Black to move. How should Black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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ECC chess tactic
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Black to move. How should Black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1……..B:c4
2. Q:c4 N:e3+
or
1……..B:c4
2. N:c4 R:e2 (probably best, other than 2. Resigns)
Bc4 would win the queen for a rook and bishop:
1. …..Bc4
2. Qc4 Ne3 followed by Nc4, so
2. Nc4 Re2
3. Ke2
If there is something better, I don’t see it.
LOL, the fact that Susan posted mine and CraigB’s suggested solution so quickly makes me doubt it is what she is looking for. Time for a second look.
Well, you could play Rb2 first:
1. ……Rb2
2. Rb2? Bc4 which wins a queen for a rook (better than my first solution)
but white can take with the queen,
2. Qb2 Bc4
3. Kg1 Ne3
and I don’t see anything more for black in this line other than the win of two pieces and a pawn for a rook, and
2. Qb2 Ne3
3. Kg1 Qb6
4. Qf2 or Kh1, and I still see nothing more for black other than two pieces for the rook. I like my first line better, still, though black should be winning either way.
The way I look at, Bc4 gives black the queen and a pawn for three pieces plus the two pawns he is already up, while Rb2 gives black three extra pawns.
1.Bxc4 if Qxc4 2.Nxe3+
if Nxc4 2.Rxe2
Yancey,
I doubt that Susan is so devious as to withhold the correct solution to the problems that she posts here when they are correct. I suspect the timing is more a function of the many other demands on her life. Frankly, I am amazed she finds as much time to do this as she does.
CraigB,
I am pretty sure that she does hold up the correct ones for a while. I have seen many of these threads post comments out of order, and the reason is always the same- the first posted comments are of incorrect solutions, and the later posted comments are the correct ones.
I just looked up this game at the website, and Sutovksy did play Rb2 first, but then Lundin resigned. Like I wrote, this still wins for black, but it isn’t the solution you and I posted, and I think Rb2 is an inferior move. I must be missing something, but I have no idea what it is.
And, like you, I am just utterly amazed at Susan’s energy.
Yancey,
Like you, I looked at …R:b2 first. But after 2. Q:b2 N:e3+ 3. Kg1 N:g2 4. K:g2 B:c4 Black has three extra pawns and the better B.
After 1…. B:c4 2. N:c4 R:e2 3. K:e2 d5 Black has three pawns and a Q vs. three minor pieces.
I guess, since three minor pieces are usually considered to be better than a Q, the first line is preferable. But I would surely go for the second line against a player of my level – GM’s can coordinate multiple pieces much better than people like me.