Games

/

Entertainment

White to Play

Pete Tamburro on

Published in Chess Puzzles

This position, won by Arencibia in Cuba in 2006, will require some thought, but at the same time the first, and winning move, just follows one of the basic rules of thumb of chess.


Solution:

That rule of thumb is see which of your pieces aren’t doing anything and get them into the game. Look at the bishop and rook on the queenside to answer that question. Areccibia played 1.Bh6!and Black resigned one move later. Here’s what both players saw:

1.Bh6 Kh8 1...Rfd8 2.Nf6+ gxf6 (2...Kh8 3.Qxh7#; 2...Kf8 3.Nxh7+ Ke8 4.Bxg7 Qe6 5.Nf6+ Ke7 6.Qg5 Rd4 7.h4! Rad8 8.Rxd4 Rxd4 9.h5) 3.Qg4+ Kh8 4.Qg7#; 1...gxh6 2.Nf6+ Kg7 3.Nh5+ Kh8 4.Qf6+ Kg8 5.Qg7#] 2.Rac1 [2.Rdc1 works, too. 2...Qb3 3.Bxg7+ Kxg7 4.Qg5+ Kh8 5.Qf6+ Kg8 6.Rd2 Rae8 7.Rc3 With mate or loss of queen to follow. It demonstrates so well how to attack a kingside castled position that has no defenders. You get all your pieces into the action and create weaknesses in your opponent's castled position. Play through all the variations as there are several great lessons here. My favorite is the h4 move as it adds the dimension of an unstoppable passed pawn suddenly appearing.

 


Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.

 

 

Comics

Red and Rover Boondocks Dinette Set Carpe Diem Herb and Jamaal Dog Eat Doug