White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1. Rd8 looks strong.
Rd8
1. Rxf7 Rxf7
2. Rd8+ Ne8
3. Rxb8
now there are several threats: 4. Ne5 forking the Q and the R on f7. also, 4. Rxe8+ Qxe8 5. Qxa6. Don’t see a good line for black.
e.g.,
3. … Ra8
4. Ne5 Qd6
5. Qxf7+ Kh7
6. Qg6+ Kg8
7. Qxg7#
or
3. … Raa7
4. Ne5 Qd6
5. Qxe8+ Kh7
6. Qd3+
1-0
or
3. … Rb6
4. Ne5 Qd6
5. Qxf7+
1-0
1. Rd8 wins
1. Rd8 Ne8
(If 1… Bd6 2. Qxf7+ and mate next move)
2. Rdxe8
1-0
The f7 pawn must be weak, and Rxf7 plays itself I think:
1. Rxf7 Rxf7 (what else)
2. Rd8+ Ne8 (alternative below)
3. Ne5!
and black queen must leave protection of Ne8, black position falls apart.
2. … Kh7
3. Qxf7
with a multitude of threats, Bb8 is very weak, as is the king position, and possibly the Nf6.
1. Rd8 (a) Rxd8
2. Qxf7+ Kh8 or Kh7
3. Qxg7#
1. … (b) Ne8
2. Rxe8 Qxe8 (to protect f7)
3. Rxe8 Rxe8
White has traded two rooks for queen and knight, which ought to be a winning advantage.
Mark
1.Rd8 Nd5
(1…Rxd8 2.Qxf7+ Kh7
(2…Kh8 3.Qxg7#)
3.Qxg7#)
2.Rxd5 Bd6
The shortest path to Nirvana should be:
[FEN “1b3rk1/4Rpp1/r1q2n1p/p1p5/2Q5/P1B2N2/1P3PPP/3R2K1 w – – 0 0”]
1. Rd8 Nd7?
2. Rxf8+ Kh7
3. Qxf7 Be5
4. Qxg7+ Bxg7
5. Rxg7#
A few variations also work:
4. Nxe5 Nxe5 (4… Qg6 5. Qg8#)
5. Qxg7#
4. Bxe5 Qg6 (4… Qf6 5. Qxg7+ Qxg7 6. Rxg7#)
5. Qg8#
Black has a decent defense with the reply Nd5 rather than Nd7:
1… Nd5
2. Rxd5 Bd6
3. Re3 Rb8
4. Rxd6 Qxd6
5. Be5 Qd1+
6. Re1 Rd6
7. h3 Qb3
8. Qxb3 Rxb3
9. Bxd6 Rxb2
10. Bxc5 {White’s attack fizzles but white still has a decisive advantage.}
Using Fritz 13, I had a look at Aam’s and Pht’s Rxf7 idea. White’s attack seems to fizzle, except in the case of 3… Raa7.
1. Rxf7 Rxf7
2. Rd8+ Ne8
3. Rxb8
Alternative #1:
3… Ra8
4. Ne5 Qd6
5. Qxf7+ Kh7
6. Qg6+ Qxg6
7. Nxg6 Rxb8 {White’s attack fizzles badly.}
Alternative #2:
3… Raa7
4. Ne5 Qf6
5. Rxe8+ Kh7
6. Nxf7 Qxf7
7. Qe4+ Qg6
8. Rh8+ Kxh8
9. Qxg6 {White has a decisive advantage.}
Alternative #3:
3… Rb6
4. Ne5 Qe6
5. Rxb6 Qxc4
6. Nxc4 {White’s attack fizzles, though white a decent advantage.}
Another alternative:
3… Kh7
4. Qxf7 Qg6
5. Qxe8 Qxe8
6. Rxe8 Ra7 {White’s attack fizzles, though white does have a decisive advantage.}