White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Russian chess tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
1.Qxf6!!
Now black cannot defend both the threats – Qh8# or Ng7+.
1…Rxf6
2.Ng7#
or 1…Rg8 (to defend Qh8 thereat)
2.Qe7#
1. Qxf6 [threatening Qh8# or Qe7#] 1… Rxf6 2. Ng7#
1.Ng7 Rg7
2.Qf6 Black has to give up material to defend e7
1.Ng7 looks winning since it allows white to play 2.Qf6 with what looks like a queen winning mate threat:
1. Ng7 Rg7 (only move)
2. Qf6
Threatens 3.Qe7#. I don’t see a way to prevent the mate without giving up the queen for the bishop since Qd7 just loses the queen with no compensation whatsoever since the rook at g7 is still hanging, and Bd8 is met by Rd8 followed by mate, and Bd6 accomplishes nothing after 3.Rd6 and white will reinitiate the mate threat with Rd8. Continuing:
2. …..Qc5
3. bc5 Rg6
Here, Rg8 doesn’t look measurably better to me, but you be the judge: [3. …Rg8 4.Re6 fe6 5.Qe6 Kf8 6.Rd7 should mate soon]. Continuing:
4. Re6 fe6 (Kf8 5.Qe7 no better)
5. Qh8 Ke7 (Kf7 6.Rd7#)
6. Qh7 and there may be a mate in here somewhere, but no real need to go further- black is clearly toast.
I immediately saw Qxf6
1. Ng7+ RxN (forced)
2. Qxf6 with threat of Qe7#
2. … (a) QxB
3. bxc so White trades B and N for Q and p
2. … (b) Qd7
3. RxQ KxR
4. QxR White trades R and N for Q and R
Should be a win for white either way.
Mark
1. Qf6, black has no defense
Well, that is true if Rxf6 doesn’t count as a defense.
1. Ng7+ Rxg7
2. Qxf6 Bd8
3. Rxd8+ Rxd8
4. Qe7#
Not too shabby. Deflect the Black rook in order to set up the mate on
e7.
The problem with 1. Qxf6?? is that Black can keep the game going for a while with 1. … Qxc5+
Yancey, how can Rxf6 count as a defense when it leads to mate on the move (Ng7#)?
TimLovesTiffanie
1. ng7 rxg7
2 qxf6
Yep, Tim, you are correct. Lucymarie has the correct defense to 1.Qf6.
I am late entry into the puzzle. I did not even dream of Qxf6+. I was thinking of Rd6 which does not seem covincing except that it can not be taken immediately.after reading the 8 comments I am inclined to play 1Ng7+ Rxg7
2 Qxf6.Now nobody will mind 2…. Qxc5+.
1. Qxf6 loses to 1. .. Qxc5+ then after 2. bxc5 Rxf6 and black is a piece up.
The best move is 1. Ng7+ Rxg7 2. Qxf6 and white wins
What about 1. Ng7, Rxg7 and 2. Qxf6
1.Ng7 Rg7
2.Qf6
Not 1. Qf6
1. … Qc5+
2. bxc5 Rf6
This leaves black better off. Therefore:
1. Ng7+ Rg7
2. Qf6
Now black can prevent Qe7++ only by sacrificing the Queen.
1 Ng7+ wins
1 Ng7+ R:g7; 2 Q:f6
Nd6 and white seizes the initiative
No defense after:
1.Ng7+ Rxg7 2.Qxf6
Oops…I completely overlooked 1…Qxc5 the best defense from black.
The following line might hold for white –
1.Ng7+ Rxg7 (only move)
2.Qxf6
Now white is threatening 3.Qe7# to defend which black must either guard the e7 square with an extra piece or capture white’s bishop or queen. Or white can even simply capture the rook on g7. Continuing
2…Bd6 (best defense for black)
3.Qxg7 or white can even play 3.Bxc6 with a decisive advantage and initiative.
Qxf6 is the right idea, wrong move order. Try switching the moves around.
Hi Susan Polgar,
As usual brainy minds discussed the solutions to this puzzle,needs no further addition from my side.
By
Venky[ India – Chennai ]