Simple Tactical Excercise

Originally posted by pootstick
1.Nxf6+ Rxf6
2,Ng5 ... (simple knight sac makes mate square h7 indefensible)

2... Rxf2+
3. Kg1 Nf8

Good call. I was convinced I had to sac the exchange and didn't consider anything else.

None of you have gotten it quite right yet...

hmm. yeh, i look at it again and my line's all wrong. black has 2. ...Qc5 and there's mo forced mate anyway as black's king has made luft on f8. 🙁

I like the simple looking 1. Nh6+ Kh8 2. Nf7+ winning an exchange.

1. BxN cxB 2. Rxc3 picks up a pawn and improves white's mobility a bit, at the expense of leaving the c pawn exposed. I like my previous solution better.

Originally posted by BLReid
I like the simple looking 1. Nh6+ Kh8 2. Nf7+ winning an exchange.

You're right, Nh6 is indeed winning.
But there is a much more beautiful (and definitely even more decisive) solution.

Okay, how about this:
1. RxN cxR
2. Bb3+ Kh8
3. Nxf6 RxN
4. Ng5 and Qxh7 mate looks unstoppable.

Originally posted by BLReid
Okay, how about this:
1. RxN cxR
2. Bb3+ Kh8
3. Nxf6 RxN
4. Ng5 and Qxh7 mate looks unstoppable.

Excactly!
That's how Paul Keres finished off Gligoric in 1959!

In the actual game, Gligoric tried 4...Rxf2+ 5.Kg1 Rf1+ 6.Kh2 before he resigned...

White to move.

would Qh6 be right?

Qh6 Rxh6
Rxc8+ Qb8
Rcxb8 Ka7
R3b7#

If they don't take the queen on h6 and move the rook to some other square on the 8th rank such as d8 then:
Qh6 Rd8
Rxa6 Bxa6
Qc6+ winning the rook on a4.

Originally posted by thelatermonths
Qh6 Rxh6
Rxc8+ Qb8
Rcxb8 Ka7
R3b7#

If they don't take the queen on h6 and move the rook to some other square on the 8th rank such as d8 then:
Qh6 Rd8
Rxa6 Bxa6
Qc6+ winning the rook on a4.

Your solution is correct!

The position is from Tal-Nievergelt, Zurich 1959

1.Qh6 Rd8 2.Bxa6 (Rxa6 works as well) Bd2 3.Qf6 Qd7 4.Bxc8 black resigned

Black to move

..... Bf2+
Kf8 Rd1+
Rxd1 e2+
Kxf2 exd1+ Knight

Originally posted by thelatermonths
..... Bf2+
Kf8 Rd1+
Rxd1 e2+
Kxf2 exd1+ Knight

I would just reverse the order of moves so that there is no 2.Ke2!? as in your variation:
1...Rd1+ 2.Rxd1 Bf2+ and the rest is as you have given it.