Find the move: Tactics 2
Posted by vineetgupta on April 26, 2009
- White to move and win
This is a famous win by Capablanca. Similar positions arise frequently against castled kings on a weak back rank.
It’s white to move and win. Try to find the winning sequence of moves.
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Solution
This is a complex win, involving the following tactical motifs – Pin, Fork, Sacrifice, Zwischenzug and Back rank mate.
1. Nh6+!
This is a Zwischenzug, an in-between move. White ignores the threat of Bxg3 to check the king. Black cannot take the queen because the king is in check. The g pawn is pinned to the king and cannot take the Knight. This leaves only one legal move for black – Kh8.
1. … Kh8
2. Qxe5!
Surprise! White takes the bishop, temporarily offering a sacrifice of his queen. The pin is maintained, and the Knight cannot be taken. The logical move (and the best one) is for black to take the offered queen.
2. … Qxe5
3. Nxf7+!
The final devastating move. A Knight fork of the king and queen. The Black rook cannot take the Knight, as that loses immediately to Rd8+! (Back rank mate) by the sequence 3. …Rxf7?? 4. Rd8+ Qe8 5. Rxe8+ Rf8 6. Rxf8#
That leaves only one move, Kg8.
3. …Kg8
4. Nxe5, winning back the sacrificed material.
And white wins, being two pawns and a piece up in a straightforward endgame. Black resigned.
A description of some alternative variations in the position is given below.
1. Nh6+ Kh8 2. Qxe5 Qxe5 (2… Rc8 3. Qxc7) (2… Qb8 3. Qxb8 Rxb8 4. Nxf7+ Kg8 5. Rd8+ Rxd8 6. Nxd8) (2… Qb6 3. Qe7) 3. Nxf7+ Kg8 (3… Rxf7 4.Rd8+ Qe8 5. Rxe8+ Rf8 6. Rxf8#) 4. Nxe5 1-0
