CHESS CORNER: Sometimes getting hit helps you win
In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt was shot in the chest during a campaign speech in Milwaukee. He was running for president as the leader of the Bull Moose Party and eventually lost the election to Woodrow Wilson. The bullet was impeded by a steel eyeglass case and the 50-page speech in his pocket.
Lodging in his chest, the bullet missed his heart and lungs. Emboldened, Roosevelt famously said, “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.
” In this week’s position, white’s rook also takes a bullet for his party and still finishes off black. With this hint in mind, please try to find white’s winning line. White has dangerous passed pawn on f7.
However, black’s rook is thwarting the pawn’s promotion. Black’s king is on its way over toward white’s rook, so as to eventually capture white’s f7 pawn. White’s king is too far away to help.
White’s rook then takes a bullet and jumps onto to e6, check. White’s rook is directly in the line of fire of black’s rook. Black’s rook takes its counterpart, or else be captured itself.