Tactics Time Chess Newsletter: Calendar Question

Published: Thu, 03/19/15

Newsletter Issue Calendar Question

Tactics Time

Calendar Question

Let all things be done decently and in order. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:40, King James Bible


T

his position is a variation from the game Jenshiang Hong (1454) vs Winston Huang (1369), Metrowest Chess Club, Halloween Swiss, Round 2, October 2005.

In the position on the right it is Black to move.

Answer below.

I got an interesting question about this position, which was March 12, on my Tactics Time 2015 Daily calendar. This is also position #671 in Tactics Time 2: 1001 Real Chess Tactics From Real Chess Games (Tactics Time Chess Tactics Books)

Gregory writes:

I have your chess calendar. I'm wondering about another option for 2/12.

You list 31 ... Rxc1 and then 32. Rxc1

I'm thinking that this also accomplishes the same thing:

31 ... Nf3 +

There's a mating threat against white with Q to g2 to follow.

This moves the black queen out of the way for the eventual threat on c7 by the rook -- skewers the king when it's forced to move onto the 7th file.

The knight will still be able to take the queen from the fork because of the mating threat. I don't see any way for white to avoid it.

Right?

TB:

see my response below, and try to figure out for yourself if Gregory is right before looking :)

Here is the complete game:

You can play through this game here: http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2013/7/28/Game38159217.html

Answer:

My response:

Hey Gregory,

Thanks for the email!

Great question!

Actually playing 31...Nf3+ first doesn't work.

The problem is that White just moves the king, and now Black has two pieces that are hanging (the knight and the rook).

Black does not have time to capture the queen. For example 32.Kf2 Nxh4 33.Rxc8+ (Check!)

Now Black has to get out of check, and this walks right into a skewer! D'oh!!

33...Ke7 34. Rc7+ Kf8 35.Rxg7 Kxg7

Now black is actually down a rook and pawn for knight, and has a losing endgame.

This is kind of a rare case, where playing the most "forcing move" (a check) is not the right answer.

Hope that helps!

Cheers,

Tim

Here is the solution given in the book (the calendar version was a little shorter, due to space considerations)

31...Rxc1 trades off the hanging rook first. 32.Rxc1 Nf3+ forks the white king and queen (the g2-pawn is pinned), 33.Kf2 Nxh4.

Extra Credit: White can get the queen back with 34.Rc8+ Kf7 35.Rc7+, which skewers the king and queen. After 35...Kg8 36.Rxg7+ Kxg7 Black is still up a knight.

Happy Tactics!

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