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White to Play

Pete Tamburro on

Published in Chess Puzzles

A nice Monday problem for you. White is to play. What is his best move here?


Solution:

OK, if you picked 1.Qh6 to threaten a seemingly unstoppable mate on g7, it is you who gets mated! 1.Qh6 Qxf1+ 2.Kxf1 Bc4+ 3.Rd3 Bxd3+ 4.Kg1 Re1# Oops! That actually happened to a grandmaster: Rabinovich-Gregoriev, 1915. The best move is 1.Rg5 Qa6 2.Rh5 Rad8 [The idea being 2...gxh5 3.Qg5+ Kf8 4.Qg7#]3.f3 [A dazzling defeat would come from 3.Rxh7 Qxf1+ 4.Kxf1 Rd1+ (4...Bc4+ 5.Qxc4 Rd1#) 5.Ke2 Bg4#]3...Bb3 4.Rxh7 Qxf6 5.Qxf6 Kxh7 6.Qf4 Rd7 7.Qb4 Bd5 8.Rd1 Rd6 9.Qc5 Red8 10.Qxc7 and White has excellent winning chances, although it’s a tough fight.

 


Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

 

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