I have a question for any chess masters please?

Question

Magnus Carlsen played 84) f7 in a recent game against
Bu Xiangzhi, and I was wondering if someone will please tell me why Bu resigns? I know i must be overlooking something very basic, but all i see is a draw. here is the url...
http://chessbase.com/news/2007/games/biel01.htm
scroll down to the second window. The double arrow facing right takes you through the games 5 moves at a time.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I call such positions "The goalkeeper cannot dive both ways" (borrowing an image from soccer). When White shortly plays a7 the bishop is fatally paralysed: if he stops the f-pawn the a-pawn queens, and if he stops the a-pawn, the f-pawn queens. Some choice! Bu recognised the inevitable when it stared him in the face.

84 f7 might look like a blunder to a beginner but it is a clever temporary rook sacrifice so as to gain a queen.

Bu bcame a grandmaster at 13, Carlsson at 12 and are both still in their teens but now in the world's top 50 (FIDE list at 1st July 07) so interesting to see a game between two such prodigies and thanks for showing it to us. But the real whizzkid at Biel is Taimur Radjabov of Azerbaijan (playing in game 3 below the Carlsson-Bu game). GM at 13, and now World No 7 at age 19. He is from Baku, like Kasparov was and is hotly tipped to go on to emulate his compatriot's success at World Championsip level.

Answer 2

As I read the position, Black now cannot stop the one of the pawns.

If Rxe6, then a7 and one of the pawns must Queen, since the Bishop on c5 can't control both a7 and f8 any more--also the Rook is stopped from going to either a6 or e8 as both squares are controlled by White.

Black only other hope is to try to keep checking White's King, but after h8+, Kd2, Rh2+, Be2, Black is out of checks.

Finally, if Rh8, Re8 will force a Queen or loss mo material for black.

wl

Answer 3

the white pawn on e7 is threatening to become a queen. if it does, white will win because black wont be able to counter. but the bishop on c5 is stoping it. now what if the pawn on a6 advanced one space. it too would be ready to queen . if the bishop on c5 takes it the e7 pawn will become a queen. but it is balcks turn. the only way to stop whites hope is Rook h6-h8, preventing the move of white in advance. however what if white counters with Rook e6 to e8? black's rook will die and once it does the pawns will outsmart the bishop. if the black rook captures the white one pawn will capture the black rook and will be queen. once white has a queen, black will feel whites wrath. that is why black resigned(he thought it out carefully!)

Answer 4

i dont see the draw, of course if black plays rxr then white plays a7 and blacks bishop is overworked, it cant stop both the pawns. Also the black rook is powerless, note that whites bishop guards the a6 square. anyway bu couldve resigned a long time ago being 2 solid pawns down.

Answer 5

He resigned to confuse you.:)

Sorry, had to say that.

He can't stop one of the pawns from queening and an extra queen for a few pawns is a killer advantage.

Answer 6

White moves his pawn to a7.
Then, Black cannot prevent White from getting a Queen.