Tactics: who's QuaRRy now?
Positions with QRR vs QRR are among the most challenging to play as there is enough firepower on the board for deadly attacks, but both players have to consider all the Rook or Queen endings that might result from forced exchanges.
This week's Canadian Tactic comes from game Hensel - Cashin, Maritime Open 2014.
Black has just played 36...Qc1. White to play.
It's a tricky position, so in addition to hints there are two follow-up questions after the first move.
Hint: Of course you've asked yourself this question...
Spoiler: Highlight to view
What is Black's threat?
White should not play these moves.... Similarly, 37.Re1?? loses to 37...Rxe1 and White can't recapture because of ...Qxf4#.
Spoiler: Highlight to view
37.Re8?? loses to 37... Rh1+ 38.Qxh1 Qxf4#.
Hint: White has ____ move(s) which don't lose...
Spoiler: Highlight to view
37.Rf5 and 37.Rg5 are the only moves which don't lose.
A Solution:
37.Rg5 Rh1+! 38.Kg3 [only move] Rxg5+ (38...Rg1+ 39.Kh2=) 39.fxg5 Qxg5+ 40.Qg4 [only move] Rg1+ 41.Rg2 [only move]=.Spoiler: Highlight to view
A Solution, and a Second Question:
37.Rf5! Guarding against the diabolical threat 37....Rh1+! 38.Qxh1 Qxf4 mate, while also vacating e5 to set up a mating threat against the Black King. Question 2: What is Black's best defence after 37.Rf5?Spoiler: Highlight to view
Not this... The game concluded: 37...Rdd8? Black threatens ...Qg1#, but White's attack hits first. 38.Qe5+ (winning) Rg7 39.Rg2 Rdg8 40.Rxg7 Hensel: I thought 40.Rxf7 was mating, but decided to play it safe. 40... Rxg7 41.Qe8+ Hensel: Repeating the position to ensure time control was reached, I had seen 41.Rg5 wins, but wanted additional time to avoid throwing away the win. Rg8 42.Qe5+ Rg7 43.Rg5 Qd2+ 44.Kg3 Qd3+ 45.Kh4 1-0
Spoiler: Highlight to view
Solution to Question 2, and a Third Question:
Black has two good defences to 37.Rf5: A) 37...Rd5!? is a fancy way to stop Qe5+ while threatening Qg1, but White is OK after: 38.Rg5! B) Black's trickiest (and so best) defence is: 37...f6! after which White has only one move that doesn't lose... Question 3: What is White's only saving move after: 37.Rf5 f6! Spoiler: Highlight to view
Answer to Question 3:
Not 38.Rxf6??, which shields the Black K, so 38...Rd2! and there's no way to defend the Re2 and mate on g1. 38.Rg5 [only move] 38...fxg5 39.Qe5+ Rg7 40.Qe8+ Rg8 41.Qe5+=. Spoiler: Highlight to view
The complete game, George Hensel - Ken Cashin, along with others from the 2014 Maritme Open -- annotated by the players -- will appear in the next issue of Chess Canada, the CFC's online newsletter.