This was a game between Kelvin Yao and Eve Zhurbinskiy. It is Black to move. Black is in big trouble as White is threatening Ne7+ winning a piece. How can Black save this game?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Practical game saving tactic
If there is a save it has to be based on the exposed white king. The open file isn’t enough to do any damage unless a rook can pin the queen, so it’s logical to try Bf5 to take away the king’s defense.
If that’s the right idea, and I sure don’t see any others, after 1…Bf5 2. Ne7+, the only logical try is to sack the queen and hope a rook check works.
So 1… Bf5
2. Ne7+ Qxe7
3. Qxe7 Rc8+
But which rook? Must be the a8 rook, since its own active file is the c file.
3… Rac8+
4. Kd2 Nc4+
5. Ke1/e2 Rfe8
6. Qxe8 Rxe8+
7. Kf1 Nxb2
Whether black has enough for the exchange is debatable, but he hasn’t lost a piece.
What about 1…Kh8 or Re8?
1… Bf5
2. Ne7+ Kh8 and the threat of Rc8+ saves black
Kamargov
How does the threat of Rc8+ help after 1…Bf5 2 Ne7+ Kh8? The Ne7 covers c8. White simply plays 3. Qxd6 and wins a piece.
1 … Kh8 doesn’t save the N on d6.
1… Re8 is interesting. After 2. Qxd8 Rxd8 3. Ne7+ Kf8 4. Nc6 is tough to meet. 4…Rd7 5. Nfe5 is no good. Other rook moves hang the N.
So I think anon 1 is on target.
Well, 1…Kh8 Ne7 isn’t check and the queen hangs. But white can play 2. Qxd8 and transpose into the variation given after 1…Re8
what about …Bd7?
Banjanx
…Bd7
2. ne7+ QxN
3. RxN Rf1-d1
4. Ne5 Ra1-c1
this looks a lot better for black.
And if white fails to play N37+ then Black can immediately play Rc1
I think this is a winner.
I don’t know, maybe Kh8 and if Qd8 then Rd8 Nc7 Rb8 Nb5 Nb7 Na7 Be6. Black lost a pawn but saved a piece.
1… bf5
2.ne7+ kh8
if 3. nxf5, rac8 0-1.
3. qxq, r/any x q
4. rxn and 5. nxb is two minor pieces for rook, so white is better.
3. qxd6? rc8+
4. nxc8, qxc8+
5. kd2, and black can try the risky …qc2+ or the safer …rd8.
1..Bd7
Checks:
2. Ne7+ Qxe7 3. Qxd6 Qxd6 4. Rxd6 Rac8+ I think Black is ok
2. Nf6+ Qxf6 3. Qxd7 Rac8+ 4 Kb1 Nc4 I think Black is ok here
Captures:
2. Qxd6 Rc8+ 3 Kd2 Rc2+ 4 Ke1 Re8+ 5. Ne5 f6 I don’tknow who is better and how much but black is is attacking .
2. Qxd8 Rfxd8 3. Ne7+ Kf8 4 Ng6+ hg 5. Rxd6 I still think Black is fine here
any threat will be met by Rac8, Pinning the Queen, and at the same time threatening to capture the Queen with Check
I don’t really know about 1..Bf5 though
A little cyber-analysis at this point..and…
1…Bd7 2.Ne7+ Qxe7 3.Qxd6 Qxd6 4.Rxd6 Rac8+ 5.Kd2 *
Parity.
1…Bd7 2.Ne7+ Qxe7 3.Qxd6 Rac8+ 4.Kb1 *
Disaster for White.
1…Bd7 2.Qxd6 Rc8+ 3.Kd2
….instead of 3.Kd2….
1…Bd7 2.Qxd6 Rc8+ 3.Nc3 *
White’s doing great after that, I think.
1…Bd7 2.Qxd8 Rfxd8 3.Nf6+ gxf6 4.Rxd6 Rac8+ 5.Kd2 *
Seems like white should be doing somewhat ok ?