BtM 15A: Finally
January 1989, Position J
White to play
Franz - Thormann, E German League 1987-1988
Contributions are welcome in the comments box. I’ll reply with what the Masters have to say about their choice to anybody who suggests a move.
Scroll down to see some commentary from me and the Masters’ feedback.
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I was over 80 Beat the Masters positions in before I finally fully solved one. By which I mean, not just finding the first move, not just working most or nearly all of it out, but seeing every detail of the solution.
Admittedly Position J from January 1989 is not the toughest ever published, the key line is short and at the end White has a clear win. Even so, I’ll remember it as the first time I finally totally nailed one.
So far, it’s also the last.
So far, it’s also the last.
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POINTS
10: Rh6
9: d5
7: Qh1
5: b5, f4
MASTERS
Rh6: Suba, Davies, Flear, P. Littlewood, Plaskett, Fidelity 68000
d5: Howell
Qh1: Norwood
b5: Levitt, S. Arkell
SOURCE
d5 Franz - Thormann, E German League 1987-1988
Yesterday Adam FF wanted to play 1 Rh6 with the idea of following up with 2 Qh1.
ReplyDeleteAs it hapens this is exactly what I wanted to do too. Qh1 to attack along the h-file and Rh6 first to stop Black playing ... Qg6.
This was by far the panel’s most popular choice. E.g.
SUBA: "1 Rh6 is the quickest win. Black’s reply is irrelevant as 2 Qh1 Qg7, 3 Qh5 wins the queen."
FLEAR: "1 Rh6. Not 1 Qh1 Qg6 intending ... Qb1+. After 1 Rh6, White intends 2 Qh1 threatening Rh8+ and 2 ... Qg7 is met by 3 Qh5 with the threats of Rg6 and Qe8+. This line-up looks decisive."
I say in the blog post I totally nailed this one. Well, yes, in terms of the feedback from the masters. Your engine, however, might tell you that 1 d5 is even stronger.
HOWELL:
"1 d5 exd5, 2 Qh1 Qg7/g7, 3 Qxd5+ gives White a decisive attack"
OK. But 1 Rh6 is a clear win too.
Now you show it, yes d5 looks good too, but I am not sure about another scoring move. f4 feels like the right idea, if not move. Is the idea of b5 to play Ra3? If so, that doesn't seem the best plan, but is a plan nonetheless. However, I really can't see what Kh1 achieves. What am I missing?
ReplyDeleteHi Adam, I’ve just checked the original article and I made a typo - it’s Qh1 rather than Kh1. Now you mention it it is a very odd move to make.
DeleteI’ve edited the article.
Neither Levitt or Sue Arkell are quoted in the feedback article but Littlewood does make a brief reference to 1 b5.
"There are several strong moves here, e.g. 1 b5 axb5, 2 Ra3 is also good."
That makes more sense. It did seem harsh not to reward Qh1 too.
Delete