White to move. How should White proceed?
1k6/ppp3p1/1b5p/3p1B2/3Npq2/8/P3R1PP/3R3K w – – 0 1
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White to move. How should White proceed?
1k6/ppp3p1/1b5p/3p1B2/3Npq2/8/P3R1PP/3R3K w – – 0 1
1.Rxe4! dxe4 2.Nc6+ bxc6 3.Rd8+ Kb7 4.Bc8+ Kb8 5.Ba6#
I think
1. Rxe4 dxe4
2. Ne6
threatening a back rank mate and the hanging Queen.
Red2 is the best move for that.
The most obvious weakness for black is the back rank. I see no way to get a rook on the open f-file in time, but the possibility of creating an open e-or d-file seems tantalizing at a first glance:
1. Re4
Threatens the queen and Re8#. The only potential reply seems to be
1. …..de4
Now, the question is, how best to open the d-file? There are two knight attacks on the queen- Ne6 and Ne2 that serve the double purpose of threatening Rd8#. Clearly, Ne2 isn’t going to work well since black takes at f5 and can block the mate with Qc8:
2. Ne2 Qf5
I just noticed that Qh4 is probably good, too- it covers d8 directly, but I think Qf5 is just easier:
3. Rd8 Qc8
4. Rc8 Kc8 and the three pawn advantage is decisive for black.
At move 2, the attack from e6 seems better:
2. Ne6 Qh4
The block at d6 just seems a bit worse to me:
3. g3
Here, Rd8 is ok, but all in all, this move changes nothing but gives white one tempo for Kg2- so why not take it?
3. …..Qe7
4. Rd8 Qd8
5. Nd8 e3
6. Bd3 and I think white is ahead due to the weakness of the king side pawns for black, but it will be a slog converting this to a victory. Right now, I am fried from today’s earlier puzzle. Time for bed.
back rank weakness screams “exploit me”
1)Rxe4! PxR
2)Ne6
1. Rxe4 (Threatens Queen and mate),dxe 2.Nc6+,bxc 3.Rd8+, Kb7 4.Bc8+,Kb8 5.Ba6++
1. Rxe4! (if e.g. 1. .. dxe4 then 2. Nc6+, 3. Rd8+, 4. Bb7+ 5. Ba6# )
the way to go is:
1. Rxe4 (threatening Re8#) dxe4
2. Nc6+ (threatening Rd8#) bxc6
3. Rd8+ anyway Kb7
4. Bc8+ Ka8/b8
5. Ba6#
greets, jan
1. R:e4 smacks the Queen, and looks at Mate on the back rank. If QxR, then simple BxQ wins with the extra material. So, 1. R:e4 de4 runs into
2. Nc6+ (clears the d-file) bc6
3. Rd8+ Kb7
4. Bc8+ Ka8 or b8 (forced)
5. Ba6 Discovered Mate.
ok, i try it:
1. Rxe4 de
2. Nc6+ bc
3. Rd8+ Kb7
4. Bc8+ Kb8
5. Ba6+ mate
Rxe4!…is the right move.
Reply: …. dxe4.
Nc6+!-bxc6
Rd8+-Kb7
Bc8+Kb8 or Ka8
Ba6+ mate!
Regards,
Cheddie Cabe, Philippines
1)Re4!! dXe4
2)Be6!! Winning
1)Re4!! dXe4
2)Be6!! Winning
Rxe4 dxR
Ne6 Qh4
Rd8+ QxR
NxQ e3
Bd3 wins
1.Rxe4 Qxe4 (1…dxe4 2.Nc6+ bxc6 3.Rd8+ Kb7 4.Bc8+ Kb8 5.Ba6#) 2.Bxe4.
The d file is blocked by a pawn otherwise it would have been Rd8+ so lets get rid of the pawn… it goes.
1.Rxe4 dxe 2.Nd6 wins the queen for white or a checkmate!
1. Rxe4 dxe4
2. Nc6+ bxc6
3. Rd8+ Kb7
4. Bc8+ Kb8
5. Ba6#
Rxe4, dxe4, Ne6 and black loses the Queen.
1. Re2xe4 + dxe4
2. Nc6 + bxc6
3. Rd8 + Kb7
4. Bc8#
Well, obviously white will lose one piece because if black takes on d4, white cannot take back with the rook on d1, since Qf1 is mate. 1.g4 to protect the bishop doesn´t help. So the question is, which is the best way to give that piece and which one?
I think that
1. Bxe4 is the best option. Black cannot take the bishop with dxe4, because Ne6 would then win the queen or mate.
1. … Bxd4
2. Bxd5 threatening mate on e8 and Re4, winning the bishop.
2. … c5 At first glance Be5 with the threat Qxh2# seems more logical, but after 3.g3 Qg5 and 4. Rde1 the Bishop is lost (if 4. … Bf6, 5.h4! Qxg3 6.Re8+ and mate).
3. Re7
White´s plan is to double the rooks on the e-file, then checking on b7 and mating on e8. I do not yet see how black could prevent that.
Rxe4 leads to victory.
Thx Susan for such fantastic puzzles
1. Rxe4 dxe4
2. Ne6 Qd6
3. Rxd6 cxd6
4. Nxg7
1. Rea:! threatening the black queen and mate on the back rank
1. … de4:
2. Nc6+ bc6:
3. Rd8+ Kb7
4. Bc8+ Ka/b8
5. Ba6#
1. Rxe4 dxe4
2. Nc6+ bxc6
3. Rd8+ Kb7
4. Bc8#
1 Rxe4 dxe4
2 Ne6 followed by
3 Rd8#
If 1 … Qxe4
2 Bxe4 dxe4
3 Nd6 Now even if mate is averted there is enough material to win.
Rxe4 – dxe, Ne6 with a double attack.
1. Rxe4 dxe4
2. Nc6+ bxc6
3. Rd8+ Kb7
4. Bc8+ Kb8
5. Ba6++
–thekneelaw
My comment on 1. Red2:
This move tries to preserve the piece that I told was lost in my last post. And indeed, after
1. Red2 Bxd4??
2. Rxd4 Qxf5
3. Rxd5 Black must give the queen to prevent mate on d8. But:
1. Red2 c5! and there is no mating-threat any more and after e.g.
2. Nb3 e3 the rook d2 must go back to e2 and Black picks up Bf5 (-+)
I see no defence after 1. Rxe4
1.Rxe4 QxR (1…PxR 2.Nc6+ PxN 3.Rd8+ Kb7 4.Bc8+ Kb8 5.ba6#)
2.BxQ PxB
3.Nf5 wins
1.Rxe4 and wins!
1 Re4 de; 2 Ne6 wins.
1. Rxe4 dxe4
2. Nc6+ bxc6
3. Rd8+ Kb7
4. Bc8+ Kb8 (or Ka8)
5. Ba6#
All moves are forced, except for Black’s first move… But he wouldn’t like to play 1… Qxe4.
1. Rxe4 d5xe4
2. Nc6+ b7xc6
3. Rd8+ Kb7
4. Bc8+ Kb8
5. Ba6 checkmate
LOL! The dangers of getting too attached to a single plan in chess.
That was a very pretty mate that whooshed right over my head!