White to move. What is the best continuation for White?
1r5k/1q3pbp/3R1p2/4pN1Q/5r2/7P/p4PP1/3R2K1 w – – 0 1
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1.Rd8+ Rxd8
2.Rxd8+ Bf8
3.Rxf8#
Well, Rd8 suggests itself immediately:
1. Rd8 Bf8 (Rd8 2.Rd8 Bf8 3.Rf8#)
2. Qh6
Four threats- Qg7#, Rf8 followed by mate, Qxf8#, and Qf6+ followed by Nh6#. There is really one one significant defense that doesn’t involve sacrificial delays:
2. …..Rd8
3. Qg7! Bg7
4. Rd8 Bf8
5. Rf8#
Probably not 90s for me, but not much more either.
1. Rd8+ , Bf8
(if 1. … , RxR
2. Rxd8+ , Bf8
3. Txf8#)
2. Qh6!
1.Rd8+ Rxd8 2.Rxd8+ Bf8 3.Rxf8++
1. Rd8+
1. … Bf8
2. Qh6, threatening
3. Qg7# and
3. Qxf8#
1. … Rxd8
2. Rxd8+ Bf8
3. Rxf8#
1. Rd8+ Rxd8
2. Rxd8+ Bf8
3. Rxf8#
A lot faster to see it than to write it down.
Mark
1. Rd8+ Bf8
1. … Rxd8 2.Rxd8+ Bf8 3.Rxf8#
2. Qh6! And Black cannot meet both threats Qxf8# and Qg7# at once. However, White must be careful:
2. … Rxd8
3. Qg7+! Bxg7
3. Rxd8? a1=Q+!
4. Kh2 Qxg2+
5. Kxg2 Rxf2+
6. Kxf2 Qa2+ perpetual check.
4. Rxd8+ Bf8
5. Rxf8#
1. Rd8+ – Bf8
2. Dh6!
with mate on g7.
I’m afraid it took me more than 90 seconds to see the funny Qg7# motive:-)
1. Rd8+ Bf8 (Rxd8?? is obviously mate in next two)
2. Qh6!
The point here is that even if black can protect Bf8, it does’nt protect Qg7#. Only delay is to take on d8 and then give as many checks as you can:
2. … Rxd8 (Qb4? Qg7#)
3. Rxd8 a1=Q+ (Qb4? Qg7#)
Alas for black this extra queen isn’t enough to get a combination with e.g. Rf2+ and Qb6+.
4. Kh2 Qf1/Qh1/Qg2+ (Qb4/Qe7? Qg7#)
Only delaying sacks exist now.