Sunday, May 6, 2007

Guess the Incredible Move -- Position #1



The position shown here is white to move after 8...d4 by black. Click on the picture for the full-size board.

Can you guess the incredible next move by white and offer an analysis of the interesting tactic that followed?

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Well the knight's under attack so it's obvious it's got to move, no? d5 and e4 are ruled out, a4 looks silly so does b5 so Nb1 looks like the only practical move. I don't see why that'd be an incredible move though so tell me why please.

GothicChessInventor said...

hint: Nb1 was NOT the move that was played in the game.

Cartaphilus said...

I recognize this game because I was white!! Should I ruin the surprise or let others post?

Cartaphilus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cartaphilus said...

I played this game against smirf on the old GothicChessLive.com site if you need a hint.

DuelingBishops said...

Maybe it's Chancellor to d3 and you leave the knight hanging? If not that I would play Nb1 to save it, what else can white do really?

Cartaphilus said...

The correct move is a knight move so Cd3 isn't what I played. Count the back rank attacks if you were thinking Cd3?? dxc3 Cxd8??

geography_teacher said...

I'll hazard a guess Nb5? I don't see the combo that follows though.

Cartaphilus said...

Nb5 is not it either, try again :)

DuelingBishops said...

Why don't you just tell us then!!!!!!!!!

LeanGurlSwimmer said...

Just like a silly BOI to give up when the move is soooooooooooooooooooo obvious, lol!

Victor Vector said...

I was an 1800 rated Gothic Chess player on the live playing site and to me the move is not so obvious at all. I know Carta was a very strong player and smirf was a computer program if I recall so let's allow them to lead the discussion leangurlswimmer ok? By the way, you spelled "girl" wrong.

LeanGurlSwimmer said...

Ima gurrrrrrl, you know, as in lezzzz and we spell it my way

ChessCarpenter said...

The only thing I can see is 9.Ne4!? with ...Axe4 10.Ng5 in mind and getting your Chancellor and ArchBishop out and hitting the Kingside...the Bishop on c1 also has a fine diagonal! Black has to be careful if this is the line!!

Cartaphilus said...

chesscarpenter is on the mark. The complete game is online at http://www.gothicchesslive.com/javascript/game.php?gameid=2228 and the game fragment with the position shown is

Cartaphilus vs. BetaSmirf

1.d4 Nh6 2.i3 d5 3.Bi2 Nc6 4.Bxc8 Rxc8 5.Ai2 Af6 6.Nh3 Axd4 7.O-O Af5 8.Nc3 d4 and then


9.Ne4! Axe4 10.Ng5! Axf2 11.Rf1! Cf6 12.Rxf2 Cxf2 13.Nxh7+ Kg8 14.Nxj8 g6 15.Bxh6 ixh6 and black is lost.

The conclusion was 16.Qc1 Bi7 17.Ah4 Ce4 18.Aj5+ Kh8 19.Axh6 Ci4 20.Axf7+ Kg7 21.Ae6+ Kh8 22.Qd1 Qd6 23.Af7+ Kg7 24.Axd6 cxd6 25.Qd3 Rxj8 26.Qb5 Rh8 27.Cf3 Ne5 28.h3 Cf4 29.Cxf4 Bxf4+ 30.Kj1 Rb8 31.Qd5 Be3 32.Qe4 a6 33.Qj4+ Kf7 34.Rf1+ Ke6 35.Rf8 1-0

AxeGrinder said...

There's no way I would have seen that dude utterly amazing how that worked!

GothicChessInventor said...

Yes nice game carta!

Victor Vector said...

I'd never see that move in a million years. Nicely done indeed!