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This is one of the CT-ART positions (Exercise 825 – level 50). Black to play. Do take some time to internalize this position before scrolling down to my notes:
[FEN "5rk1/8/2p1r1p1/3p1n2/R1qP3P/4P2P/1R3P2/3QB1K1 b - - 0 1"] 
My Notes:
Let us try breaking down the position:
- White is materially up (2 pawns). Does this matter with queens on board? Nah!
- Both the white rooks are placed excellently, controlling the open files.
- Rf8, in the absence of Nf5 will be interesting,though it is kinda difficult for Black to reach the somewhat exposed White king. Nf5 unfortunately has no proper square to go to. Hmm…not entirely true, if White king is in f1, Nf5 has a cute fork in e3!
- Black queen is being attacked by Ra4. Wait….Queen has no retreating squares. It is trapped!
With these data, we can see that bringing King in to the fork is the best way.
Solution: 1…Qf1+! 2.Kxf1 Nxe3+ 3.Ke2 Nc4+ 4.Kf1 Ne3+ = 1/2:1/2
Black found a cute way to save 1/2 a point. If you saw this line, you are great (I didn’t, to be honest!). But, did you see all the sub variations too? I saw them only when I tried playing this position against Rybka2.2.
1…Qf1+!
Only move to save the game. 1…Nxe3?? This move loses immediately to 2.fxe3 Qf1+ 3.Kh2 Rxe3 With the threat of Qxh3+ followed by Rf1# But White can calmly play 4.Qg4! +- Black has no more threats
2.Kxf1
Is White forced to take the queen? Yes. Let’s see what happens if he refuses the sacrifice. 2.Kh2?? Nxh4! 3.f4 ( 3.f3 also leads to same ideas Nxf3+ 4.Kg3 Ng1 5.Qg4 Rxe3+ 6.Kh2 (6.Kh4 Qf6+ 7.Qg5 Rxh3+ 8.Kg4 Qf3#) 6…Rxh3+ 7.Qxh3 Qxh3+ 8.Kxg1 Rf1#) 3…Rxe3 4.Bg3 Qxd1 5.Bxh4 Qf3 (5…Qd3 Also leads to a mate in 9 (!?). Rybka showed me how. Can you find it? 
) 6.Rg2 Qxh3+ 7.Kg1 Qxh4 8.Ra1 Rxf4 9.Ra8+ Kf7 ( 9…Kh7 10.Ra7+ ( 10.Rh2 Re1+ 11.Kg2 Rf2# ) 10…Kh6 -+ White has no more tricks ))
2…Nxe3+ 3.Ke2 Nc4+ 4.Kf1
( 4.Kd3?? White won’t get the draw anymore 4…Nxb2+ 5.Kd2 Nxd1 6.Kxd1 Re4 Attacking d4 and h4, indirectly forcing the rook to be in the same rank 7.Rb4 Rff4 8.Rb8+ Kf7 9.Bc3 Replacing the rook in guard duty 9…Rf3 10.Bb2 Rxf2 –+ )
4…Ne3+ = Perpetual
Tags: Analysis, Chess, Chess puzzle, CT-ART, Mate, Perpetual Draw, Rybka, Tactics training
