White to move. How should White proceed?
7k/3R2pq/pb3N2/1p4Qp/5p2/1PP2P1P/1P4PK/4r3 w – – 0 1
Krechmer – Aizenah 1951, presented by Andreas
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Tuesday chess tactic
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i think Qc5 is winning, threatening Qf8+ and avoiding Bg1+ with perpetual check.
1… Bc5:
2.Rd8+ +-
1… Re8
2.Qb6: +-
Looking good
I agree, looks nice.
What about 1.h4 ?
Or did I oversee something ?
To anon 9:06:00 AM
You oversaw the following forced line :
1.h4?? Rh1+!
2.Kxh1 Qb1+
3.Rd1 Qxd1+
4.Kh2 Qg1+
5.Kh3 Qh1#
1. h4 Rh1+
2. Kxh1 Qb1+ and mate soon after.
Dxf4 laissant g3 pour sortir le roi mais surtout menaçant mate en
b8
The interference move 1. Qc5! stops every black threat!
Here are my thoughts:
1.Qc5 definitely, then 1…Re8 seems best try for Black.
I’m not sure about the immediate 2.Qxb6 because 2…Qg6 with the idea 3…Qg3+ 4.Kh1 Re1+ seems a decent way for Black to stay in the game, due to the hanging Nf6.
My recommendation is 2.Rxg7 instead, with the idea first of preventing …Qg6, second of enabling other mate ideas with Rh7 if Black commits his queen too far away.
There is also a direct tactical justification: 2.Rxg7 Qxg7? 3.Qxh5+ and mates; or 2…Kxg7 3.Nxe8+ K-moves and then White can either take on b6 or save his knight, e.g. 3…Kf7 4.Nd6+ and only then 5.Qxb6.