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A Beautiful Combination

A Beautiful Combination

Only Chess

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I was playing through a games collection and came across this beauty:



Shestoperov-Serzhanov 1955

White To Move And Win

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This is an analysis of an alternate 3rd move for black from the above post.



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I came up with the slightly different (same moves in a different order) 1. Bxh7+ Kxh7 2. Rxd5 Bxd5 3. Qh5+ Kg8 4. Nf6+ gxf6 5. Bxf6, again with mate on h8.

I can't see any defence from Black against that - am I wrong?

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Originally posted by untergang
I came up with the slightly different (same moves in a different order) 1. Bxh7+ Kxh7 2. Rxd5 Bxd5 3. Qh5+ Kg8 4. Nf6+ gxf6 5. Bxf6, again with mate on h8.

I can't see any defence from Black against that - am I wrong?
That was some nice analysis! Well Done.

The key differences in the two moves are what happens when black doesn't take on d5.

Admittedly, the two are practically the same.

1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 2.Rxd5 Kg8 3.Nf6+! gxf6 4.Bxf6 Kf8 5.Qh5 Ke8 6.Rd7 ! is a hard line to find, but it leaves white up 5.17 according to the engine.

1.Rxd5 is a lot simpler. 1.Rxd5 f5 2.Rd2 leaves white up 5.23, which is virtually the same, but it doesn't require such a precise handling of the attack.

These could be examined longer and more deeply, but I don't really see a point.
Both moves are great. One just requires a lot more accuracy.