Black to move
As in the previous position, both the Qd7 and the Rc8 are committed to protecting the Re8: taking the "free" queen leads to a back-rank mate by force.
Torre played 20...Qb5.
White to play and win (still a few moves to go!)
I'll suggest a few moves: which do you think is strongest? Please back up your opinion with careful calculation of all the possibilities!
a) 21.a4
b) 21.Qxb7
c) 21.Qc4
d) 21.Rxe8+
2 comments:
While taking a shower, I finally remembered the right line: 21.a4!! Qxa4 (the point is that with the White queen on c7, 21...Qxe2 22.Rxe2 wins, since 22...Rc1+ is impossible and Black cannot take either of the "hanging pieces" without being mated; alternatively, 21...Rxc7 22.Rxe8+ Qxe8 23.Rxe8# or 21...Rxe2 22.Qxc8+ and White mates on e8) 22.Re4!! Qb5 (22...Qxe4 23.Rxe4, 22...Rxc7 23.Rxe8+, and 22...Rxe4 23.Qxc8+ are similar to the above note) 23.Qxb7!!! and Black, no longer having ...Qxe2 available, is cracked, whacked, and gobsmacked. White made it look E.Z.! Too bad this whole "game continuation" was just Torre's after-the-fact fantasy.
Teenagers should be allowed a little fantasy. :-)
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