Black to Play

Pete Tamburro on May 18, 2012

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Black (O.Duras in 1900 vs. M. Vitacek) plays a combination of great imagination here to win the game. A nice Friday challenge for you!

Solution:

This is an example of what we were discussing last time out. This time, the theme is looking for all checks, captures and forced moves, as we have mentioned many times before. It cannot be emphasized enough. There are myriad chess positions, but a relatively small number of recurring themes. Here, either the knight check or the queen check can be played first. It’s just a transposition of moves. Here’s how Duras played it: 1...Qe3+ 2.Bd2 [2.Rd2 Rf1#] 2...Qxd2+ [2...Nb3+ 3.cxb3 Qxd2+ 4.Rxd2 Rf1+ 5.Kc2 (5.Rd1 Bxb2#) 5...Bb1#] 3.Rxd2 Rf1+ 4.Rd1 Nb3+ 5.cxb3 Bxb2# What a picturesque and rare cooperation among two rooks and two bishops at the same time!

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.