White (Gelfand) just played 54. Qb6?. How should black (Karjakin) proceed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Missed opportunity chess tactic
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White (Gelfand) just played 54. Qb6?. How should black (Karjakin) proceed?
Looking at this (after just returning to the gam)… if I were in a blitz game, I’d probably play bxh2+
Bh2 wins in all lines, I hope, though I can’t be 100% certain about variation A below (too complicated). The main point being that f1 is poorly guarded whenever the rook is at g2 and the black queen can get to d1 for a back rank mate.
A.
1. …..Bh2
2. Kh2 Qh5
3. Kg3
Or [3.Kg1 Rf1 4.Kf1 Qd1#]. Continuing:
3. …..Rf1
4. Qb8 Kh7
5. Qf4 Qd5
6. Kh2 Rb1 and I think black should win this, though I can’t quite see a way to decisively end this right now. Probably missing the killer move in this line.
At move 2, I am pretty certain white is mated if he doesn’t capture with the king at h2:
1. …..Bh2
2. Rh2 Qg4! (eyeing d1)
3. Rg2
Or, 3.Kh1 Rf1#. Continuing:
3. …..Rf1
4. Kf1 Qd1#
And, finally:
1. …..Bh2
2. Kh1 Rf1
3. Kh2
Or [3.Rg1 Qh3 4.Rf1 Bg3 5.Kg1 Qh2#]. Continuing:
3. …..Qh5
4. Kg3 Qe5
5. Kg4
Alternatives no better: [5.f4 Qf4 6.Kh3 Rh1 7.Rh2 Rh2#]; or [5.Kh4 Rh1 6.Rh2 (or 6.Kg4 Qg5#) 6. …Rh2 7.Kg4 Qg5#]; or [5. Kh3 Rh1 mates in two more]. Continuing:
5. …..h5!
6. Kh4
Here, Kh3 is no different in the end. Continuing:
6. …..Rh1
7. Rh2 Rh2#
The key line is A. Hopefully someone will find the killer move I have to be overlooking there (possible I am not looking far enough beyond the analysis, but I am in a hurry today).
Damn. I looked at this line, but didn’t see the importance:
1. …..Bh2
2. Kh2 Qh5
3. Kg3 Qe5! wins according to Chessbomb. I need to think about that one.
1 Bh2 Kh2 (….Rh2, 2 Qg4 Rg2, 3 Rf1 Kf1, 4 Qd1))
2 Qh5 Kg1 (…Kg3 lasts longer)
3 Rf1
Bc7 and 2..qb5
It took me a while to understand, but I guess Karjakin should have seen it. Bxh2+, then check with the queen while staying on the d1-h5 diagonal, then RxN and Qd1++. If the king tries to escape up, Qf3 will mate it as well.
Queen h3
Qh3
Bxh7+ and Black wins!! Computer evaluation I must admit.
1. … Qh5
the threat is 2… Rxf1+ and 3…. Qd1#
the white rook cannot move because of mate with …Qh2#
white’s k and N are also pinned.
if
1. Qb5 Bxh2+ wins the queen
if
1. Qd8+ Kh7
2. Qd7
(guarding against …Qd1+ and also a counter threat of Qe8+, taking the B or Qg6+ perpetual)
2. … Rd1
3. Qc8+ Kh7
4. Qc4 Qf3
now the threat is 5… e3
6. fxe3 Qxe3+
7. Kh1 Qf3
8. Kg1 Bd4+ wins
or if 7. Rf2, Bd4
after 5… e3 white cannot do a perpetual because after 6 Qc2+ g6! 7 Qc7+ Bxc7
pretty complicated though.
1…Bxh2+ 2 Kxh2 Qh5+ Kg1 Rxf1+ Kxf1 Qe1 checkmate or Bxh2+ Rxh2 Qg4+ Rg2 Rxf1+ Qe1 checkmate per WCF World Chess Champion Stan Vaughan http://www.wcfchess.com
Bxh2+ I had answered this shortly after this was posted, but it was not approved. It is a flash tactic based on backrank threats. Nice!
1.Qc6 Bxh2+
2.Kxh2
(2.Rxh2 Qg4+ 3.Rg2 Rxf1+ 4.Kxf1 Qd1#)
2…Rxf1
3.Qe8+ Kh7
4.Qe7 Qh5+
5.Kg3 Qf3+
6.Kh2 Qf4+
7.Rg3 Rxf2+
8.Kh1
When I saw the problem on first page I thought of 1…. Qh3 and patted my back for seeing it instantly. Being dead sure about it I realized that there are 11 comments and I should look at them for verifying my views, I was thoroughly disappointed at not seeing my move there. Then I realized 2Qb5 is the proper defence for white. Next moment I said why not 2… Qd3 intercepting Q.3QxQ exd3 and white can not stop its queening.