Monday, February 27, 2012

A classic by Tarrasch


White to move. How should white proceed? Can you solve it in 10 seconds or less?

Source: ChessToday.net

14 comments:

likelihood said...

a) 1. Bxe8 Rxc7 2. Bd7
So spare a manoeuvre to pick up, vacate and guard ! b) No, not at all ! I didn't know what to look for, couldn't help finding after some 3 min. W-a-y to go !

Anonymous said...

Bxe8 Rxc7
Bd7 wins

Anonymous said...

Be8!

Haridaran said...

I have seen a lot of Tarrasch's games. But I don't remember such a position.

1. Bxe8! Rxc7
2. Bd7!
1-0

Ravi said...

1. Bxe8 Rxc7
2. Bd7 (a crucial move) Rc8
3. Bxc8 Qe2
4. Be6 Qxe6
5. Rb1

Anonymous said...

1.Bxe8 Rxc7
2.Bd7 Rc8
3.Bxc8 Qe3
4.Be6 Qxe6
5.Rb1 Kg8
6.Rb8+ Kf7
7.e8Q+ Qxe8
8.Rxe8 Kxe8
And white has a won pawn ending.
But I didn't solve this in 10 seconds...

davey said...

It doesn't look to me like either side can win.

1 Bxe8 Rxc7
2 Bd7 Rc8
3 Bxc8 Qe3
4 Bd7 Qxe7
5 Bxc6 Qe6

Black wins the a pawn, and then Black's a pawn is dangerous, and White also has a dangerous c pawn.

pht said...

Initially, I see no problem with:

1. Bxe8! Rxc7
2. Bd7! Qe3/Qf7 (Rc8 Bxc8 is a material loss black can't afford)
3. e8=Q+ Qxe8
4. Bxe8
is nicely up with a piece.

More difficult seems:

1. ... Rxe8!
2. Qd8! Qf7! (only move)
3. Re1! (what else? Rf1 wasn't possible)
Is this zugzwang? Any black R or Q move will loose?

Pedro Q. said...

1. Bxe8 Rxc7
2. Bd7! Rc8!
3. Bxc8 Qe2 (or Qe3)
4. Be6! Qxe6
5. Rb1 and Rb8+ with mate or promotion.

Took me way more than 10seconds to find :-)

Anshul said...

What's wrong with Qd7?

Anshul said...

What's wrong with Qd7?

Anshul said...

What's wrong with Qd7?

Anshul said...

What's wrong with Qd7?

davey said...

Well done, Tarrasch, who would have seen this coming many moves earlier - I'd like to see the entire game.
Despite often being almost denigrated for being a stickler Classical style player, he might even have been World Champion, if he'd got a match earlier in his career. Beyond my sight of the board!