second question for Rahim(sorry for so much trouble but I have discovered that I can follow your games move by move on my mobile phone 😉 ):
in the final position, where Petrosian resigned, black has 2 main options:
1) Rxd1 Qxe7 Rx1 and Qx7 followed by mate for white
2) Qxc5 Rxd8+ Qf8 (Rxf8 Kxf8 and Rc7 f6)...and yes, black is very cramped, but the material is even and there is a lot of fight here...I do not think this position is resignable...
The question is: Am I missing something on the second line?? (Would you resign in this position ?)
By the way, I just saw a 3rd option for black:
3) Qf8 (playable), but after Qxf8 Rxf8 Rc7 it looks even worse than 2 line, but it is playable...
Maybe Petrosian was in those times when I heared he was ill and he had a very low moral ?
Originally posted by vipiuCheck out the solution to this puzzle and it's very similar to the case you mentioned.
and, Rahim, a question: Why not 16...Rd8 ?
"16...g6 preventing back rank stuff and trying to trade off a rook with Rd8 next move."
I do not find this back rank stuff so annoying for the moment, and g6 seems too passive in this open position...What do you think ?
As for your other question about the ending. I will go over that with another puzzle.
5 Users responded and stay on my list. Cutting it close guys, minimum of 5 and I continue. Their comments:
17...Rd8
18. Rxd8+ Qxd8
19. Nxf7! Kxf7
20. Rc7+
17...Rd8?? 18. Nc4!! and it is difficult for black next...maybe Bd7 Bxb7 (loosing pawn(s) and having cramped position anyway)...because white N can not be taken and Rxd3 is encountered by Nxb6 winning a piece
Anyway, I am very sure I would not have found this during a game, especially as white(Rd3!). Maybe as black I would have foreseen it, but not as white...
Ok all I see is knight c6 after the rook moves to d8? then all the ways I count white still loses? sorry I can not figure this one out in time I really have looked @ it?
Black can't play Rd8 because that leads to an exchange of rooks (18. RxR, QxR) leaving the Black King unguarded. After 19. N(e5)c4, Black is forced to lose or move N(b6), allowing QxQ+. Moving Rd8 would damage Black's defenses considerably.
1..Rd8 2.Rxd8+ Qxd8 3.Nc4
Here is the solution:
17...Rd8? 18.Qc5! Qxc5 19.Rxd8+ Qf8 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Rc7 and the pawn structure on the 7th rank is ruined.
18...Qf8 leads to a similar variation with a white rook ending up on c7.
18...Qe8 leads to 19.Ng4 threatening a lovely fork on f6 winning the Queen. Best is 19...Qf8 20.Rxd8 Qxd8 21. Qe5 centalizing the queen with ideas of Nf6+ and Black has to be very careful that he does not get mated.
A knight working with the Queen against a king are very dangerous. This also shows you the importants of connecting your rooks. Remember the saying, " 7th ranks is heaven for a rook". He can munch on the opponents pawn 🙂