White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Saturday morning chess tactic
About Author
White to move. How should White proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Isn’t black better? BTW, how strong was ELO?
Ff4
Things seem a bit tight for black after 1.Nd5 Rxd5 (Qxd5 2. Rf6 and mate in 2) 2. Rae1
Now 2… Re5 seems the only move. 3. Rxe5 Qxe5 and now maybe 4. Qxc8. Can’t see a way for black to defend both the pb7+Ra8+Nb8 AND the mate AND the promotion.
All I can find here is:
1. Nb5 threatening Nc7
Black has some options, but his weakness is the lack of development, and I don’t think Rf5 is a good option since it simply exchanges his developed rook for white’s undeveloped one, so I am guessing his best option is:
1. ….Nd7
2. Qd8 and white still has a strong attack. Rf5 for black still doesn’t seem like a good option, and the queen is tied to defending f6. Nb6 just allows Nc7.
Nb5 followed by Nc7 will win a piece
Nb5 is what I was thinking… For the purposes of protecting the advanced pawn & threatening a fork on the rook/ queen.
After studying the solution for a while I’m not sure it’s obvious. There’re some lines that white’s advantage isn’t so great. Take a look…
White:Nb5 looks strong but why isn’t Black:Na6 an adequate defense?
Mark
Pedro Q seems to be correct.
But there are quite a few lines to consider.