Greetings,
I have an inquiry regarding the following tactical puzzle:
lichess.org/training/62751. Simply put, why does rook capture on f7? Upon much review, the only possibility (that I could see) was to avoid losing pawns, but this doesn't seem like much reason to give away a rook for a knight.
Am I missing something? Could this be a puzzle error?
Thank you,
Dr. Swift
Alright, so looking at the puzzle given. From the top it's 1. Qb3+ Kh8 2. Nf7+ Rxf7
This is easy to answer as black only has two other moves besides Rxf7 to do! Both have the same sort of plan too.
After Kg8 or Kh7, we have Nd6+ (I know this isn't computer's top choice, but it leads to winning lines in both scenarios.) The idea is that the queen is under attack, and it must move. Also, with the knight on d6, we threaten Qxb7 which threatens the rook. We pick up these pawns, but we also destroy black's pawn structure. While we aren't up a trade, black has poorly developed pieces, isolated pawns, his dark squared bishop will be blocked in by the pawn on e5, and overall it just isn't pleasant to play for black.
Try the line 2...Kg8 3. Nxd6+ Be6 18. Qxb7 Qxb7 19. Nxb7 and you will see that black really isn't having an easy time finding moves, while white can just threaten one pawn at a time. It leads to a pretty easily endgame to win as white.
It's as Philador once said, "Pawns are the soul of chess." It's quite a positional advantage, so it's not the easiest to see. It's one of those things you get a feel for the more you play. And easy way to think of it, imagine all the pieces left the board, white's endgame would be pretty good and should win pretty easily. If you compare that scenario, you can see how beneficial trading the pieces are for you.
A general rule of thumb, if you're material trade pieces. If you're down material, trade pawns. This is because if you still have all the pawns, the endgame is much harder to draw for the losing side. If there are no pawns, and you're down only a piece, the endgame is much, much harder to win.
Alright, so looking at the puzzle given. From the top it's 1. Qb3+ Kh8 2. Nf7+ Rxf7
This is easy to answer as black only has two other moves besides Rxf7 to do! Both have the same sort of plan too.
After Kg8 or Kh7, we have Nd6+ (I know this isn't computer's top choice, but it leads to winning lines in both scenarios.) The idea is that the queen is under attack, and it must move. Also, with the knight on d6, we threaten Qxb7 which threatens the rook. We pick up these pawns, but we also destroy black's pawn structure. While we aren't up a trade, black has poorly developed pieces, isolated pawns, his dark squared bishop will be blocked in by the pawn on e5, and overall it just isn't pleasant to play for black.
Try the line 2...Kg8 3. Nxd6+ Be6 18. Qxb7 Qxb7 19. Nxb7 and you will see that black really isn't having an easy time finding moves, while white can just threaten one pawn at a time. It leads to a pretty easily endgame to win as white.
It's as Philador once said, "Pawns are the soul of chess." It's quite a positional advantage, so it's not the easiest to see. It's one of those things you get a feel for the more you play. And easy way to think of it, imagine all the pieces left the board, white's endgame would be pretty good and should win pretty easily. If you compare that scenario, you can see how beneficial trading the pieces are for you.
A general rule of thumb, if you're material trade pieces. If you're down material, trade pawns. This is because if you still have all the pawns, the endgame is much harder to draw for the losing side. If there are no pawns, and you're down only a piece, the endgame is much, much harder to win.
@AlexTheMysteryMan1 is your nature to copy everyone? What a loser.
Whats the point in doing that?
I'm honored in the fact that my answer was so profound someone decided to immediately copy paste it
Hello
@JimJam1099,
I appreciate your detailed response. As you may be able to tell by my profile, my time with chess mostly consists of puzzles. I've grown blind to theory but you've truly shown just how important it is in-game.
Thanks again,
Dr. Swift
@AlexTheMysteryMan1 why do you copy paste someone's answer?.That will get you nowhere
