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This is from a tactics puzzle I encountered today. The given solution was 1. Qxf6 gxf6 2. Bxf6#,” but to me 1... Ne6 seems to halt white in his tracks, even if it does give up a rook.

My moves as white were clearly not optimal, as it "feels" like there should be a better way for white to bring this game to a checkmate

After 1... Ne6, how should white continue?

[FEN "3rrn1k/pp4pb/2pQ1n1p/q3B3/3P3P/1BP3N1/PP3P2/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1"]

1. Qxf6 gxf6 (1... Ne6 2. Bxe6 Rg8 3. Bxg8 Rxg8 4. Qxh6) 2. Bxf6#
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  • If black does anything other than gxf6 he is conceding the loss of a piece. After Ne6 white can retreat the queen if nothing better is around. After Bxe6 white has gained two pieces and black still cannot capture the queen.
    – Ross Millikan
    Jun 16, 2020 at 1:27

1 Answer 1

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Yes, Ne6 staves off mate, but it does not stave off the loss for long, but more importantly, it does not demonstrate the main point of the tactic, which is why they continue with the "worse" gxf6 in the solution.

Technically speaking, the computer thinks that after 1.Qxf6, that 1...Qc7 is the "best" move, in which case, black should just resign anyway after 2.Qxf8+ Rxf8 3.Bxc7.

There was an error in your analysis that lengthens the game also. 3. Bxg8 allows black to take the queen, and win back some of the material, but does not change the outcome.

P.S. This is a common phenomenon, but sometimes in reverse too. You will see site do this, which I believe is correct since you are trying to teach the main point of a tactic; but I have also seen sites use the computer moves as the main line, and thus, miss the point of the tactic from a human perspective.

  [FEN "3rrn1k/pp4pb/2pQ1n1p/q3B3/3P3P/1BP3N1/PP3P2/R3R1K1 w - - 0 1"]

  1. Qxf6 Ne6 2. Bxe6 Rg8 3. Qf7 {But you are up two pieces, and the attack continues with Nh5 next.} (3. Bxg8 $4 gxf6 4. Bxf6+ Kxg8 5. Bxd8)
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  • That's a very interesting point about the tactic being the thing I had to find rather than necessarily the best sequence of moves. I'll bear that in mind when doing these puzzles. That might go some way to explain me very low rating, or maybe I'm just not very smart! As demonstrated by my Bxg8
    – Darren H
    Mar 18, 2020 at 21:30

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