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Overwhelming power on the rook file

Overwhelming power on the rook file

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PD

Arizona, USA

Joined
15 Jun 04
Moves
656
Clock
26 Jun 04
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White resigns after move 13 in this game: Game 535510

White can’t save his king by sliding his rook to the left with 14 Re1 or 14 Rd1 to open up an escape square for the king at f1, because 14… Qh2+; 15 Kf1 is followed by 15 … Qxf2++.

I thought I saw a desperation bishop sacrifice white could have used, but I saw it would lead to an interesting checkmate applied by a knight that was still on its beginning square: 14 Bh5, sacrificing the bishop to the queen to open up an escape hole for the king at f3, then 14... Qxh5; 15 Kg2, Qh3+; 16 Kf3, Qxf1; 17 Kf4 (any other move by white, and 17... Qxf2 is checkmate), Qxf2+; 18 Ke5 (forced), Nd7++.

I can see why white resigned. 😞

h

e2

Joined
29 Jun 03
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3535
Clock
26 Jun 04
2 edits
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Originally posted by Paul Dirac
17 Kf4 (any other move by white, and 17... Qxf2 is checkmate)
17. Nxe4 prevents 17...Qxf2# and survives a little longer than 17. Kf4

*EDIT: 17. Nd1 also prevents 17...Qxf2# (but doesn't last long either) and so does 17. Qc2 (which of course also loses quickly) *

White should ignore the f1 Rook:
16...Bg4+ 17. Kxe4 (17. Kf4 Bd6+ 18. Kxe4 Qh7# ) Qh7+ and 18...Qf5#

Alternatively:
15...Qh2+ (this is the line I first saw) 16. Kf3 Bg4+
17. Kxg4 Qh5+ and Qf5#
17. Kxe4 same as above
17. Kf4 Bd6+ 18. Kxe4 (18. Kxg4 Qh5# ) Qh7#

PD

Arizona, USA

Joined
15 Jun 04
Moves
656
Clock
26 Jun 04
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Hungtingbear is correct: 17 Nxe4, Qe2+; 18 Kf3, Qg4+; 19 Ke5, Nd7++ allows white to hold out one move longer than my line, but ends in a very similar checkmate nonetheless. And his other scenarios ending in checkmate by the queen in move 18 do not require the black knight at b8 to be used. I totally missed those.

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