Chess School Quiz Challenge #8

Challenge

Matthias Blübaum with the white pieces planned a devious trick. Can you see which one? What should Black do about it?

Solution

The black rook on a2 only appears to be active. Instead, it is threatened to be captured. If it were White's turn again, he would play Kc2-b1 and the rook would be lost. 

Kc2-b1 with a rook capture is the threat that the super-talented Leonardo Costa had to parry in this game of the German Masters 2023. He also had to avoid a trap set by national player Matthias Blübaum. 

The tempting 1...a4-a3 would be a gross mistake. White plays 2.Kc2-b1 anyway, and after 2...Ra2xb2+ 3.Rb2xb2 a3xb2 4.Kb1xb2 White would be winning. His 3 vs. 2 pawn majority on the kingside would decide the game. 

This rule of thumb would apply:

For this reason alone, Black will try to keep the rooks on the board at all costs. 

1...Ta2-a1! is the only way for Black to parry the white threat and fight for a draw with a decent chance of success. In a rook ending, an extra pawn is often not enough to win the game.