Pandolfini's Puzzler #6 - A Surprising Move
“Some situations seem so innocent,” Professor Pando observed.
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“Yet even the simplest positions can hide a clever tactic.”
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“Take a look at the following position, with White to move.”
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Question: How can White win a rook by force?
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At first, Lucian looked at checking, either Ra1-a8+ or Ra1-d1+. But neither move won a rook.
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He also thought about 1. Ra1-a7. But that didn’t win a rook either.
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Then Lucian got an idea. “I think I have the answer.”
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What winning move did Lucian find?
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Answers Below - Try to solve ProfessorPando's Puzzle first!
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ANSWER #6
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Lucian came up with the startling 1. 0-0-0+! – a strange double attack that wins the Black rook.
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Take note
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Yes, White can castle. His rook goes through “check,” but not his king.
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Castling is OK here!
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Also, don’t automatically assume that castling is a defensive move. Sometimes, it’s done merely for attacking purposes.
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RELATED STUDY MATERIAL
- Watch FunMasterMike's personal experience with the exact same move;
- Review all the rules of castling here;
- Read all the castling terms in the ChessKid glossary, including castling short, castling long, and castling by hand.