Black to move. What is the strongest continuation for Black?
Howell – Robson (World Junior 2009)
1rb2rk1/6p1/2q1p2p/2PpPp2/1nnP1P1P/1p1B3R/1B1NK1P1/R1Q5 b – – 0 27
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Robson Chess Tactic
About Author
I don’t have a lot of time for this tonight, but Nxd3 looks interesting as a way to get the bishop active at a6:
1. …..Nd3
2. Rd3 Ba6
And now black is threatening a discovered attack on the d3 rook, and the rook cannot move without leaving the possible discovered check. I am not really sure how white prevents this- losing the exchange seems inevitable. The alternative capture at move 2 doesn’t seem any better since the king would have no retreat other than Ke2 when black puts the bishop on a6.
…Na2 followed by …Nxb2
Looking at the advanced b3 pawn, I’m immediately attracted to:
1. … Na2! (gains a tempo I think)
2. Qb1 (alternative was the ugly Rxa2 bxa2)
2. … Nxb2 (needed to bring the pawn into play)
3. Qxb2 Nc1+!! (the aim of first move)
4. Kf3/Kd8 (Qxc1? b2 forks and gains rook was the point here)
4. … Nxd3 is up with bishop!
Very nice puzzle.
…Na2 followed by …Nxb2
I don’t think 1. …Na2 is a bad move, but I don’t think much of the continuation of 2. …Nb2:
1. …..Na2
2. Qb1
Agree with pht- the alternatives to Qb1 look worse, and in some cases a lot worse. Continuing:
2. …..Nb2?
3. Qb2 Nc1??
4. Rc1 and white’s advantage is decisive.
I think, after 1. …Na2, black does best to meet 2.Qb1 with the same Ba6 move I mentioned above. I think white is forced to take at c4, and black will get connected passers