White to move. What is the best continuation for White?
1Q6/N1rk1p1r/4pP2/3pP3/3pq1p1/Pn5p/1PP4R/1K1R4 w – – 0 4
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1. Qb5 Kd8
2. Qxb3 Rxa7 ?
3. Qb8+
The best I could think of is –
1.Qf8 with mating threat Qe7 on the next move for which I couldn’t find any saving defense for black.
Qb5+ Kd8, Qxb3, rook cant take the knight because his rook will be lost after Qb8+
1.Qb5+ Kd8
2.Qb6 Qxe5
(2…Kd7 3.Qd6+ Ke8 4.Qxc7 Nd2+ 5.Rdxd2 Qe1+ 6.Ka2 Qa1+ 7.Kxa1 Rg7 8.Qe7#)
(2…Nc5 3.Qd6+ Ke8 4.Qxc7 Qxc2+ 5.Rxc2 Rg7 6.Qe7#)
3.Nc6+ Kd7
4.Nxe5+ Kc8
5.Qxb3
There are so many ways to win this, or so it seems.
One idea is:
1. Qb6 threatening Qd6#
1 … Rxa7
2. Qxa7+ Kc8
(2… Kd8 3. Qb6+ and 4. Qxb3)
3. Ka2
Now black’s N on b3 as well as the pawn on d4 are under attack.
3. … g3
4. bxa2 gxh2
5. Rc1+ Kd8
6. Qe7#
Is it 1.Nc8!
If 1….Kc6 2.Nd6 threat Qb5#
If 1….Nc5 2.Nd6 threat Qe8#
If 1….Rxc8 2.Qd6+ and Qe7#
If 1….Rc6 2.Qb7+ Rc7 3.Nb6+ Kd8
4. Qb8+ Rc8 5.Qxc8#
Pavan’s move 1. Qf8 should be answered with Rxa7, white wins only quality and the position will be unclear.
Well, it must be something with the good Q checks on d6 and e7.
But rather than moving the queen, I should try to force the black rook to move away from c7, possibly allowing Qd6 directly.
And I certainly don’t like black’s Rxa7, so:
1. Nb5!
1. … Qxe5
2. Qxc7+! Qxc7
3. Nxc7 Nc5 (avoiding cxb3 and Na6)
4. Nb5 Kc6
5. a4
is up with a rook.
1. … Rc8??
2. Qd6+ Ke8
3. Qe7#
1. … Rc6
2. Qb7+ Kd8
3. Qe7+ Kc8
4. Na7+ Kb8
5. Nxc6+
up with rook
1. … Rc5
2. Qd6+ Kc8
3. Qxc5
up with rook
1. … Rc4
2. Qd6+ Kc8
3. Qa5+ …
4. Qxc5
up with rook
3 of you have found a very simple solution that must be correct:
1. Qb5+ Kd8
2. Qxb3
up with a piece for a pawn, white wins.
I had a more complicated suggestion, Nb5, that looked very promissing to me, I hoped to gain a full rook.
But I guess I have overlooked something.
Could someone tell me how
1. Nb5
will be punished by black?
To some of the other suggestions here:
1. Qb6?
or
1. Nc8?
They are both punished with:
1. … Qxd5!
and white threats nothing, but must do something with his rook that hangs on h2.
Then black plays Nc5 and saves his knight. Then white’s f-pawn falls.
Black wins with ease.
By the way, I am looking twice at the Qb5 idea, that I first thougt to be correct when I saw it.
Is it actually that simple?
1. Qb5+ Kd8
2. Qxb3 Qxe5!! (attacking Rh2)
Where for white to put this rook now?? I’m not able to find one good field for it.
I think black has plenty compensation for the sacked knight, and may go to win this!!
Therefore, I still have not seen something better than my own
1. Nb5
But I am far from sure, and should like others to comment on it.
Dear Mr.pht,
By far Ravi’s solution looks correct.Your move 1 Nb5 may also win but may be after lot of pain.the following points may be noted.
1 Black pawns in g and h files are very tough. They can be very dangerous especially since white K is far away.
2 white K is relatively safe whereas black K is target of several mating threat in course of time.
3 cxNb3 is good for white as it opens c file for rooks provided Qs are on the board whereas it is beneficial to black as d pawn becomes passed P and may be a key in endgame.
4 Rooks are very good if they are behind passed P either yours or of enemy whereas it is a bad blockader compared to B and N.Some possibility is
1.Nb5 Qxe5
2.Re2
This tries to deflect Q from the diagonal b8-h2 unsuccessfully but saves itself from capture.
2….Qf4
Alternative is 2…Rh8 3.Qb6
3.Nxc7 h2
4.Rh1 Qxc7
5.Qg8 Qc4
6.Rf2 g3
7.cxb3 Qxb3
8.Rc2 Kd6
9.Qxh7 Qf3
10.Re1
Hereon white should be able to win.