The Problem Corner #4
Our problem this week is from a simultaneous exhibition given by Emanuel Lasker in 1920. It's White (Lasker) to move and win.
White to move and win.
The Solution:
Lasker won by a very clever tactical trick: 1. Rc8+! Rxc8 2. Qa7+! Kxa7 3. bxc8=N+ Kb7 4. Nxe7. How he managed to see this in a simul remains a mystery.
Comments
This is a nice one. I saw a very similar (the same pattern) problem in a book by Artur Yusupov only a week and a half ago, and was therefore able to find it.
Posted by: Wyatt Hendrix | August 5, 2018 6:51 PM
1. Rc8+ Rxc8 2. Qa7+, then:
a) 2...Kxa7 3. bxc8(N)+ K-any 4. Nxe7 and wins easily
b) 2...Kc7 3. bxc8(Q)+ Kxc8 4. Qxe7 (or 3...Ke6 4. Qxe7+) and again wins easily
Posted by: Ethan | April 25, 2010 1:29 PM
This one took me like a half hour! If I had this position as white in one of my own games I never would've found it because noone would've told me "white to move and win"!1. Rc8+ Rxc8. 2.Qa7+! Kxa7. 3.bXc8(knight)forking the king and queen. One of those rare instances where underpromotion is the key. Nice puzzle!
Posted by: curt brock | April 25, 2010 10:41 AM
1.Rc8+Rxc8
2.Qa7+Kxa7
3.bxc8=N+Kb7
4.Nxe7
If 2...Kc7 3. bxc8=Q+ Kxc8 4.Qxe7.
Posted by: Matthew | April 25, 2010 10:34 AM
Rc8+ Rxc8 Qa7+ Kxa7 bxc8{N}+ Ka6 Nxe7 Kb5 Nd5 Kc4 Nf6 Kd4 Nxh5
Posted by: John Ellison | April 25, 2010 7:15 AM