White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Saturday chess tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Rf8 may be. It is deficult to find clear win after that
Rxf8 wins. Taking the rook loses to
1.Rxf8 Kxf8
2.Qh6+ Kg8
3.Qxg6+ Kh8
The combo of the rook attacking the f8 bishop and the queen eyeing h6 makes Rxf8 seem like an interesting idea to look at:
1. Rf8 Kf8 (alternatives later)
2. Qh6 Kg8
I don’t think Ke8 is going to be better, though I might be overlooking something in this convoluted line than can save black a bit longer: [2. …Ke8 3.Qh8 Kd7 4.Bb5 Ke6 (or lose R or Q or face Qc8#) 5.Qc8 Kd5 (or 5. …Nd7 6.Bd7 Rd7 7.Rc6+-) 6.Rc5 Ke4 7.Bd3 Kd3 8.Qh3 with mate to follow]. Continuing:
3. Qg6 Kh8 (Kf8 4.Qf7#)
4. Bf7 Qb8 (Rd8 5.Qh6 still)
5. Qh6 Nh7
6. Bg6 Qg8
The point behind Qb8 is to play this move. Black is lost, but might do better to just play 6. …Rg6 immediately here. Continuing:
7. Rc8 Rg6 (or get mated)
8. Rg8 Rg8
9. Qa6 is a clear win white.
1Rxf8 Kxf8
2Qh6+ Ke8
(2…. Kg8 3Qxg6+)
3Qh8+ Kd7
4Bb5+ Ke6
(4…. Qxb5 or 4… axb5 5Qe8#)
5Qc8+ Kd5
(5…. Nd7 6Bxd7 Rxd7 7Rc6+ wins.)
6Rc5+ Ke4
(6…. Kxd5 7Rc5+ wins Q)
7Bd3+ Kxd3
8Qh3+ Kd2
(8… Kxd4 9Qe3#)
8Qe3+ Kd1
9Rc1#
I had discarded 2… Kg8 altogether but I am surprised so much play is left.
1Rf8 Kxf8
2Qh6+ Kg8
3Qxg6+ Kh8
4Bxf7 Qb8
5Qh6+ Nh7
6Bg6 Qg8
but now I prefer slow
7h5 Rd8 to avoid 8Rc8
8Rc7 and black’s position looks hopeless.