5

This puzzle on chesstempo caught my eye. We play as Black:

[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 0 1"]

1.Rgxg5

Note: the solution is not quite important here, so no large spoilers from me :).

The main blunder here is playing 1... Bxf5. One of the comments runs:

...Black is a step away from certain death after 1...Bxf5 2.Qxf5...

They show this board:

[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 1 1"]

1.Rgxg5 Bxf5 2.Qxf5 Qd1+ 3.Rg1 Qd2 4.f7 Qf4 5.Qe6 h5 6.Rg8+ Rxg8 7.fxg8=Q+ Rxg8 8.Qxg8#

Is mate threat really a thing here? I believe the mate threat actually begins at 3... Qd2 4. f7. Here's how I would've answered:

[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 1 1"]

1.Rgxg5 Bxf5 2.Qxf5 Qd1+ 3.Rg1 Rxd5

I reckon 3... Rxd5 to force White into some exchange, as merely playing 4. xd5 would end up in a mate threat from Black:

[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 1 1"]

1.Rgxg5 Bxf5 2.Qxf5 Qd1+ 3.Rg1 Rxd5 4. cxd5 Qxd5+ 5. Rg2 Rg8

The exchange would be:

[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 1 1"]

1.Rgxg5 Bxf5 2.Qxf5 Qd1+ 3.Rg1 Rxd5 4. Rxd1 Rxd1+

So, who is wrong here? Am I failing to choose the best moves for White, or is the board in the comments actually faulty?

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  • 1
    How does black respond if white in your last diagram plays 4.f7 instead of 4.Rxd1? White is threatening mate both by means of Qf6 and f8Q, and as far as I can see it's difficult for black not to lose Q+R for white's R. – Scounged Jan 6 at 17:46
  • @Scounged 4... h5? The White rook is pinned, so the mate on the board from the comments couldn't really be carried out (well, I see no way). – Zhiltsoff Igor Jan 6 at 17:58
  • 1
    After 4...h5 white plays f8Q followed by a trade and mate on g7. – Scounged Jan 6 at 20:51
  • @hmm, yes, I can see it now, thank you. If you have time, I think you can draw up a very nice answer from your comments :). – Zhiltsoff Igor Jan 6 at 21:00
6

I Suspect that after 3... Rxd5 4. f7 is strong enough:

[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 0 1"]

1.Rgxg5 Bxf5 2. Qxf5 Qd1+ 3. Rg1 Rxd5 4. f7

The obvious threat is Qf6 mate. Starting with the variations in which black tries to cover f6 we have:

  • If 4...Rb6 then 5. f8=R#
  • If 4...Rd6 then 5. Qxe5 Rf6 6. Qxf6#

Since all variations leads to checkmate there is no way to cover f6 and black must resort to giving up the queen.

[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 0 1"]

1.Rgxg5 Bxf5 2. Qxf5 Qd1+ 3. Rg1 Rxd5 4. f7 Qxg1 5. Kxg1

Yet again Qf6 is mate and obviously black cannot move the rook from the 8:th rank because f8 mate. If 5... Rd6 then 6. Qxe5 Rf6 7. Qxf6#. This leaves us with the one last try of Rd1+ (if Kg7 immediately then cxd5):

[FEN "1r1r3k/7p/5Pb1/p2BpRpq/1pP5/1P1Q4/P5RP/7K w - - 0 1"]

1.Rgxg5 Bxf5 2. Qxf5 Qd1+ 3. Rg1 Rxd5 4. f7 Qxg1 5. Kxg1 Rd1+ 6. Kg2 Kg7 7. Qxe5+ Kxf7 8. Qxb8

It is not a mate but undoubtedly white is winning

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  • Great detailed answer! – fartgeek Jan 7 at 14:08

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