What is the actual question here? Why does the engine recommend Nxc5?
Can someone explain to me this knight sacrifice?
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2 days ago
0
#3
No, move 25, I went Rc5, but engine recommends Nxc6 instead. And after that for a reason totally unknown to me black is not supposed to take the knight and the game is somehow equal? Like sorry what
OK. First things first, I'd never have figured it out itself either. However, after studying the engine lines, the sacrifice works because of some VERY specific geometry on the board....
1. First of all, if after Nxc5 black does nothing (e.g., plays a6 for some weird reason), white would play Ne7 winning the black queen. So, 'doing nothing is out of the question'
2. Let's say white decides to protect against this fork by playing Re8... White still plays Ne7+! White must take the knight and black takes the now unprotected rook Rxc8+ (check!). So this doesn't work either
3. The rest of the crazy computer ideas have to do with the fact that the knight on b3 is only protected by the queen, so if white plays e4 attacking the queen, it cannot keep protecting the knight! (neither Qxe4 nor Qxd4 work!).
4. Either capture of the knight by black leads to more-or-less the same outcome. If Bxc6, then e4, black queen anywhere, then Qxb3 and no more knight or fork. If Rxc6, then Rxc6 with the same idea.
5. Finally, I tried the following:
25. Nxc6 Rxc6 26. Rxc6 Nxa1 (not taking the rook) 27 Rc1... with a roughly equal game
All this only works 'cause the queen is on d5 and can't move ANYWHERE to maintain the protection of the knight on b3 (so it can be harassed by e4!)
Cheers!
1 day ago
0
#6
Fet wrote:
Because then you won't lose a rook only a knight for a pawn
Nope
1 day ago
0
#7
DrFleonSunoco wrote:
OK. First things first, I'd never have figured it out itself either. However, after studying the engine lines, the sacrifice works because of some VERY specific geometry on the board....
1. First of all, if after Nxc5 black does nothing (e.g., plays a6 for some weird reason), white would play Ne7 winning the black queen. So, 'doing nothing is out of the question'
2. Let's say white decides to protect against this fork by playing Re8... White still plays Ne7+! White must take the knight and black takes the now unprotected rook Rxc8+ (check!). So this doesn't work either
3. The rest of the crazy computer ideas have to do with the fact that the knight on b3 is only protected by the queen, so if white plays e4 attacking the queen, it cannot keep protecting the knight! (neither Qxe4 nor Qxd4 work!).
4. Either capture of the knight by black leads to more-or-less the same outcome. If Bxc6, then e4, black queen anywhere, then Qxb3 and no more knight or fork. If Rxc6, then Rxc6 with the same idea.
5. Finally, I tried the following:
25. Nxc6 Rxc6 26. Rxc6 Nxa1 (not taking the rook) 27 Rc1... with a roughly equal game
All this only works 'cause the queen is on d5 and can't move ANYWHERE to maintain the protection of the knight on b3 (so it can be harassed by e4!)
Cheers!
This is totally unhinged. I will need some time to process it
I have genuinely no idea what is the engine telling me and that black's follow up recommended by engine? Like, what???
https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/143725476324/review?move=48