White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
That weak back rank stands out immediately, and suggests a capture at c6 since the rook is tied down to defending against Rd8. But which capture is more powerful-Qxc6 or Bc6?
1. Bc6 Qc7 (Qc6 2.Qc6+-)
2. Bf3
Double attack on c7 and h5. Qh2+ is no threat since the white king is quite safe at f1, and the white queen is still safe from the rook due to the mate on the back rank. Continuing:
2. …..Nf4 (what else better?)
3. Qc7
Not really sure this is best, but it is the simplest, clearest win I see. Continuing:
3. …..Bc7
4. b5 ab5 (what else?)
5. Bb7 Re8
6. a6 and black is going to lose a piece just to stop the pawn. Now let’s look at 1.Qc6 which forces the issue just a bit quicker:
1. Qc6 Qc6 (anything better?)
2. Bc6 h6 (anything better?)
3. Bb7 Re8
4. gh6 gh6
5. Ba6 and this looks a bit better than the previous line, but both are easily won.
1.Qc1! prevents black from occupying the f4 outpost.
White is a pawn up, and due to the threat of a back-rank mate, can win a 2nd pawn by:
1. Qxc6 Qxc6 (1. .. Rxc6 2. Rd8#) 2. Bxc6
And White will soon win the a-pawn (Bb7) to go 3 pawns up.
Qc6!
1Bc6
1Bc6
1Bc6
1Bc6, Qc7 2Qd5 +-
Qxc6 seems the right move. It gives white a chance to eventually get some passed pawns, which can be exploited to force the exchange of the black rook. After that, black is doomed.
1. Qxc6 Qxc6
2. Bxc6 Nf4
3. Rd7 Re8
4. Bb7 f6
5. gxf6 gxf6
6. Bxa6 Kh8
7. Bc4 h5
8. Bxf4 Bxf4
9. a6 Rc8
10. Be6 Be5
11. a7 Ra8
12. b5 Rxa7
13. Rxa7 Bd4
14. Rd7 Bxf2+
15. Kxf2 h4
16. Rf7 Kg8
17. b6 Kh8
18. b7 Kg8
19. b8=Q#
Alternatively, if at move 2. black advances the h pawn, a slightly different, more open game follows, but with the same strategy and results:
2. … h6
3. g6 Nf4
4. Rd7 Nxh3+
5. Kf1 fxg6
6. fxg6 Nf4
7. Bxf4 Bxf4
8. Bb7 Rb8
9. Bxa6 Bg5
10. Bb7 Bd8
11. Bd5+ Kh8
12. a6 Bg5
13. a7 Rc8
14. Rc7 Rd8
15. a8=Q Rxa8
16. Bxa8 Bd8
17. Rc8 Kg8
18. Rxd8#
If at move 11, black plays Kf8, the game ends quickly.
11. … Kf8
12. Rf7+ Kg8
13. Rf6+ Kh8
14. Rf8#