Underestimating your Opponent's Threats (3)

Submitted by kenytiger on Mon, 08/18/2008 at 9:26pm.

In the following position, can you see what White is threatening? Black misses it completely, because he ignores his weakness on the first rank. How can Black make his position reasonably safe?

Black sees a chance to win White's h4 pawn. Without stopping to look any further than this shallow possibility, he plays:

(Notes by Fred Reinfeld)

» posted in kenytiger's Blog

| 885 reads | 7 comments

Comments:

by shuttlechess92 - 15 months ago
California United States

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 1881

wow that would have been a nice puzzle.

by EmTom - 15 months ago
Lodz Poland

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 104

Kenytiger thanks for that variation. I missed it obviously :)

by kenytiger - 15 months ago
United States

Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1062

Eddieboy, after 3...Rxd8 White has Mate in two; 4.Qxf6+ Kg8, 5.Ne7 Mate. It's all in the annotations after move 3.

EmTom, your mate also work, that's just the long version.

by uritbon - 15 months ago
tel aviv Israel

Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 1000

indead... all variations lead to mate :), no matter what anyone says, look thrice...

by EmTom - 15 months ago
Lodz Poland

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 104

You are wrong. White gets forced mate if black takes the rook.

by kinghunter28s - 15 months ago
anchorage,alaska Philippines

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 264

Rxd8 any move by white he cannot defend the threatening check at Rd1 just correct me if im wrong

by davidknight - 15 months ago
Texas United States

Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 126

If the situation is bad, its usually to late.

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