Topalov – Carlsen
World Rapid Championship 2012
Final round
White to move. How should white proceed?
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Topalov – Carlsen
World Rapid Championship 2012
Final round
White to move. How should white proceed?
Rg5!!!
Rg5!!!
Hard to believe Topalov got the move order wrong.
1. Rg5+ Kf8
2. Qh5
1-0
Instead, Topalov played 1. Qh5 when black had … Re6
Rg5+ Kf8
Qxh5 Ne3
Rxe3 Qe5
Rxe5 f6
Qh6+ Kf7
Qg7++
it took me a few minutes to solve.. i noticed after Qxh5 its over.. black has no defense..
Rg5
It’s a shame that Topa didn’t even find it. Otherwise it would be a win
Qg3
I have not seen the game yet, but it is hard to believe that even with all the stress associated with the last round of the Rapids, and perhaps in time trouble, that Topalov would ever miss the simple mate that even I, Lenya, see right away beginning with
1. Rg5+ Kf8 2. Qxh5
There is not much Black can do from here to stave off mate for very long. Even throwing pieces away doesn’t postpone mate for long.
With 3. Qh8# staring him in the face, Black could try tilting the board [grin].
2. .. Ne3 3. Qh8+ Ke7 4. Rxe3+ Qe5 (4. .. Kd6 5. Qf6#) 5. Qxe5+ Kf8 6. Qh8#
2. .. Ne7 3. Qh8+ Ng8 4. Qxg8#
2. .. f6 3. Qh8+ Kf7 4. Qg7#
2. .. f5 3. Qh8+ Kf7 4. Qg7#
2. .. Qe5 [has the merit (?!) of preventing 3. Qh8.] 3. Qh6+ Ke8 (3. .. Ke7 4. Rexe5#) 4. Rg8+ Ke7 5. Rxe5#
2. .. Qh2+ [This move has the merit (???!) that it is the only one in this position that prevents White from delivering check.] 3. Kxh2 Ne3 4. Qh6+ Ke8 (4. .. Ke7 5. Rxe3#) 5. Rg8+ Ke7 6. Rxe3#
So, I heard that the game was a draw?! Which part of all this didn’t Topalov see?
Grind-master Lenya Gristmilli
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1. Rg5+ Kf8 (else Qh5#)
2. Qh5 f6 or f5 (else Qh8#)
3. Qh8+ Kf7
4. Qg7#
Black can delay one move by
2. …. Qe5
3. R1e5
Rg5 and Qh5.
1.Rg5+ Kf8
(1…Kh6 2.Qxh5#)
(1…Kh8 2.Qxh5#)
(1…Kh7 2.Qxh5#)
2.Qxh5 Qh2+
(2…Nf6 3.Qh8+ Ng8 4.Qxg8#)
(2…f6 3.Qh8+ Kf7 4.Rg7#)
3.Kxh2 Ne3 4.Rxe3 f5 5.Rxf5+
1. Rg5+, Kf8
2. Qxh5, f6
3. Qh8+, Kf7
4. Qg7+
There can be an optional distraction of black queen sacrificing itself by giving a check, but it only delays the inevitable.
1. Qxh5 seems attractive but can be countered by f6 to complicate play.
1)Rg5 Kf8 2)Qxh5 and black will be mated soon.
1. Rg5+ Kf8 (1. … Khx 2. Qxh5#) 2. Qxh5 f6/5 (2. … any other move 3. Qh8#) 3. Qh8+ Kf7 4. Rg7#
Poor Vesselin suffered chess blindness, overlooked the move even I had seen and moved 1. Qxh5, giving away the victory.
/gb