2r1r2k/4P1p1/4R2p/1p2Q3/8/3p3P/p2q2PK/5R2 w – – 0 1
White to move. How should white proceed?
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2r1r2k/4P1p1/4R2p/1p2Q3/8/3p3P/p2q2PK/5R2 w – – 0 1
White to move. How should white proceed?
White has a chance to mate.?
Clearly, White’s main threat is to play Rf8+, queening the e-pawn in the long run, however, playing it right now would lead to nothing:
1. Rf8+ Rxf8
2. exf8=Q+ Rxf8
and Black is safe. So it seems better to spot Black’s second weakness, the king’s position:
1. Rg6! Rg8
1. … Qc3 to x-ray-protect square g7
2. Rf8+ Rxf8 (Kh7 3.Rxg7#)
3. exf8=Q+ Rxf8
4. Qxc3 +-
2. Rxg7 Rxg7 What else?
3. Rf8+ Kh7
4. Qe4+ Rg6
5. Rf7+ Kh8
6. Qxg6 and mate is unavoidable
Rxh6+ Kg8 Qe6+#
Let’s try 1.Rc6. If the rook is taken Rf8 will win. If 1…Rb8 then Qxb8 will win. So we are left with Ra8 when Ra6 repeats the initial theme. But when the rook moves away then Rxa2 will deflect the queen after which Rxh6 ch will win. So Qg5 must be played. White is now OK but not obviously winning.
I think I have to start with:
1. Rg6! Rg8
Before following with
2. Rf8!
It took me too long to realize how strong this move actually is. Rg8 is now pinned and the immediate threat is Qxg7# already next. Only try for black now seems to be:
2. … a1=Q (Qc3 Rxh6#)
3. Rxg8+ (not Qxa1 Qc3) Rxg8 (Kh7 R6xg7#)
4. Qxa1
1 – 0
Here may be more variations to look at after:
1. Rg6 a1=Q(!)
Not Qc3?? Rxh6+ Kg8 Qe6#, that’s important here.
2. Qxa1 Rg8 (Qc3 Qxc3! Rxc3 Rf8+ Kh7 Rxe8 must also win)
3. Rf8! Qc3 (Rc3 Rxg8+ and e8=Q)
4. Rxg8+ Kxg8
5. e8=Q+ Rxe8
6. Qxc3
A lot of lines, all seem winning for white, but need to be accurately played…
I remember this puzzle from last Summer, and I still don’t see a forced mate, but white can win with a couple of moves here.
White has many options including Rh6+ but Black Queen guards Qh6.
So it has to be Rf4! with the immediate threat of Rh6+ on the next move followed by Kg8 and Qe6++
So Black must play Kh7. However, Rh6+ check again. If King goes to g8, same solution as before. So (a) K takes on h6, but then Rh4+ followed by Kg6 and Qf6++. (b) g6 pawn takes Rh6, but then Rf7+ followed by mate on the 8th rank
Oh, I had put a Rook on d2 instead of Queen, by mistake 😛 😛
To Anand Gautam:
The line you give is a nice and important threat if black moves his queen, e.g. after Qc3?
As it is, Rxh6+? fails to Qxh6.
Then you might think that Rf4 could be an interesting idea to look at. But certainly not:
1. Rf4? Qxf4!
Black wins.
1.R(6)-f6 wins also.
I thought of drawing away the queen, by Rd1, The queen has to move away from guarding the h6 pawn, then Rxh6 and further moves should win.
I thought of drawing the Queen away from guarding the h6 pawn, Rd1, then Rxh6 and further moves work.