Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
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Black to move. How should black proceed?
Source: ChessToday.net
Is there someplace I can go to get answers to these?
1.Re1 followed by 2.Nd2+ and 3.Nxf3
Well, I see two ideas that win material here. I will outline the one I think is best:
1. …..Re1!
At a superficial level, this is a pseudosacrifice. The idea is that if white takes the rook, then black can get the material back with Nd2+ forking the king and the unprotected rook at f3. It is at this level that the move catches my attention, however, white has a knight en prise and this changes things in black’s favor since the sequence allows him to get his knight out of danger by capturing the rook at f3, and with a tempo by attacking the white rook who will then be on e1:
2. Re1 Nd2
3. Kc1 Nf3
4. Re3 Nh2!
And black must lose at least a piece.
The other way I see to win this for black is to play 1. …Ne3:
1. …..Ne3
2. Re1? Ned5
3. Rc1 and black still loses a piece. The reason I don’t like this line is that I can’t quite evaluate what happens if white plays a move like Rc1 at move 2:
2. Rc1 Rd4
3. g5 and black has won a good pawn with good initiative to boot. Probably winning.
Re1! Rxe1
Nd2+ Ka1
Nxf3 and White’s rook ang knight are hanging.
Re1! Bxc4
Rxd1+ Kc2
Rxd4 and White’s bishop and knight are hanging.
Re1! Kc2
Rxd1 Kxd1
Rxd4+ Kc2
Kxh6 and Black wins a piece.
She was nice enough to state that there was an exceptional opportunity for black; so,if you spend some time analyzing it yourself, you will in all likelihood see the move.
OR
Plug them into either Houdini Pro 4 or Chess King Pro 4 and set it to analyze.
1… Re1 2. Rxe1 Nd2+ 3. Kc1 Nxf3
Like the puzzle. Anywhere to get a good answer?
With 2 black and 1 white knight hanging, I am attracted to:
1. … Ne2
Protecting 2 knights in one move while Nh6 still hangs. How can white protect his knight?
To sack it for 2 pawns with Nxf5 is probably not a good option.
To play g5 is an option but there is still no way out on g4 and the knight is simply stuck on h6 for a long time.
There is clearly no help in Rh3? Rh8.
Best looking is perhaps to attack the pinned Ne2 trying to provoke Kxh6 for one of black’s knights (which would help white). But how?
Out of question is of course Re1? Nc3+ followed by Rxe1.
I try for white:
2. Rf2 Ne3!?
Looks good.
Prevents 3. … Bxe2? 4. Nxd1 Bxd1 Kxh6 and black is up with quality.
It also lifts the pin on the other knight so it can seek it’s freedom via g3 and e4.
While this knight has the option to exchange itself with bishop on f1.
White knight is still hanging and white will soon be forced to do some unpleasant move to save it, I think.
Trying to tell shorter (or clearer) what I meant to say with my first post:
1. … Ne3
And black now has nothing from Bxe2 Rxe2 since he has a knight on h6 that he can’t get out from there (unless he sacks it for 2 pawns).
Black’s simple plan here is to NOT take the Nh6 unless a can do so and be up with a piece. Otherwise he will simply let it be stuck on h6.
So Nh6 is a constant headache for white. He must try to trade it off for one of the black knights.
But the black knights are “greased” and will slip out of this grip without being taken:
2. Rf2 Ne3
It’s complicated but I think this works.
I can’t remember more than two or three puzzles ever posted here (and I have been a reader for six years) that didn’t contain the correct solution from one or more of the commenters. Just be patient and wait for Susan to release them.
Three pieces en prise – two for Black, one for White. Possible knight forks. I’m drawn to the idea of Re1 as the best way of combining these motifs, including the one that the White Knight is hanging. But I’m not at all sure if I may be missing something.
There’s an obvious threat after 1…. Re1 and it’s 2…. RxR but there’s also the obvious response of White playing RxR first. However that allows one of the Knight forks to regain the Rook.
1. … Re1
2. Rxe1 Nd2+
3. Kc1 Nxf3 Now two White pieces are attacked but no Black ones
4. Re3 …. White tries to remove one piece from attack while simultaneously attacking a Black piece. Now I’m unsure what’s best for Black but even 4… Kxh6, 5. Rxf3 Rxd4 leaves Black a pawn up. But perhaps Black has much better than this, beginning even with the first move.
After 1… Re1, of course, there’s the possibility of White not making the obvious capture RxR and I may have missed a resource for White but I considered a few possibilities which favor Black
Variations where White doesn’t take the Rook:
[A]
2.Kc1 …. simply protecting the Rook while getting the King out of at least one potential fork
…. Rxd1
3. Kxd1 Rxd4+ Black protects both Knights along the 4th rank while White’s knight is still hanging.
[B]
2. Rxf4 Rxd1+
3. Kc2 Rxf1
4. Rxf1 Ne3+ a different Knight fork!
[C]
2. Bxc4 Rxd1+
3. Kc2 R(1)xd4 Black already has won the exchange and now two White pieces are still en prise while Black’s knight is protected
– Craigaroo
….Re1! the rest are easy.