This puzzle doesn't look like a beginner's puzzle, and the book gives a very lazy answer.
Engine suggests after Ra2 comes f3/f4 with recapturing, and then marching the king up the board, but I don't see how Ra2 is crucial for that either, and if that was the answer, that'd not be a sub 1500-rated puzzle.
Thank you very much - just what I suspected.
How do yoi read the puzzle
My answer would be Be4 followed by Bc2 to take advantage of the pin.
I see it now.
As it is, black can't move either piece without losing material. But white starting with Be4 allows (Re6) which loses white's advantage and is even worse because the e rank pawn is undefended. However, starting with Ra2 gives future defense to the 2nd row. Black can't respond to this move with that same attack because the pawn is currently defending the white bishop.
So it's Re2 (black can't move R or B, or move enough else that's useful) then I think white must do Pf3 to defend the bishop on the subsequent move; if black does (Pg4) at any point, white's defending pawn can be replaced without a problem. Overall the white bishop needs this pawn defense to maintain the advantage and ultimately win material in the pin.
White could still win material without Ra2 but I think could end with a hanging pawn.
Thank you - this makes a lot of sense.
Black might try to get out of the pin with Bb5, the idea being that cxb5 would hang the white rook. Ra2 prevents this, however, because the white bishop now protects the white rook after cxb5. Thus Ra2 ensures that the pin is maintained, so that white can then just win by marching its pawns.
Hi All,
I have started playing chess about a month ago and I am hoping for some help with a beginner puzzle that I am struggling to understand.
The puzzle is from Igor Shmirin's "Chess Tactics" book and is a beginner rated (sub 1500) puzzle to practice pins.
After spending a fair amount of time I could not find any obvious solutions to this one. I might be missing something obvious.
My analysis:
-Black can't get out of the pin without losing material. Both rook and bishop are locked.
-White's e (or f) pawn should be able to promote, as white have 4 on the king's side vs 3 black, two doubled on g file.
-Keep the rook locking both of black's pieces; Leave the bishop where it is until it's needed.
-Push pawns to promote on the king's side.
Next move: say, e4
The book answer is:
1.ra1-a2. Euwe - Aljechin, Amsterdam, 1935
What does it achieve and how is it better than, say, e4?
Thank you.
Black can get out of the pin without losing material with Bb5.
And that explains the a2!
Hi All,
I have started playing chess about a month ago and I am hoping for some help with a beginner puzzle that I am struggling to understand.
The puzzle is from Igor Shmirin's "Chess Tactics" book and is a beginner rated (sub 1500) puzzle to practice pins.
After spending a fair amount of time I could not find any obvious solutions to this one. I might be missing something obvious.
My analysis:
-Black can't get out of the pin without losing material. Both rook and bishop are locked.
-White's e (or f) pawn should be able to promote, as white have 4 on the king's side vs 3 black, two doubled on g file.
-Keep the rook locking both of black's pieces; Leave the bishop where it is until it's needed.
-Push pawns to promote on the king's side.
Next move: say, e4
The book answer is:
1.ra1-a2. Euwe - Aljechin, Amsterdam, 1935
What does it achieve and how is it better than, say, e4?
Thank you.