Game of the Day
Queen vs 2 Rooks
When is the Queen stronger than 2 Rooks or vice-versa? This theme has often been explored here on this blog. The only correct answer is that it depends on the position: normally 2 Rooks dominate the Queen unless the Queen can attack and create threats.
When making the decision whether to enter into such an asymmetric exchange (Queen for 2 Rooks, or Rook for 2 minor pieces) the initiative is very important.
The following game took place in the 2nd round of the Magistral Internacional Escacs Ciutat de Barbera, between the Bulgarian grandmaster Ivan Cheparinov and the Spanish grandmaster Jaime Santos Lasata. At the critical point of the game the Bulgarian offered his opponent the possibility to trade his Queen for 2 Rooks.
His offer was accepted, and from that point on Cheparinov gave a text book demonstration of how to exploit the initiative to create threats and enhance the power of his Queen.
gm Cheparinov,I – gm Santos Lasata,J
Magistral 21.11.2020
1-0
Very impressive play by Cheparinov! To sum up, with these asymmetric exchanges you must consider the initiative and the ability to create threats before entering into them.
While the 2 Rooks is generally a good exchange for a Queen, if the Queen can attack and create threats then the Queen will likely dominate the 2 Rooks. Which is exactly what happened in this game.
