 Rc2
10.Ke1 Bf5
11.Qb4 and white is free to start marching the pawns.
I tend to agree with you bit after 5.Kf1, though. Even 5. Kf1 Rc2 6.b4 it is hard to envision white getting enough free time to keep pushing against the constant harassment against the king. That is why I prefer the queen retreat at move 5.
Black can play bd3 after bd5
No, Bd3 is a disaster.
1. Bd5 Bd3??
2. Rf7! Kf7 (Ke8 3.Qg8 followed by mate)
3. Qe6 Kg7 (or, again, it is mate in 1 or 2 move)
4. Qd7
and black can give up the queen with Qe7, or still get mated (and probably both) since…..
4. ………..Kh8 (Kg6 5.Qf7 followed by mate)
5. Qc8 and mate can’t be prevented.