White to move. What is the best way for White to proceed?
1nkrr3/3q2p1/1R2Q3/3P1p2/p3p3/1pP4p/1K6/3RB3 w – – 0 1
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Friday afternoon chess tactic
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probably, many. first suggestion is 1. bg3 qxe6 2. rxb8 kd7 3. de and rxd8
maybe 1… na6 saves the black but aftyer 2. qg6 and looks like white is winning
1 Rxb8+ Kxb8
2 Bg3+ Ka8
3 Qa6+ Qa7
Draw by repetition. Is there something better?
Mark
Mark said…
“1 Rxb8+ Kxb8
2 Bg3+ Ka8
3 Qa6+ Qa7
Draw by repetition. Is there something better?”
Yes. First of all:
1 Rxb8+? Kxb8
2 Bg3+? Kb7!! and black wins.
So better is:
1 Bg3! threatening RxN++
I think the first anonymous was right:
1 Bg3 Na6
2 Rc6+ gets perpetual checks,
or
2 Qg6 Nc7
3 BxN KxB
4 Rc6+ Kb8
5 Rd4 (or Rb6+ with perpetual check again) and white has a slightly better game.
Actually, in that line, white can win easily. I was afraid off all the passed pawns, but white can force black to give up queen for rook and then pick off the pawns:
1 Bg3 Na6
2 Qg6 Nc7
3 BxN KxB
4 Rc6+ Kb8
5 Rd4 Re7 (only defense I see)
6 Rb4+ Qb7
7 Qg3+! (this puts the queen where it can pick off the dangerous h-pawn, as well as chases black’s king into a worse position)
7 … Ka8
8 Rxa4+ Qa7
9 Rca6 and not only is the queen lost, but after trading down, black is toast.
Maybe there are other black defenses earlier on which are better, but this line makes 1 Bg3 look all the more convincing.
Easy enough. Mate in 4.
1. Rb8+ Kxb8 (if 1….Kc7 2. Qb6#) 2.Qb6+ Kc8 3. Qa6+ Kb8 (if 3…Kc7 4.Bg3#) 4.Bg3#