Tactics: Defending Practice
Black may end up worse no matter what, but one move puts up much more resistance than the others.
What should Black play?
Hint: it's not one of the following...
The following moves all lose: ... Qe8 If you figure out why they lose you'll probably find the best defence.Spoiler: Highlight to view
... Qa5
... Nbc6
Hint 2:
White has sac'ed a piece but expects to win one back because of the double-attack on the Bd7... but which piece will Black give back?Spoiler: Highlight to view
Solution:
The game Olivier-Kenta Chiku-Ratte – Philippe Corriveau, Elite-CH POM, Montreal (2013.10.12) ended: Black resigned because White gets to play 18...Nxf8 and will be up an exchange for free. Black may have overlooked that on 17...Nec6, White doesn't have to play 18.Qxe8 which allows Black to save the Rook with 18...Rxe8, since the Qe2 is defended by the Bc4. Black's other options are: 16... Qa5 17.Rxd7 Nbc6 is terrific for White, even if he doesn't find the most incisive18.Nxf7! +-. 16... Nbc6? 17.Nxd7! Re8 leaves White lots of ways to win, including the obvious 18.Nf6+ +- and the even stronger 18.Bxf7+!, since Kxf7 loses to 19.Qc4+! +- 16... Nbd5? this is the wrong N; it allows White to pile up on the d-file: 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 (17... Qe8? 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19 Bxf7+ +-) 18.Rxd5 Re8 19. Qd2! and to save the Bd7 Black will have to give up an exchange with Rxe5 +-. Black's best is: 16... Ned5! A clever way to give back the piece: forcing White to block the d-file and undefend the Qe2. 17.Bxd5 (only move; 17.Nxd7? Qxd7 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Qe5 Rad8-+) Qe8 (17...Qe7 ? 18.Bxf7+ only move +-) 18.Bxb7 Rd8 19. Qe4! a5 20.Nxd7 Rxd7 +/- White is up a pawn, but still has lots to do to win.Spoiler: Highlight to view
16... Qe8? 17.Nxd7 1-0
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