sacrifice
A sacrifice with the view to enabling a mating attack through the
cooperation of Rooks and Bishop somewhat similar to the examples
discussed in the previous chapter is possible in the position of
Diagram 41 which occurred in a Tournament game in London in which
the author conducted the black men.
Black's combination starts with the sacrifice of the Queen on f3.
After (1) ..., Qxf3; (2) Pxf3, B-h3+; (3) K-g1 White's King is
held in an immobile position by the Black Bishop and a check with
one of Black's Rooks in the g-file would be deadly.
However, White can, for a while, protect himself against all
mating attempts of Black. If Black continued (3 ) ..., R-e6,
White would take the Pawn d3 with the Queen thereby defending
the mate R-g6. After giving up his Queen for one of Black's Rooks
White would still have an advantage in material.
The correct way to carry on the attack is (3) ..., Ra8-e8, as
then White cannot take the Pawn d3 on account of R-e1+; Q-f1,
Rxf1+; Rxf1, R-e6 and R-g6 mate.
+---------------------------------------+
8 | #R | | #B | | | | #K | |
|---------------------------------------|
7 | #P | #P | | | | #P | #P | #P |
|---------------------------------------|
6 | | | | | | #Q | | |
|---------------------------------------|
5 | | | | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
4 | | ^P | ^P | | | | | |
|---------------------------------------|
3 | | | | #P | | ^Kt| | |
|---------------------------------------|
2 | | ^P | | | #R | ^P | ^P | ^P |
|---------------------------------------|
1 | ^R | | | ^Q | | ^K | | ^R |
+---------------------------------------+
a b c d e f g h
DIAGRAM 41.
The main threat of Black's third move is R-e6-g6 mate. Another
threat is P-d2 followed by R-e1+. The only way for White to
defend himself is (4) P-f4. If now P-d2, then (5) P-f3, R-e1+;
(6) K-f2 affords a sufficient protection. And if (4) ..., Re8-e6,
then (5) P-f5 prevents the Rook from going to g6.
However, by repeating the mating threat with (5) ..., Re6-e4,
which forces White to protect, g4 by (6) P-f3 Black opens the
second rank for a combined assault of the Rooks similar to the
one illustrated by Diagram 30. What makes matters worse for White
is that with (6) ..., R-g2+ he is forced into the line of the
Bishop h3 so that he is exposed to a discovered check. After (7)
K-f1, Rxb2 discovered check; (8) K-g1, Re4-e2 White must give up
his Queen for the Rook immediately, as otherwise Black would mate
in four moves by R-g2+, K-f1, Rxh2+, K-g1, Rb2-g2+; K-f1, Rxh1+/-.
Although White is still ahead in material after (9) Qxe2, Rxe2 he
cannot avoid the loss of the game on account of the continued
threat which Black exerts by the cooperation of his Rook and his
Bishop.
The only move which would save the Rook a1 from getting
lost through R-g2+, followed by a discovered check with
simultaneous attack of the Rook by Black's Rook would be (10) R-
d1 with the idea of protecting the Rook with the King thus (10)
..., R-g2+; (11) K-f1, R-d2; (12) K-e1; but this plan fails as
Black checkmates with (12) ..., R-e2.
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