Parry the threat

White to move

I’ve been reading a fantastic book. Most of you have heard of this book, but if you haven’t. You must go pick your self up a copy of Ray Cheng’s Practical Chess Exercises. The above problem is from the book. I like how the exercises from Cheng’s book play like positions that we will see everyday in our own games. This for example could be from one of my own games. There is only one move that will save the game. can you see it?

The only logical move that can parry the threat of 1…Qb6 is 1. Qa5.

I did not come up with this myself right away, but as I continued to absorb the position, 1.Qa5 is the only choice for white. Don’t forget if you come up with a good move, find a better one. (Thanks Dan Heinsman!)

Here are the moves behind the problem. If white moves 1.Rd2?? Qb6+! 2.Kf1 Qe3 wins decisively. White could also lose material on d4 ( 2.Bd4) to fend off Black’s threat, but white would endure heavy losses, and ultimately the game. If 2kh1 white would fall to “Phildor’s Attack.” 2… Nf3+ 3. Kg1 Nh3+ 4. Kh1 Qg1+ 5.Rxg1 Nf2#

Remember the words of your local police officer… “Safety first!”