White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Kolkata Tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Rc8+
Since black queen is only protected by Rb8, I like to deflect that rook:
1. Rc8+!
A)
1. … Kg7/Nf8
2. Qxb5! Rxb5
3. Rxa8
is up with rook.
B)
1. … Rxc8
2. Rxc8+ (could not play Qxb5 at once) Rxc8
3. Qxb5
is up with queen for rook.
2. … Kg7/Nf8
3. Qxb5 Rxc8
is likewise up with queen for rook.
A deja vu:
The game played in Chennay that you posted Nov 29th had an identical motive.
Rc8+! Kg7 (or Ne8 or Nf8, doesn’t change anything)
Qxb4 Rxb4
Rxa8
or
Rc8+! Rxc8
Qxb4
As pht points out, situations like this are fairly common- a rook guard is overtaxed in protecting a back rank and something along the file, usually the queen:
1. Rc8 Rc8
Nothing is really better, in my opinion. Black can play Kg7 or Nf8, but white captures at b5 followed by a capture at a8, and still wins a queen for a rook. At least Rc8 will make white think a tiny little bit harder, and also gives him the chance to blunder:
2. Rc8! and white has won his material edge.
Back rank weakness, overloaded Rook:
1. R-c8+ ……
if 1. ….. RxR then Black’s queen is no longer defended
if 1. ….. -any king move or kt. block
2. QxQ RxQ leaves the other rook unguarded
There seems to be the opportunity to remove the guard Rb8, whose duties appear to be both vertical and horizontal!
1. Rc8+ Rxc8
2. Qxb5
is bad for black
1. … Nf8 or Kg7
2. Qxb5 Rxb5
3. Rxa8
is also bad for black
Mark
Mark,
In your first line, black captures at c1 to get two rooks for his queen.