White to move. Can white save this game? How should white proceed?
q2b3r/1b3pk1/2np1N2/4pPPQ/4P3/rP6/1BP5/1K1B2R1 w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Sunday chess tactic
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Difficult to believe R&B could cooperate so well.
1.Qxh8+ Kxh8
2.Rh1+ Kg7
3.Rh7+ Kf8
4.Rh8+ Ke7 (4…. Kg7 5.Rg8#)
5.Re8#
It could well be captioned mate in 5.
Qh6+ Rxh6
gxh6+
1 …. Kxh6
Bc1#
2 …. Kxf6
h7 Bc7
Rg8
3 …. Kf8
Rg8+
h7 etc
4 …. Kh8
Rg8#
1. Qxh8+ Kxh8
2. Rh1+ Kg7
3. Rh7+ Kf8
4. Rh8+
and now either
4. … Kg7
5. Rg8 mate
or
4. … Ke7
5. Re8 mate
“Can white save this game?” = “White to mate in X moves” 🙂
1Qxr force mate in few moves.
Forced moves.
Happy easy Sunday!
Qh8+ for starters. Rh1 and Rh7 will mate.
The knight on f6 saves the day:
1. Qxh8+ Kxh8
2. Rh1+ Kg7
3. Rh7+ Kf8
4. R8h+
4. … Kg7 5. Rg8#
4. … Ke7 5. Re8#
An easily recognized R+N mate, helped by f5 and g5 pawns, and black’s own f7, d6 and Bd8. Other pieces don’t participate.
1. Qxh8+ Kxh8
2. Rh1+ Kg7
3. Rh7+ Kf8
4. Rh8+ Ke7/Kg7
5. Re8#/Rg8#
Qh8
White has a won position with mate in 5!!
1.Qxh8+!!.Kxh8.
2.Rh1+!.Kg7.
3.Rh7+.Kf8.
4.Rh8+.Ke7. (If Kg7.5.Kg8#!)
5.Re8#!
Qxh8 Kxh8
Rh1+ Kg7
Rh7+ Kf8
Rh8+ Kg7 or Ke7
Re8# or Rg8#
First posted here July 11, 2011.
To Frank Rabinovitch:
Your idea is interesting and actually looks winning too.
Has anyone found something basically wrong with it?
I pondered about:
1. Qh6+ Rxh6
2. gxh6+ Kxf6 (Kxh6?? Bc1#)
3. h7 Nb4!?
4. h8=Q+ Ke7
And white has to be very careful to concider a counter attack starting with:
5. … Ra1+
6. Bxa1 Qa2+
7. Kc1 Qxa1+
8. Kd2 Qd4+ etc.
Dear Pht
Thank you kindly. I will love to explore when I get home. I was shocked that I missed the easy victory!!
Frank
Dear Pht
How about?
5. f6+
if
5 … Ke6
6. Qe8+ Kxf6
7. Rf1+ etc.
or
if
5. … Kd7
6. Qh3+ Kc6
7. Qc3+ Kb5
8. Be2+
6. … Kc7
7. Qc3 Nc6
8. Bxa3 Qxa3
9. Rg7 etc
But I like yours better!