Today's chess puzzle is from the game Agadzhanyan - Faibisovich, USSR 1977.
How did Black force a quick checkmate from this position?
Answers to roger AT 21thoughts DOT com
(This position features in Kotov's book "Train Like a Grandmaster
")
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Chess Tales by Roger Coathup: A collection of online articles about chess and chess players.
6 comments:
Hello roger.
Black could play Rf2.
Now if white accepts the sac with Q takes f2 then Qh2 is mate.
If white plays Rook takes f2 then 2.Qh2+ Kf1
3.Qh1 is mate cuz the bishop on g2 is pinned.
Now, After Rf2, if white plays Ng4, defending the h2 square, then Rook takes g2 is mate.
Hi Prashant,
there is a hole in your analysis:
1 ... Rf2; 2 Rxf2 Qh2+; 3 Kf1 Qh1 is not mate...
the king has moved off the g-file, so the bishop on g2 isn't pinned anymore and White has
4 Bxh1
You need to find a different solution.
Best of luck, Roger
Oops sorry about the Goof-up.
Would it happen with a double rook sacrifice? This is what i thought...
1...Rxg2+
2.Nxg2 Rxf1+
3.Qxf1 (or Nxf1) Qh2+
3.Kf2 Bg3 mate
If white plays 2.Kxg2 then it goes
2...Rf2+ Qxf2
3.Qh2 mate.
If white plays 3.Kxf1
then 3...Qh1+
4.Kf2 Bg3 mate.
Black's Knight is well placed on d4 and controls key squares f3 and e2.Its a great puzzle.
Even if i am wrong, do let me know and i will try again.
Hi Prashant,
as you noted in your email... there is also a flaw in this 'solution'.
Best regards,
Roger
Alas, there is a hole in Faisibovich's solution too. After staring at the position for three days I was confident enough that Black couldn't force checkmate that I looked up the game. I'd found the line actually played, as it turns out, but I'd also found an improvement for White on his third move that left him an exchange down compared to the initial position, but not getting mated. Fritz has confirmed that there is nothing more convincing after Black's key first move.
My first thought was also Rf2, but Rxf2 ruins everything.
Chris,
well spotted!
Apologies to Prashant, Chris and everybody else... the mate is not forced and there are several ways for Black to force a huge advantage!
I should have checked thoroughly instead of taking Kotov by his word. See my next post about aesthetic vs. practical as well.
I'll do better next time,
Roger
p.s. for those who don't know... Faibisovich's line started ... Qh2+
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