White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Rf1, Qd3+, Rf3
Should White proceed with Bh6?
1) Rf1, taking control of the open f file
1) … Qd3+, so the queen can retreat to the 7th rank with tempo
2) Rf3; Qd7
3) Qf6, and now black has no useful moves
3) … Nc6, or pretty much anything else
4) Bh6 (threatening 5- Qf8+; Rxf8 6- Rxf8#)
At this point, black can cross his fingers and try Qe7, but that fails to 5- Qxe7; Rxe7 6-Rf8#
1-0
Rxh7 should be a checkmate in all variations. f. e.:
1. Rxh7 Rf8
2. Rh8+ Kg7
3. Bh6+ Kxh8
4. Qxf8+ Kh7
5. Qg7#
or
2. … Kxh8
3. Qxf8+ Kh7
4. Qf7+ Kh8
5. Bf6#
or
1. … Qd3+
2. Kh4 Kxh7
3. Qf7+ Kh8
4. Bf6#
greets, jan
1.Rf1 Qd3+ (any other move cannot stop the threat at Qf7+, Kh8 and Bf6#)
2.Rf3 Qd7 (sacrificing the queen cannot stop the double mate threat at g7 and f8 after placing the Queen and bishop at f6 and h6 respectively)
3.Qf6 Nc4
4.Bh6 Nxe5
5.Qf8+ Rxf8
6.Rxf8#
White is down two pawns, plus another two are doubled and isolated. Therefore he should take the perpetual check Qf7+ Kh8 Qf6+ Kg8 etc.
1Rxh7 Qe1+
1… Kxh7 2Qf7+ Kh8 3Bf6#
2Kg2 Qe2+
3Kh3 Qd3+
4Kh4 and black has no more checks.
I see
1. Rxh7! Kxh7
2. Qf7+ Kh8
3. Bf6#
1. Rxh7! Rf8
2. Rh8+! Kxh8
3. Qxf8+ Kh7
4. Qf7+ Kh8
5. Bf6#
1. Rxh7! Qe1+
2. Kg2!! Qe2+
3. Kh3! Qd3+
4. Kh4! +-
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Rh7 win for white
Like some of the early comments, I thought Rf1 had to win, but I now think it doesn’t since black can put the queen on e7 when needed:
1. Rf1? Qd3 (only move to hold)
2. Kg2 Qd7 (only move)
3. Qf6
Not the strongest move (Bh6 is an easier draw), in my opinion, but it is the move. Continuing:
3. …..Nc6!
Here, 3. …Qg7 is a draw as far as I can tell. Now, after Nc6, what now for white? The other commenters suggested Bh6, but this won’t win:
4. Bh6 Qe7!
The point of Nc6 was to be able to play this exact move. Otherwise, Qe7 loses to Qxe7 since the black rook can’t leave the 8th rank without allowing Rf8#. The knight now protects the black queen. White might get a passed pawn, but I don’t see anything in this to win, and black will be the one playing for the win with two extra pawns.
Rf1 was my first thought, but that draws at best. However, my second thought was the sacrifice at h7:
1. Rh7! Kh7 (alternatives below)
2. Qf7 Kh8
3. Bf6#
Also failing to hold is Rf8:
1. Rh7 Rf8
2. Rh8! Kh8 (Kg7 3.Qf8#)
3. Qf8 Kh7
4. Qf7 Kh8
5. Bf6#
So, at move one, black must try for a perpetual or force the queens off the board, but white will find a haven for his king at h4 in all lines:
1. Rh7 Qe1
2. Kg2 Qe2
3. Kh3 Qd3
4. Kh4 and black is all out of checks, and still can’t take the rook. No better is to start the checks with Qd3 since white goes to h4 immediately. Probably the best lines give up the queen for the rook by checking from f4, but this is just losing, and I am not even sure these avoid the mate either.
surely
1 . Rxh7
If 1) …. Rf8
2) Rh8+ Kxh8
3) Qxf8+ leads to mate
If Black Checks instead run the King up to h4
and its all over
Rf1 Qd3+
Rf3 and Qxf3 because Qf7+ and Bf6# are next.
1. Rf1 threatening Qf7+ and Bf6+ mate black’s only option is 1. …… Qd3+ 2. Kh4 Qd7 3. Bh6 threatening Qf8+ and black has no option but to play
3. …… Qe7 4. Q*e7 R*e7 5. Rf8+ mate