February Combinations - Solutions

It is time to show the solutions for the combinations.
I thought that the first one was hard, but some of the readers solved it without any problems.

1...Rxd4

White is winning now with

2. Qxd4, Ne2
3. Bf4!!

The third move was very hard for me.
White has alternative in 2. Bxf4 but after 2...Rxf4 Black has enough compensation for knight on h2 (three pawns and some positional pluses).

This example is quite funny.
Black has a draw!
When I tried to solve it, I thought that Black has to win, and after minute or two I understood that I have to think about draw.

1...Qe2+! (1...Qf1+ 2. Kg3, Rg8+ 4. Kh4 and there is no good checks)
2. Kg3, Qe3+!
3. Kh4, Qh6+
4. Kg3, Qe3+ draw

White wins with very simple moves:

1. Rxe5, Bxe5+
2. Qxe5, Qh5+

...and now, it is important to avoid deadly check from Black´s knight.

3. Kg3! +-

This is the hardest combination in this article.
Black has to choose which of his minor pieces he has to keep on the board.
As Black bishop can do the both, protect the king on the dark squares, and attack White´s king, it is easy choice to keep the bishop, but....

1...Bf6?
2. Rxd7+, Kh8
3. c3!  ....and it is not possible to take on c3. White will play Qc2, and with three pawns for the piece we can conclude that the position is unclear.

1...Ne5!!
2. Qxe5, Bf6 ...in this position White has to check with the queen and later play b3. It means that his king will be under attack on black squares and his pieces are not as well coordinated as in the first variation. Black is clearly better!

One interesting detail makes this example worth analysing.

1. Qxf6, Qxd5
2. Nh5!

All right, it is easy to see that Black can not take a knight because of Rf5 and White wins the queen or mates with Rg5+ and Qh8(6) mate.

2...Qe5+
3. Qxe5, Rxe5
4. d7!, Bxd7
5. Nf6+, Kg7
6. Nxd7
White wins a piece but Black has good drawing chances.
This is the best variation for both players.