Castles Chess Club
Quiz of the Week

27th February 2002

(Based on 'Philador's legacy')

If white moves his knight it is 'discovered check'.
Which of the knight moves for white is best?

White can try to win Black's queen, but needs to be aware of the reply Be6, counter threatening white's queen

a) Nf7 - d8+ Good move - Black must try Be6 when white can then take the bishop with his knight. 3 points
b) Nf7 x d6+ trying to just win the exchange (rook for knight) but the reply Be6 means white loses material. 1 point
c) Nf7 x e5+ Tries to win black's queen, but after Be6 white only wins the pawn. 2 points
d) Nf7 - g5+ Stops Be6 but does not threaten anything. The reply of d5 is fine. 2 points.
e) Nf7 - h6+ Good in that as it is a double check black MUST move his king - the bishop cannot block the check. If Black replies Kf8 then Qf7 is mate. If black replies Kh8 then white can play Nf7+ and get back to the present position. But look a bit further and one finds that after Kh8 the amazing sacrifice Qg8+ forces a smoothed mate - the king can't take the queen, but if either the rook or the knight do white can play Nf7 Mate!4 points
f) Nf7 - h8+ This 'Knight on the rim' is particularly dim. Black's king can just takes it. 1 point

Congratulations to Mike Dawson for emailing in the correct answer.

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