Why would you even think of it?
Why would you even think of Rxe5 instead of Bxe5+?
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| White to move |
1r2r3/p5pp/2nk4/1R1pp3/P2P4/2P3B1/3K2PP/4R3 w - - 0 1
1.Rxe5 introduces the following duplo attacks:
- discovered attack Re5 plus Bg3 against blacks King and Re8 (loading the battery)
- skewer Bg3 against black King and Rb8
Furthermore, if black takes on e5, he puts himself into a pin (another duplo attack).
So apparently, the application of duplo moves is stronger than the straightforward short-term threat Bxe5+
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| White to move |
The position has become much simpler now, isn't it? Winning a piece dismisses you more or less from diving into too much endgame details.
Apparently, most duplo attacks first!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI started calculation from the CCT model, therefore the check move was on the agenda as the priority. However I solved and analyzed the concept of X-RAY pretty deeply therefore I knew the h2-b8 diagonal MUST be the key in this specific position (solution).
Probably after the first wave of learning tactics - the famous model CCT (checks, captures, threats), we need to get to the next wave (level). And this level is the so called quiet type of moves (at least no checks!), but with deadly threats (effects).
Another concept I learnt and analyzed a bit more (due to your inspiration!) was the chain of captures. It is super fascinating one as I solve hundreds of Puzzle Storm puzzles at lichess and they pop up in each set before I reach the score 40.
And at this puzzle the chain captures reaction is a4-b5-c6, and what is super important I extended this chain from a4 to e8, as if we could capture Kd7 then it would be the following reaction: a4xb5 (Rook), b5xc6 (Knight), c6xc7 (King!) and d7xe8 (Rook) and promotion as the final reward for the deep concepts presented in a clear manner!
What mostly strike me at this example you selected is not just the duplo attack, but the ENERGY unleashed with the Rxe5, creating not just the duplo attack, discovered check and X-ray attack, but the clearing up all the obstacles (in fact just an e5-pawn!) in just one crazy move! It reminds me the idea of kicking off the ladder (a concept when you throw the check to deflect the Rook from protecting the Queen).
I am not sure how much helpful it may be, but try to imagine and visualize the exact base position, but without the d4 and e5 pawns and no Kings! White to move and try to check out if white wins material at this type of NO KINGS position! Remember - no Kings = No checks! This maybe another concept to make the position easier to analyze due to the option of creating the mental anchors! And when we add the Kings and turn on checks then we have the battle for the tempi!
BTW. Is there any way to get the positions (PGN file or lichess study access, etc.) with these 1430 selected positions you practice? I would like to give it a try and see if I could apply all the concepts I normally use to solve the tactics. Maybe we could do that (collectively) as we did the salt mine exercises a decade ago? What about that? With today's technology I believe it would be pretty easy to create the free interactive tactical puzzles website (the minimum of the interactivity needed) with the access to the set of the selected positions (it could be password protected for the blog members/commenters), including the space for the commentary for each of the members who want to test their skills and see if they can find the solution (similar to ChessTempo puzzles and website).
Tomasz
I use a selection of:
Delete1001 Chess ecxercises for club players
1001 Chess exercises for advanced club players
Checkmate patterns manual
1001 endgame exercises for beginners
You are still too focused on the problem set. Focus on the 20 scenarios instead. It is impossible to find a tactical problem set that doesn't cover all scenarios.
DeleteSo finally there is something that I can SEE.
ReplyDeleteIs that "something" you can SEE the same as what you identified in your first comment on this post:
Delete"Apparently, most duplo attacks first!"
If not, please elaborate.
Is that "something" you can SEE the same as what you identified in your first comment on this post:
Delete"Apparently, most duplo attacks first!"
Yes.
Apparently, the duplo attack has a place in the chain CMCT
ReplyDeleteI'm not very fond of the CMCT method. Because it sets you easily on the wrong foot. The workhorse that does the heavy lifting is the threat. Whether that threat is accompanied by a capture or a mate is of less importance for your thinking process. The art is to construct a combination while keeping the opponent busy with threats.
ReplyDeleteThis means you have to separate the result of a little piece of a combination (the subtask) from the price you pay for it to make it happen. Using the CMCT method has the inclination to mix up the price with the objective of the subtask. That obscures my thinking.
I FIRST must decide which subtasks I want to happen BEFORE I worry about the price. Maybe that I combine that in the future, but for now, I must learn to assemble a combination from subtasks with the THREAT as the tool to do the assembling.
GM Smirnov states (in one of his videos):
ReplyDelete"That's why White should KEEP THE TENSION, and allow Black to take."
Or, as he put it in a cute aphorism: TO TAKE IS A MISTAKE!
GM Smirnov is one (among many) sources for the notion of "keeping the tension" by NOT exchanging willy-nilly. A loss of potential activity occurs concurrently with exchanging.
Memorizing a GM quote and applying it willy-nilly is as “unthinking” as applying “Always CHECK: it might be mate!” to every possibility of giving a check rather than CHECKING to see if there is a mate.
Unthinking application of TO TAKE IS A MISTAKE! in the example position could lead to questioning whether taking on e5 (and with which piece) or taking on b8 is the “mistake.”
Sorry, I don’t think what we must SEE is “most duplo attacks first.” It’s very close but not quite on target IMHO.
Consider the tension in the position. Before White moves, there are two latent lines of attack: WBg3→BRb8 and WRe1→BRe8. Consider what happens after capturing on either e5 or b8.
If 1. Rxb8 Rxb8 the potential WRe1→BRe8 line of attack disappears. After White captures on e5, Black simply moves the new BRb8 off the line of attack and the game goes on, with Black down a pawn and White without any direct lines of attack. In this case, the tension decreases.
If 1. Rxe5 the tension increases. The two latent lines of attack become actual because of the potential discovered check. By shifting the onus for capturing to Black, White has added to the problems Black must try to solve. Since 1. Rxe5 opens two lines of attack (WRe1→BRe8 makes e8 B.A.D. [1:1]; WBg3→BRb8 is now open because a White piece on e5 can be moved whenever White chooses, whereas the BPe5 cannot be moved by White), Black has more threats he must try to resolve. Adding duplo moves overloads Black.
My suggestion is that what MUST be seen is whether the overall tension increases or decreases as a first approximation of what to do in a given situation. I don’t think it’s critical to localize that to the point where the most duplo attacks are in (or may come into) existence, but I could be wrong about that aspect.
Just something to think about BEFORE making a capture.
"Sorry, I don’t think what we must SEE is “most duplo attacks first.” It’s very close but not quite on target IMHO."
DeleteClose, but no cigar. I had that feeling too, to be honest. But I was way too happy that I finally saw something after a few days struggling.