White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Grandmaster chess tactic
About Author
White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1.Bc7 Qf8 or Qg8
(1… Rxc7 2.Qxc7 Qxc7 3.Re8+ Nf9 4.Rxf8#)
2.Bxd7 wins a piece.
Black has a weak back rank and the Nd7 is inadequately guarded!
1.Bc7!!.
A>1…..Qxc7?.2.Qxc7.
A1>2….Rxc7.3.Re8+!.Nf8.4.Rxf8#!
A2>2….Ra/f/g8.3.Qxd7 and white is a Q up and a mating attack for a easy win!
A3>2…Rb8.3.Qxb8!.Nxb8.4.Re8#!
A4>2….Nb6.3.Qxc8+.Nxc8.4.Re8#!
A4>2…..~ move.3.Qxc8+ and white is Q plus exchange up for a easy win!
B>1…Rxc7.2.Qxc7!
B1>2….Qxc7.3.Re8+.Nf8.4.Rxf8#!
B2>2….Qxg5+.3.Kh1.Nf8.4.Qxf7!.Qf6.5.Qxf6.gxf6. 6.d6! Wins as black will have to return the N for the d pawn and white will be a R up!
B3>2….Q~.3.Qxd7 and white is a R up!
C>1…Qf/g8.2.Bxd7! And white is a B up with a continuing mating attack!
The king position keeps back at a big disadvantage (Back rank weakness…).
1.Bc7!! (If 1…RxB 2.QxR!! and because of the threat of back rank check mate by rook(@e1) black cannot make a recapture!!), If
1…Qf8 or Qg8 2.BxN (@d7) and black is a piece down and lot more to follow…
Bc7!
Bc7!
1. Bc7!!
A)
1. … Qf8/Qg8
2. Bxd7
White is up with piece.
This line seems critical.
B)
1. … Qxc7?
2. Qxc7! Rxc7 (or being down with queen)
3. Re8#
C)
1. … Rxc7
2. Qxc7!
and either Re8# or Bxd7 followed by Re8 comes next.
Took me ten minutes to spot that after
1. Bc7! Black must lose some material. Taking the bishop costs an exchange:
1. … Rxc7
If Black doesn’t take the bishop, his queen must move and leave the knight on d7 en prise, e.g.
1. … Qf8
2. Bxd7 +-
2. Qxc7 Qxg5+
2. … Qxc7
3. Re8+ Nf8
4. Rxf8#
3. Bg4 +-
3. … h5
4. Qxd7 hxg4
5. Qxg4 and there are no checks while White threatens on the back rank and the h-file.