White to move. What is the best plan for White? How should White proceed?
Level of difficulty: 3 out of 4
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The exchange sacrifice 1.R:a6 looks good. After 1.-R:a6 2.d6 Q:e5
3.f:e5 white has three strong central pawns. E.g. 3.-Ra5 4.Rd1 with the idea 5.e6
1. Rxa6 Rxa6
2. d6 why not Qxd6?
White has nothing.
What about:
1. Qe7
if 1… R6d7
2. QxQ winning
if 1… R8d7
2. Qe8+ K-somewhere
3. Rxa6 winning a piece
if 1…Bxc5
2. Rxa7 threatening mate with no good defense
if 1…Qxc5
2. Rc1 Q-stays on white diagonal
3. Rc7 threatening mate
if 1…Qxc5
2. Rc1 Qxf5
3. Rc7 threatening mate
if 1…K-moves
2. Rxa6 winning a piece
I think Qe7 is the best move and wins.
1.Ra6 Ra6
2.d6 Dd6??
3.Ld5+
… and game over soo
so
2. need QxQ
and big plus white
I fell to 1. Qe7, too.
But Rc8 seems to be a defense…. I have no time to take a closer look now.
Jochen
PS: kerry’s idea looks intersting….
1. Rxa6 Rxa6
2. d6 Qxd6
3. Bd5+ Kf8
4. Qh8+ Ke7
5. Qxh7+ Kf6
6. Qf7++
1. Rxa6 Rxa6
2. d6 Rxd6
3. Bd5+ Kf8
4. Qh8+ Ke7
5. Qxh7+ Kd8
Then what?
1. Rxa6 Rxa6
2. d6 Rxd6
3. QxQ wins a queen..
I also like Rxa6! followed by d6. Black must trade queens, giving white 3 connected passers in the center, else Bd5+ wins for white.
Qe7 isn’t as convincing IMO.
Anon 12:27
“1. Rxa6 Rxa6
2. d6 Rxd6
3. Bd5+ Kf8
4. Qh8+ Ke7
5. Qxh7+ Kd8
Then what?”
Qf7 is still mate here.
I prefer:
5. Qg7+, which forces Kd8, and then Qf7# – Always nice to leave your opponent only one option after each move!
The only option to avoid mate is 3… QxBd5, then
4. QxQd5, and white should be able to convert Q+R vs R+R+ extra P without too much trouble…
I checked the position with Spki and the move is simple ra4!!
White has two hanging pawns and they are
blockaded. This makes them a weakness.
Therefore I think white needs to defend.
I believe Rfc1 is best since it holds the
c pawn which is presently under attack.
Blacks queen can enter at f2 now, but I see no great danger there. Then the poor
king position of black should allow white
to hold on for a draw.
i think we should be looking for a plan not a move.
Rfc1 in order for black to capture with the bishop, not the queen. then, rxa2.
Then, an exchange in the middle will probably happen and things looking pretty equal on the pawn side, it would be drawish.
Maybe white can actually win, but that’s the most I can do.