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White to Play

Pete Tamburro on

Published in Chess Puzzles

This position and its solution is a real lesson in the goals of attacking play. Not all attacks end in mate. There are mates in this position, but there are also lines that show how you can convert an attacking position into a winning endgame. Here is a big hint. Following the old look at all checks and captures advice, you should be looking at 1.hxg5 to open the position. Does Black then have a move that might embarrass your queen? Or does it really help you? Things to think about.


Solution:

1.hxg5 Rh7 [1...fxg5 2.Rh3 Kf7 3.f6 Rg8 4.Qh7+ Kf8 5.Rhf3 e5 6.Qxa7; 1...Rxg5 2.Rxg5+ fxg5 3.f6 e6 4.Qg6+ Kf8 5.f7 Rxf7 6.Rxe6 Qb7 7.bxc5 dxc5 8.Qh6+ Rg7 9.Qh8+ Rg8 10.Qf6+ Qf7 11.Qd8+ Kg7 12.Qxg5+ Kf8 13.Qxc5+ Kg7 14.Qg5+ Kf8 15.Qh6+ Qg7 16.Qf4+ Qf7 17.Rf6] 2.gxf6+ Kh8 [2...Kf7 3.Qxh7+ Kf8 4.Qg7+ Ke8 5.Rxe7+ Kd8 6.Qf8#] 3.Qxh7+ Kxh7 4.Rg7+ Kh6 5.Rh3# The main line, the mating line, is given because it shows the value of the two cooperating rooks. The variations show how White converts to a winning endgame by using useful checks to pick up material. An excellent lesson in the use of heavy pieces.

 

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.


 

 

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