Cross-check (chess)
In
The cross-check is an essential tactic in winning some endgames such as those with two queens versus one, or a queen and pawn versus a queen. In these cases, the defense usually tries for a perpetual check and sometimes the stronger side can stop it only by a cross-check.
Examples
A cross-check occurs from time to time in games. It is an essential tactic in winning endgames such as two queens versus one queen, or queen and pawn versus queen, where it is used to stop a series of checks from the opponent and force the exchange of queens. It is also used in some chess problems.
Botvinnik vs. Minev game
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Cross-checks are rare in actual play, though they do occur, and in some
Two queens versus one
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In the position on the left from Botvinnik–Ravinsky,[2] Black resigned. With best play according to the endgame tablebase, 126...Kb3 127.Qf7+ Ka4 128.g8=Q Qg4+ 129.Kh6 Qh4+ 130.Kg7 Qg3+ 131.Kf8 Qd6+ 132.Qe7 Qh6+ 133.Qgg7 Qf4+ 134.Qgf7 Qb8+ and the position on the right is reached. Then the cross-check 135.Qee8+ (or Qfe8+) forks the king and queen, forces an exchange, and wins the game.
Anderson problem, 1919
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Cross-checks are relatively infrequent in actual play, but are popular in
Anderson problem, 1961
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The problem to the right, also by G. F. Anderson (first published in The Observer in 1961) and also a mate in two, features no fewer than five cross-checks. The key is 1.Qb6 (threat: 2.Ne4#), with the following variations:
- 1...exf6+ 2.Nb7#
- 1...exd6+ 2.Nd7#
- 1...Nd4+ 2.Rf5#
- 1...Nxd6+ 2.Nd3#
- 1...Nf-other+ 2.Ne4#
- 1...Kxf6 2.Qb2#
- 1...Kxd6 2.Rd4#
See also
References
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-7867-0725-9
- ISBN 0-517-53146-1
- ISBN 0-19-280049-3
Further reading
- John Rice, Chess Wizardry: The New ABC of Chess Problems (London, Batsford, 1996)