Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Thursday chess tactic
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Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Qc7, aiming to put the queen on d8.
There are many lines for Black to defend and even counterattack
1. .., Nxg5
2. Ra4, Nxh3
3. Kxh3, Qf3+
4. Kh4, Rh2#
1. .., Nxg5
2. Nf4, Nxh3
3. Nxh3, Qe4+,
4. Nf4, Qf3
1. .., Nxg5
2. Kxg5,Qxg2+,
3. Kh6, Qxh3+
4. Kxg6, Qh7+
5. Kf6,
1. .., Nxg5
2. Kxg5, Qxg2+
3. Kf6, Qxh3 and Black has the advantage
1…Qc7 ! threatens the rook and the g3 square
2 Ra8 Rd8
3 Rd8 Qd8 with a lethal threaton g5
The fact that the white king is stuck on h4 with no chance of mobility in the near future suggests the solution – target checkmate via g3. The caveat is the threatened 7th rank checkmate by white – black needs to be careful here. So, the first move is evident:
1… Qc7!!
This threatens mate via Qg3, to which there doesn’t seem to be any defense. Say:
2. Ra8+ Rd8
3. Rxd8+ Qxd8
The mate threat shifts to g5 (and perhaps even h8). Now white is out of ideas, and can resign.
1…Qc7 with threat of QxP(g3)#or Qh7# 2.Ra8+ Rd8 3.RxR QxR 4.any move QxP(g5)#
Take the g-pawn with the knight so the king can escape the coming checks, and prepare for R/Qxg2. This should start black’s own mating sequence.
1…. Qc7
threatens 2…. Qxg3# or 2…. Qh7#
2. Ra8+ Rd8
3. Rxd8+ Qxd8
4. Qa8
Else 4. Nb4 Qxg5#
4….Qxa8
5. Nf4 Kf7
6. Nh5 Qh8
7. c6 Qxh5#
The white king is already jailed and cannot move, so, if Black could give a check, it would be mate. On the other hand, White threatens to give checks on the seventh and eighth rank, and if Black doesn’t have something forced, he needs to find a safe place for his king. Thus simply winning a piece by 1. … Rxg2 doesn’t work.
My suggestion is
1. … Qc7.
This imposes the double threat of Qg3# and Qh7#. I see only one way for White to address this:
2. Ra8+ Rd8
Of course the king cannot move to the seventh rank because of Ra7, winning the queen.
3. Rxd8+ What else?
3. … Qxd8 …and now White can do delay. Black threatens Qxg5#.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,nice puzzle.
Black wins the game [ Variations exist ]
Example one
===========
1… N*g5
2.Ra8+ Kg7
3.Qa7+ Nf7
4.Qb8 R*Ng2
5.Qg8+ Kf6
6.Ra7 Qe4++ Mate
Example Two
===========
1… N*g5
2.K*Ng5 R*Ng2+
3.Kf6 e5+
4.K*e5 Qe4+
5.Kd6 Rd2+
6.Kc7 Qe7+
7.Kc6 Qd7+
8.Kb6 Rd6++ Mate
Example Three
=============
1… N*g5
2.K*Ng5 R*Ng2+
3.Kf6 e5+
4.Ke7 Rd2
5.Ra8+ Kg7
6.Ra6 Qd7++ Mate
Black wins the game.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
Fine problem!!!