Probably to avoid Rxa3 after Rh7+ Still gives White a lot of material, but why lose a bishop?
Tactic problem
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Dec 2, 2008
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#4
White must not take the a7 pawn because of:
1. Rc7 Qxh5 2. Re7+ Kf8 3. Rxb7+ Ke8 4. Re7+ Kf8 5. Rxa7+?? Ke8 6. Re7+ Kf8
7. Rxh7+ Rxa3 and Black actually wins (Black has a Knight against White's two doubled pawns...)
The bishop is protected, yes, but White will use the tempo it would otherwise have used to recapture the rook to take the Queen which gives the move back to Black for the retreat of his rook. Taking the pawn amounts to a bishop for pawn exchange because of this.
Hey,
I was wondering if there is a particular reason why white does not take the a-pawn while he is windmilling?
http://www.chess.com/tactics/server.html?id=21863
Kind regards.