Originally posted by heinzkatAgreed, that is a decent idea. It's worth looking at it a bit closer...
[hidden]1. Bf6, sit back and relax while letting Black panic and calculate how not to get checkmated[/hidden]
So White's idea is Bf6... Qg5... Qh6... Qg7+ mate. Either this idea will work or it won't. If it works, then it's game over so we don't have to worry too much about that possibility. And if it were not to work, what can Black do to stop it? So this latter question should dominate our thinking. Some call it "falsification".
One idea is to try to stop the White queen getting to h6 via Black playing h5 and then Kh7. But here the White bishop on d3 plays a role - pinning the g6 pawn. Bf6, h5, Qg5, Kh7, Qxh5+ and mate to follow. Ok, let's forget that idea for Black.
Another factor to be aware of in White's idea is that when the queen moves from g5 to h6, the bishop on f6 is left undefended. This is a drawback of Qh6, albeit if White mates next move it will be a drawback worth suffering!. 🙂 Can Black make use of this factor? i.e. can Black attack the bishop on f6 before the queen gets to g7?
Originally posted by VarenkaHow about black doesn't play h5 but h6?
[fen]r2q1rk1/p3np1p/Ppn1p1p1/3p2B1/2P3Q1/3B3P/2P2PP1/R3R1K1[/fen]
White to play.
Your assessment? How should the game continue?
As in 1. Bf6 h6 2. Qh4 Kh7 3. Bg5 f6?
Didn't look too close, though.
Edit: this looks rather nasty, too. Possible continuation 4. Qxh6+ Kg8 5. Rxe6, that kind of stuff.
The (subtle) manoeuvre Bf6 Qg5-h6-g7 doesn't seem to work. The problem being that black is allowed to play some moves too!
he can even wait that Qh6 is played to attack f6 : Nf5! does the trick (nice multi purpose move, defending g7 and attacking h6 and f6)
It looks stronger to open the e-file : cxd5 exd5 (Qxd5 Bxe7 Nxe7 Be4 wins the exchange) Qh4 and the pin looks deadly (no Nf5 trick here)
Originally posted by shorbockBut White has Bxf5 after Nf5
The (subtle) manoeuvre Bf6 Qg5-h6-g7 doesn't seem to work. The problem being that black is allowed to play some moves too!
he can even wait that Qh6 is played to attack f6 : Nf5! does the trick (nice multi purpose move, defending g7 and attacking h6 and f6)
It looks stronger to open the e-file : cxd5 exd5 (Qxd5 Bxe7 Nxe7 Be4 wins the exchange) Qh4 and the pin looks deadly (no Nf5 trick here)
Originally posted by shorbockHo ho where does that Queen come from? A deus ex machina? 🙂
i play Nf5 only when you queen goes to h6, so your f6 bishop is not defended.
1.Bf6 ... 2.Qg5 ... 3.Qh6 Nf5 4.Bxf5 Qxf6 at least = (depends on the 2 moves played by black in the meantime)
Originally posted by davanielDea ex machina, OK I see now - the Queen would be exposed to capture but the Q on h6 is unprotected as well. The mate is not going to happen! What does Varenka want us to see? A sacrificial combination as above?
I would have to say a dea ex d8?
For the Bf6 line, shorbock's Nf5 idea looks good. Also, note that Qd6 followed by e5 attacks the bishop on f6 and hinders White's mating plan. But overall, Bf6 stills looks like a decent line.
The Bxg6!? line from heinzkat is a really interesting line that I hadn't considered in my initial analysis. I think Black can hold it with accurate play.
Ok, my opponent played cxd5 (as suggested by shorbock) and I felt under quite a bit of pressure due to the pin on e7 and weak kingside. So, cxd5, exd5, Rxe7?! (Qh4 is much better), Nxe7, Re1.
This was my main point for posting. I resigned here due to seeing f6, Qe6+, Rf7, Bxf6. What did I miss? 🙁
Originally posted by shorbockIntresting position.Great find that Qc8,shorbock!
yes at first sight it looks dead...but Qc8! at the end of your line seems to do the trick, breaking the pins (on the knight and rook) and forces a winning pin for black !
so f6 Qe6+ Rf7 Bxf6 Qc8 Bxe7 Qxe6 Rxe6 Re8 and the bishop falls
I wish to try some analyses too.Picking up from shorbock's 5....,Qc8!
1. cxd5 exd5 2. Rxe7 Nxe7 3. Re1 f6 4. Qe6+ Rf7 5. Bxf6 Qc8! 6. Qd6 To avoid trading down which has White end up an exchange down(see shorbock's line). Rxf6 (I think this is best) 7. Qxf6 Nc6 And things look equal to me.
Why I think 6....,Rxf6 is best:
6... Nc6 7. Qxd5 Na5 (to prevent Bc4) 8. Re7 Qf8 9.Rxf7 Qxf7 10.Qxa8+ Qf8 11. Qxf8+ Kxf8 1-0
6... Nf5 7. Qxd5 How can Black prevent Bc4....
What do you guys think? 🙂