Answers.Body: <p>As you saw in your game <code>a6</code> failed terribly as it's simply inviting white to take on <code>c6</code> and win the rook. Black had a better way of avoiding all of this a move earlier, i.e. <code>2. Bb5 Nf6</code> instead of <code>Nge7</code>. See illustration:</p>
  
  <pre><code>r1b1kbnr/p1pp4/1p6/4nP1p/6pq/2N5/PPP1BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1
  
  1. Qd5 Nc6
  2. Bb5 Nf6
  3. Re1+ Kd8
  4. Qd2 (4. Qd3 Bc5) (4. Qc4 Bc5)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Finally as for <code>Qf6</code>, as has been suggested in comments by others, it simply loses to <code>Ne4</code> (or the engine move which is <code>Bf4</code>, but it doesn't matter as <code>Ne4</code> is good enough):</p>
  
  <pre><code>r1b1kbnr/p1pp4/1p6/4nP1p/6pq/2N5/PPP1BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1
  
  1. Qd5 Nc6
  2. Bb5 Nge7
  3. Re1 Qf6
  4. Ne4 Qf7
  5. Bxc6 dxc6
  6. Qe5 Bg7
  7. f6
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>So both <code>a6</code> and <code>Qf6</code> blunder the game away, the former bit more horribly so.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-06T03:25:07.570Z
Answers.Text: Ah, I overlooked his way of avoiding the `Nge7` pin. Fortunately, he did too. Thank you for the clear explanation and illustrations.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Cliff
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-06T07:21:09.867Z
Answers.Text: In your second variant, what happens if black plays 4. ... Qd4 or Qe5?
Answers.UserDisplayName: downhand
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-06T11:32:12.040Z
Answers.Text: I believe instead 2.Bb5 white could simply play 2.Re1 first. Maybe I will answer this sometime soon by explaining why Bb5 is not so good and how Black can defend and improve its position
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pavan Nadig
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T19:31:45.153Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-05-05T19:31:45.153Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ellie
Answers.Body: <p>In the initial position I would chose White. Black is slightly ahead in material, but most of it is a dead wood.</p>
  
  <ol start="3">
  <li>... Qf6 loses to 4. Ne4, e.g. 4. ... Nd5 5. Nf6++ K~ 6. Nd5 recovering material.</li>
  </ol>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T07:18:16.893Z
Answers.Text: Isn't there 5.Nd6++ Kd8 6.Rd8 mate?
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T07:22:14.213Z
Answers.Text: I was looking at 4.Ne4 Qf7 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nd6+ cxd6 7.Qxc6+ Kd8 8.Qxa8 Nxf5 9.Bg5+ and White can grab the a-pawn.
Answers.UserDisplayName: bof
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T07:34:03.473Z
Answers.Text: @BlindKungFuMaster 5. ... Kf7 is technically legal
Answers.UserDisplayName: user58697
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T07:38:08.220Z
Answers.Text: @user58697: Not according to the rules I know … ;-)
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T07:42:09.500Z
Answers.Text: @BlindKungFuMaster Sorry I might be under influence; tell me how f7 is controlled?
Answers.UserDisplayName: user58697
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T08:36:08.160Z
Answers.Text: The variation I'm talking about is 3…Qf6 4.Ne4 Nd5 5.Nd6++ (now f7 is controlled by the Nd6) Kd8 6.Re8#
Answers.UserDisplayName: BlindKungFuMaster
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T09:46:08.603Z
Answers.Text: Yes, 4...Nd5?? is a horrible blunder. 4...Qf7 puts up a better fight.
Answers.UserDisplayName: bof
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T07:08:36.080Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-05-05T07:08:36.080Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user58697
Body: <p>I'm getting back into chess after a hiatus of 8+ years, so I'm a bit rusty. This position is from a game I just played online.</p>
  
  <p>I'm white and it's my move. I threaten black's rook and knight with <code>Qd5</code>, and this is how it played out. I'm amazed it worked in my favor, because as far as I can tell, instead of <code>3. - a6</code>, he could have moved <code>3. - Qf6</code>, which would save him after a few exchanges. Am I missing something, or did he just make the wrong move?</p>
  
  <p>EDIT: Removed irrelevant sentence about Kf7.</p>
  
  <pre><code>r1b1kbnr/p1pp4/1p6/4nP1p/6pq/2N5/PPP1BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1
  
  1. Qd5 Nc6
  2. Bb5 Nge7
  3. Re1 a6
  4. Bxc6 dxc6
  5. Qxc6+ Bd7
  6. Qxa8+ Kf7
  7. Qxa6
  </code></pre>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T12:09:17.407Z
Comments.Text: @bof or 7. Qxc8+ right away, since the black knight is pinned.
Comments.UserDisplayName: GloriaVictis
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T12:25:53.833Z
Comments.Text: @GloriaVictis Was 2...Nge7 the best Black could do? What happens if he plays 2...Nf6?
Comments.UserDisplayName: bof
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-05-05T12:43:58.733Z
Comments.Text: @bof seems like a much better move to me; I'd say white maintains an edge after 3. Re1+, but I do not see an immediate win.
Comments.UserDisplayName: GloriaVictis
Tags: <combinations>
Title: Did black misplay here or did I miss something?
ThreadText: # Did black misplay here or did I miss something?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-05-05)
  
  I'm getting back into chess after a hiatus of 8+ years, so I'm a bit rusty. This position is from a game I just played online.
  
  I'm white and it's my move. I threaten black's rook and knight with `Qd5`, and this is how it played out. I'm amazed it worked in my favor, because as far as I can tell, instead of `3. - a6`, he could have moved `3. - Qf6`, which would save him after a few exchanges. Am I missing something, or did he just make the wrong move?
  
  EDIT: Removed irrelevant sentence about Kf7.
  
  ```
  r1b1kbnr/p1pp4/1p6/4nP1p/6pq/2N5/PPP1BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1
  
  1. Qd5 Nc6
  2. Bb5 Nge7
  3. Re1 a6
  4. Bxc6 dxc6
  5. Qxc6+ Bd7
  6. Qxa8+ Kf7
  7. Qxa6
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** combinations
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: @username_2 or 7. Qxc8+ right away, since the black knight is pinned.  
  > **username_2**: @username_1 Was 2...Nge7 the best Black could do? What happens if he plays 2...Nf6?  
  > **username_1**: @username_2 seems like a much better move to me; I'd say white maintains an edge after 3. Re1+, but I do not see an immediate win.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2015-05-05. Score: 2 | Accepted answer
  
  As you saw in your game `a6` failed terribly as it's simply inviting white to take on `c6` and win the rook. Black had a better way of avoiding all of this a move earlier, i.e. `2. Bb5 Nf6` instead of `Nge7`. See illustration:
  
  ```
  r1b1kbnr/p1pp4/1p6/4nP1p/6pq/2N5/PPP1BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1
  
  1. Qd5 Nc6
  2. Bb5 Nf6
  3. Re1+ Kd8
  4. Qd2 (4. Qd3 Bc5) (4. Qc4 Bc5)
  
  ```
  
  Finally as for `Qf6`, as has been suggested in comments by others, it simply loses to `Ne4` (or the engine move which is `Bf4`, but it doesn't matter as `Ne4` is good enough):
  
  ```
  r1b1kbnr/p1pp4/1p6/4nP1p/6pq/2N5/PPP1BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 1
  
  1. Qd5 Nc6
  2. Bb5 Nge7
  3. Re1 Qf6
  4. Ne4 Qf7
  5. Bxc6 dxc6
  6. Qe5 Bg7
  7. f6
  
  ```
  
  So both `a6` and `Qf6` blunder the game away, the former bit more horribly so.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Ah, I overlooked his way of avoiding the `Nge7` pin. Fortunately, he did too. Thank you for the clear explanation and illustrations.  
  > **username_4**: In your second variant, what happens if black plays 4. ... Qd4 or Qe5?  
  > **username_5**: I believe instead 2.Bb5 white could simply play 2.Re1 first. Maybe I will answer this sometime soon by explaining why Bb5 is not so good and how Black can defend and improve its position  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2015-05-05. Score: 0
  
  In the initial position I would chose White. Black is slightly ahead in material, but most of it is a dead wood.
  
  3. ... Qf6 loses to 4. Ne4, e.g. 4. ... Nd5 5. Nf6++ K~ 6. Nd5 recovering material.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_7**: Isn't there 5.Nd6++ Kd8 6.Rd8 mate?  
  > **username_2**: I was looking at 4.Ne4 Qf7 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nd6+ cxd6 7.Qxc6+ Kd8 8.Qxa8 Nxf5 9.Bg5+ and White can grab the a-pawn.  
  > **username_6**: @username_7 5. ... Kf7 is technically legal  
  > **username_7**: @username_6: Not according to the rules I know … ;-)  
  > **username_6**: @username_7 Sorry I might be under influence; tell me how f7 is controlled?  
  > **username_7**: The variation I'm talking about is 3…Qf6 4.Ne4 Nd5 5.Nd6++ (now f7 is controlled by the Nd6) Kd8 6.Re8#  
  > **username_2**: Yes, 4...Nd5?? is a horrible blunder. 4...Qf7 puts up a better fight.  
  
  ---
  
  