Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Quickie chess tactic
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Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1…Nc3 attacks the only defender of the white queen also threatening check
Awfully simple!
1…. Nc3
whatever white Q does, trying to exchange or go to safety,white N is lost.
1. … Nc3! wins a knight. 2. Qxf6 (2. Nxc3 Qxf4) Nxe2+ 3. Kh1 gxf6 0-1
Took me about 15 seconds to figure out that Nc3 must win a piece. It opens a double attack on the knight at e2, which will be captured by black’s knight with check.
looks like Nc3 wins a piece for Black
aargh, that took me way too long. In a real game, I probably would’ve missed this when you need to see it, which is a move or two ahead when deciding whether to play for this position. Besides looking at wrong ideas like the attack on f2, I started methodically looking at Knight moves that could wind up gaining time with check. I realized that much at least, but I looked at clumsy maneuvers like …Ng5/Nh3+ first, which obviously get nowhere.
1. … Nc3 Perhaps because any Knight move uncovers the Rook’s attack on the White Knight, it’s possible to be deceived that the Remove the Guard theme is adequately explored by other Knight moves. The deflection of the White Knight and its protection of the Queen is a key theme – the White Knight can’t give up protection of the Queen.
2. Qxf6 …. His Knight is attacked twice and can only be defended once on a Queen move, not that there’s anywhere the Queen can go to do that. So, standard procedure in a Remove the Guard situation — try to exchange the piece whose support is undermined.
2. … Nxe2+ Priority of check. The combination is also possible because Black’s Queen is protected and a recapture can be put off to next move. Black wins the Knight.
It’s also handy that on the desperate alternative 2. Qxe5 Qxe5, 3. Nxc3 the Black Queen can recapture the Knight so White can’t get at least R+N for his Queen.
– Craigaroo
I think after
1. … Nd2
the white knight falls. If
2. Qxf6 gxf6
3. Re1 R8e8
4. Rd1 Rxe2
5. Rxe2 Rxe2 (if 5. Rxd2 Rxe1#).
I don’t see a way white can hold on to its knight.