White to move and win.
Note: This is long and EXTREMELY difficult, probably one of the most difficult puzzles I have ever posted here. It is NOT a one, two, three, or four move puzzle. Can you solve WITHOUT computer assistance?
Here are some of the lines:
1. Qe5+ Kc1 (1… Kc2 2. Qd6 +-)
2. Rb8 Rc4+ (2…Qa6 3. Qf4+ Kc2 4. Qf2+ Kc1 5. Qe1+ Kc2 6. Qb1+ Kd2 7. Rb2+ Kc3 8. Qc2#)
3. Kd3 Rd4+ 4. Kc3 Qd6 5. Qe3+ Rd2 6. Rb4 f6 (6… f5 7. Ra4 Qc6+ 8. Rc4 Qd5 9. Rc8 Qa5+ 10. Kb3+ Kd1 11. Rc1+ Kxc1 12. Qe1+ +-)
7. Ra4 Qc6+ (7… Qe5+ 8. Qxe5 Rc2+ 9. Kb3 fxe5 10. Rc4 Rxc4 11. Kxc4 Kd2 12. Kd5 e4 13. Kxe4 Ke2 14. Ke5 +-)
8. Rc4 Qd5 9. Qe1+ Rd1 10. Qe2 Rd2 (10… Qe5+ 11. Kb3+ +-)
11. Kb3+ Kb1 12. Qe1+ Rd1 13. Qb4 Qe5 (13… Qd2 14. Qxd2 Rxd2 15. gxf6 Rd8 16. f7 Rf8 17. Rf4 Kc1 18. Kc4 +-)
14. Ka4+ Qb2 15. gxf6 Rd7 16. Qxb2+ Kxb2 17. Rg4 +-
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
if it were me i’d go with
Qe5+
if black went to the a-file i’d check with the rook and see what happens. if black went to c-file i’d try to win the rook with a check on c1 or drive king to the d-file and check with rook, then see what happens
1 Qe5+ Kc2
2 Qd6
wins Black’s rook
hmm…such a tough moves for this one. am still working on it. Thanks Susan! ^_^
Have a nice day ya! 🙂
Qe5 Kc2 forced
Rg8 Whites chases the king until he bails out in a won ending
Ok.. hopefully this is right… our university chess club spent about 30 minutes on this:
1. Qe5+ Ka3 (1… Kc2 2. Qd6! +-, anything else loses material as well)
2. Qa1+ Kb3
3. Rb8!!
Now black can never take on b8 unless it is with check, or unless the white rook gets to the 2nd rank to block Qb1+ later.. continue:
3… Rc6+
4. Kf3 Re3+
5. Kg4 Rxg3+
6. Kh4! 1-0
Qe5 Kc1 Rb8 Rc4+ Kd3 Rd4 Qxd4 Qxb8 Qa1!!!!+
Kd5 Re6
The win is not clear
1. Qe5+ Kc1!
Not 1. …Kc2 due to 2. Qd6 winning the rook. Now 2. Qd6?? does not work due to 2. …Qb1+! and now black can capture White’s rook
1. Qe5+ ( es trck said 1…Kc2 2.Qd6 ) Kc1!
2.Qd6?? Qb1+ wins
so better is 2. Rb8
The difficult part now is to find black’s line of defence.
in my opinion, the solution is easy, because 1.Rxc6 and wining the queen black,because the king is pining, and 1…K move, and is easy to check mate.is my opinion.
Hmm…
Sometimes, Susan, it is difficult to answer correctly the question: “Am I computer or not from the viewpoint of others?” Is GM level because of geniality/ or inability to be like others?
Anyway, I like Your puzzles very much and appreciate Your style.
Thanks for good work that You do.
P.S. Blogger is the best IT solution You could use.
sorry for the bad thinking about the position. in my opinion the move is 1.Qxb6+,1…Rxb6.2.ke5, and is not easy win the final and the roook and pawns.
Given for granted that i’m not a GM, and not even close to become one of them…
Will i be able to understand the solution?
Qxb6+ Rxb6
Rc7
winning the f-pawn and leading by force to a won Rook pawn endgame
g4….
threathening to come into h2+ with the queen.
now black can trade queens or check with the rook.
In case of queen trading on b8, white wins the f7 pawn and the game. (if white trades queens at once it would allow black rook to save the f7 pawn or win the g5 pawn)
In case of black rook checks on the c file white king eventually moves to d2 where it cannot be checked anymore by the rook. In case of black rook checks on the 6th rank, white king moves to d5 where it cannot be checked anymore.
With white king on d5 white will win with the Qh2+ penetration.
With white king on d2, white will win with the Qe5+ check
1 Qe5+ !
1…Kc1 or Kc2 2.Qd6 wins the rook
1…Kb1 or Kb3 2.Rb8 wins the Queens
1… Ka2 2. Qd5+ wins the rook
1… Ka3 2. Qa1+ Kb3 3 Rb8 ! wins the Queen
regards from New Zealand
I am late to the party, but TinkyTyler has the most complete solution I see.
After 1. Qe5+ black has seven moves
1. ….Rc3 loses to Qc3+, obviously
1. ….Kc2 loses to Qd6
1. ….Kb1/b3
2. Rb8 Re6
3. Rb6 Kc2/c3
4. Kd5 Re5
5. Ke5 Kc4/d3
6. Kf6 Kd4/e4
7. Kf7 Ke5
8. Kg6 wins
1. ….Ka3 is covered completely by Tinky, I think
1. ….Ka2 loses to Qd5+
Kc1 puts up the most resistance:
1. ….Kc1
2. Rb8 Qc5
3. Qb2 Kd1
4. Qa1 Kd2 (Qc1 5. Rb1)
5. Rb2 Kc3
6. Rb5 wins the queen with discovered check.
1. ….Kc1
2. Rb8 Qc7
3. Qb1 Kd1
4. Qd4 Kc1 (Ke2/e1 5. Qe3 wins)
5. Qe3 Kc2 (Kd1 6.Rb1 Rc1 7. Qg1)
6. Qd3 Kc1
7. Rb1#
1. ….Kc1
2. Rb8 Qa6/a7
3. Qb2 Kd1
4. Rd8 Ke1
5. Qd2 Kf1
6. Qd1 Kg2
7. Rd2 Kh3
8. Qh1 Kg3 (Kg4 9. Qh4#)
10.Rg2#
1. ….Kc1
2. Rb8 Qf2
3. Qa1 Kd2
4. Rb2 Rc2
5. Rc2 Kc2
6. Qa2 wins the queen
1. ….Kc1
2. Rb8 Qg1
3. Qa1 wins the queen
1. ….Kc1
2. Rb8 Re6
3. Rb6 wins a rook.
That is a very difficult one.
I only get to
1.Qe5 Kc1 2.Rb8 Rc4 3.Kd3 Rd4!
4.Kc3 Qd6! 5.Qe3 Rd2
6.Rb4 (avoiding Qa3)
Now white threads somthing like Ra4
or if the queen moves to d7
Qg1 Rd1 Rb1 Kb1 Qb6.
But I find not the correct continuation.
Boris
1.Qe5 Kc1
2.Rb8 Rc4
3.Kd3 Rd4!
4.Kc3 Qd6!
5.Qd4 wins since black cannot take on b8 with check.
5. …Qb8
6. Qg1#
and
5. ….Qg3
6. Kc4 Qc7
7. Kd3 Qb8
8. Qa1 Qb1
9. Qb1 Kb1
10.Kd4, 11.Ke5, 12.Kf6, 13. Kf7, 14.Kg6 wins. Also, in this line
5. ….Qg3
6. Kc4 Qc7
7. Kd3 Qg3
8. Qe3 wins by forcing the queens off the board; or
7. ….Qc2
8. Ke3 and black is all out checks and no longer even attacking the rook.
You are correct, it is complicated, and I hope I haven’t missed anything in this reply.
To continue with my previous line
1. Qe5+ Kc1
And now
2. Rb8 (Best attempt to win the game)
2. … Rc4+ 3. Kc1 (Now white tries to weave a mating net)
3. … Rd3+! 4. Qxd4 ( Other moves leads to mating for Black)
4. … Qxb85. Qa1+ Qb1+ 6. Qxb1+ Kxb1
Now it is not clear if White is winning e.g. 7. g4 Kxc1
8. Ke3 Kc2. Perhaps Kramnik or Kamsky knows the winning continuation after the 6th move?
How about 1.Qe5+ Kc1 2.Qf4+? Now if 2…Kc2 3.Qd6 wins. If black king choose another square, for example:
2…Kd1 3.Rd8+ Kc2 4.Rd2+ Kc1 5.Rd6+! and wins in a few moves;
2…Kb2 3.Rb8 Rc4+ 4.Kd3 Rc3+ 5.Kd2 Rc3+ 6.Kd1, winning;
2…Kb1 3.Rb8 Rc4+ 4.Kd3, winning.
@anonymous 2:17
5.Qd4 Qg3 6.Kc4 Qb8! is an easy draw
and 6.Qd3 Qe5 7.Qd4 Qg3 repeats.
I would start by exchanging off the Queens. The black King is too far out of the action to prevent white, with precise play, from eventually getting a pawn through. I guess there must be a shorter method.
For what its worth, in my Ka3 line, The immediate
2. Qa1+ Kb3
3. Qb1+ wins as Kc loses the Q on b6, and Ka loses to Ra8.
But the Kc1 line is clearly critical. I can’t find anything wrong with Yancey’s lines.
-Tyler
Dear Anonymous,
Sorry but
1. Qe5+ Kc1
2. Qf4+ Kd1
3. Rd8+?? Qxd8
And since in my previous comment,
1. Qe5+ does not seem to work so I might try to win it with
1. Qxb6+ Rxb6
2. Rc7 f6
3. gxf6 Rxf6
4. Rc5
with the idea of 5. g4 then 6. Ke5 afterwards. This looks more winning to me than the line starting with 1. Qe5+
Well, why not try something else then?
1. Kd5 attacking black’s rook. There are no checks for black that work- the queen is pinned. The rook can’t leave the sixth rank because it protects the queen. Qb8 isn’t possible since white takes with check and wins the rook. So, there is only one rook move, two pawn moves and moves with the king.
I need to work on the lines, but will offer this move up for consideration.
1. Kd5 Re6
2. Qb6 Rb6
3. Rc6 Rc6
4. Kc6 Kc3
5. Kd7 Kd4
6. Ke7 Ke5
7. g4 Kf4
8. Kf7 Kg5 draws. So I don’t think white can exchange the heavy pieces this way without an extra tempo.
1. Kd5 Re6
2. Qc7 Qc7
3. Rc7 Re3
4. g4 Rg3
5. Rc4 might be a winning line.
Maybe the right first move is 1.Kf4, protecting the g5 pawn and threatening to change queens, and then 3.Rc7. 1.Qxb6 at once is not good because of 1…Rxb6 2.Rb7 f6. But after 1.Kf4, 2.Qxb6 is a threat because in that line after …f6 White can simply play gxf6 and Kg5. What can Black do after 1.Kf4? If the King goes to the “c” column, then 2.Qxb6 wins the queen. So it seems that he must give check with the rook, but in this process the white king can improve his position, for instance: 1…Rc4+ 2.Kf3 Rc6 3.Kg4 Rc4+ 4.Kh3 Rc6 5.Kh4 Rc4+ 6.g4 and I think White wins after changing queens.
Kd5 Re6
Rc5 and Black is in big trouble
Hey Guys,
Sorry but
1. Kd5? Rc5+
2. Rxc5?? Qxb8
and
1. Kf4 may end up with positions arising from 1. Qxb6+, also with winning chances in the endgame
In addition, the line
1. Kf4 Rc4+
2. Kf3 Qxb8+
3. Rxb8+ Ka3
an now
4. Rb7 Rc1!
still gives problems for White. This position will not happen in
1. Qxb6+ Rxb6
2. Rc7
as the Black King is blocking the Black Rook’s path going to the 1st row.
And to continue with my first solution White has a clear win in the endgame as follows:
1. Qxb6+ Rxb6
2. Rc7 f6
3. gxf6 Rxf6
4. Rc5! Kb3
5. g4 Kb4
6. Ke5! Rf8
7. Rc6 g5
8. Rg6 Kc5
9. Rxg5 Kc6
10. Rf5 Rg8
11. g5 Kd7
12. Kf6
with a theoretical winning endgame for White (White’s Rook not allowing the Black’s King to go to White’s passed pawn on the g-file)
How about:
1. Rf8 now, white is threatening to exchange queens and then winning the f-pawn afterwards. Black has the options of checking with the rook, playing f6/f5, or immediately exchanging queens.
First, the lines with f6:
1. Rf8 f6
2. gf6 Rf6
3. Qb6 Rb6
4. g4
At this point there are two threats I see- white is threatening Kf4, Kg5 and then double attacking the g-pawn. Also, white is threatening g5 and Rf6. I don’t think black can defend the pawn if Kg5 is ever allowed. Eventually, white will end up with the king at h6, the pawn at g5 and should win.
So, I don’t think black can play f6 or f5.
Exchanging queens:
1. Rf8 Qb8
2. Rb8 Kc3
3. Rf8 and now f6 doesn’t work at all- white just takes with the rook, and, on f5, white takes with the pawn and should win the game.
Rook checks
1. Rf8 Re6
2. Kf4 and I don’t see how black holds this.
1. Rf8 Rc4
2. Kf3 Rc3
3. Kg2 and I am not sure continuing to check will hold the position for black.
I am going to have to dig out my chess board.
The checking 1.Qe5 appears promising but is likely premature, since the bK defends with Kc1! How about a foreplan, 1.Kd5 Re6 2.Re8 forcing the rook back 2… Rc6, and then 3.Qe5+. Now Rc3 or K on b file loses to Rb8, and K to a file loses to Ra8 and then Rb8. Thus balck is reduced to two choices (a) 3… Kc1 or (b) Kc2. For (a) I would suggest 4.Qf4+ and for (b)4.Qd2+… Since Susan will post the solution soon, perhaps others may have time to check these possibilities and see if there is a mate or a Q capture in all lines. Good puzzle!
Eli
why Daniel Naroditsky is not in Antalya Turkey in 2009?
So can you pls post the correct answer to the puzzle? I played a competition yesterday and they talked about your sister, Judith. “was told she’ll give some of our best (Nigeria) 30secs to 5mins!!! I’ve not seen her play blitz so i’m still doubting.
Regards.
Qxb6 Qxb6
Rc7 Rb3
Kf4
targeting those pawns. get them out of the way so i can promote my white pawns. now how does he defend the f7 pawn. just gave this a quick glance..
Did Benko solve this over the board??
Simple! White plays QxQ+ (theme: double attack!), and after any king move, he follows up with QxR. Now ahead by a queen and a rook, it should be a straightforward win.
I have a feeling it starts with Kd5 Rd6+Qxd6 Qb7+ Rc5 etc..but I have not had time to run the variations
Kd5 Qxb6 Rxb8+ wins the rook but I think after Qxd6 there will be a long series of checks from the black Queen but I will wait for the solution
1.Kf3 Rc3+ 2.Kg2 Rb3 or Rc6
3.Qxb6+ Rxb6 4.Rc7 f5 5.Rf7 and
6.Rf6
elge
1.Kf3 Rc3+
2.Kg2 Rc6 or Rb3
3.Qxb6 Rxb6
4.Rc7 f5
5.Rf7 and then Rf6
geli
Maybe Benko made a mistake and there is no solution. LOL.
Where is the solution?
Qxq and g4
Qe5+ Kc1 2.Rb8 Rc4+ 3.Kd3
2…Qa6 3.Qf4+ Kc2 4.Qf2+ Kc1 5.Qe1+ Kc2 6.Qb1+ Kc3 7.Rb3
1.Qe5 Kc2 2.Qd6
1…Kb3(and 1…Kb1) 2.Rb8 Rc4 3.Kd3 Rd4+ Ke3
1…Ka3 2.Ra8+ Kb4 3.Rb8 Rc4 4.Kd3 Rd4 Ke3
Chessvictim
Chessvictim says:
By the way 1.Qe5 Kc1 2.Rb8 Rc4+ 3.Kc3
But somethings feel wrong because of the pawn constellation in my solution (there no use for it)
Chessvictim:
1.Qe5 Kc1 2.Rb8 Rc4 3.Kd3 Rd4+ 4. Kc3 Qa7 5.Qe1+ Rd1 6.Rb1+ and mate in few
2…Qf2 3.Qa1 Kd2 4.Rb2+ Rc2 5.Rc2 and wins the queen
Ufff 🙂 what a problem!
First, sure white wins? 😀 –> 1.Qe5+ Kc1 2.Rb8 Rc4+ 3.Kd5 Qc6 is mate… 😀
Ok, seriously I’m thinking about
1.Qe5+ Kc1
I think is the only move, if 1… Ka3 2.Ra8+ and 3.Rb8 and I think is winning, taking black queen, f7 pawn and after Ke5, Qe6, Kf6 etc. or maybe Qxg6 directly)
2.Rb8 Rc4+ 3.Kd3 Rd4+
and know I think is possible to take the rook, as said Boris and anonymous –
4.Qxd4 Qxb8
Uff…
a) 5.Qf4+ Qxf4 6.gxf4 Kd1 is draw.
b) 5.Qa1+ Qb1+ 6.Qxb1+ Kxb1 and now… 7.Kd2 Kb2 8.g4 Kb1 and – if the account is right – is a draw, too. With 7.Ke4 –> draw too.
I think intuitively here is the key, as some people have said, but… I don’t see it 🙁
OK. I think I’ve got it:
1. Qxb6+ Rxb6 (otherwise Qxc6 with trivial win).
now we have a R+2P ending where white’s intention is to win both black pawns while giving up only the g3 pawn, taking advantage of the fact that the black king is far from the pawns.
2. Rc5! (to be able to intercept black’s Re6+ by Re5, in the same time, this cuts the black king from the pawns)
black has two options here:
* check the white king by Rb4+;
* attack white’s pawn by Rb3.
against the first option, white’s move is Ke5, with the intention of Kf6.
against the second option, white’s move is Kf4, which defends the attacked white pawn.
——————————-
One sequence could be:
1. Qxb6+ Rxb6
2. Rc5 Rb4+
3. Ke5 Rg4
4. Kf6 Rxg3
5. Kxf7 Rf3+
6. Kxg6
It looks to me that the problem is thus reduced to a standard winning position for white.
Did I miss something?
V.P.
V.P.
Black could just play f5+ after Rc5, and should be able to hold no problem.
Tinky, if f5+ white takes the “f” pawn en-passant.
V.P.
Qxb6 Rxb6
Rc7 Rb4+
Ke5 Rb5+
Kf6 Rb6
Kg7
This is a continuation of the line that i started with Qxb6. targeting the pawns and get them out the way and use the pawn to promote.
V.P.
Then black played Rxf6… Unless Im missing something that should be drawable for black, no?
You definitely need to give a line to prove this wins because I don’t seen anything immediate (I don’t have a board in front of me however)
Wolverine, like I just said above Im pretty sure just the immediate 2… f5+ draws for black (no point in giving check to let the white king get closer to your pawns)
Wolverine:
Forget what I just posted because I don’t think its clear after f5 that black can hold (white probably has Ke5 then eventually Rf7 and Rf6.
How about we try 2… Re6+
3. Kf4 Re1! followed by Rf1 should hold.
3. Kd5 Re3 should also hold.
3. Kd4 f5 should also hold.
Did i miss anything?
????
So many waiting to see the solution!… Please, Susan!
Tinky,
If black goes Re6+ white intercepts by Re5, forcing exchange of rooks and winning the black pawns.
As for your response with Rxf6, after white takes the “f” pawn en passant, white should be able to exchange rooks, say by playing Ke5, a possible line:
Ke5 Rf5+
Kd6 Rxc5
Kxc5
Next comes the king race, which is tricky, for example:
… Kc3
Kd5 Kd3
Ke5 Ke3
g4! Kf3
g5 (if black goes g5 then white goes Kf5)
Again, the general idea is that the white king is nearer to the pawns. I am doing this without a board, so I may have missed something, but I think the general theme is correct.
If queens remain on-board, black obtains too many chances for counterplay.
The other line is if the black rook attacks the white pawn, say by Rf3. In that case, white goes Rg5 and eventually picks the black pawn on g6 (even after black tries Rf6 to defend, Ke5 attacks the rook).
V.P.
1. Qb8–e5+ Kb2–c1 2. Rc8–b8 Qb6–c7 3. Qe5–b2+ Kc1–d1 4. Qb2–d4+ Kd1–c1 5. Qd4–e3+ Kc1–d1 6. Qe3–d3+ Kd1–e1 7. Ke4–f3 Rc6–f6+ 8. g5xf6 Qc7–c6+ 9. Qd3–e4+
and white wins
John from Amsterdam
1. Qb8–e5+ Kb2–c1 2. Rc8–b8 Qb6–c7 3. Qe5–b2+ Kc1–d1 4. Qb2–d4+ Kd1–c1 5. Qd4–e3+ Kc1–d1 6. Qe3–d3+ Kd1–e1 7. Ke4–f3 Rc6–f6+ 8. g5xf6 Qc7–c6+ 9. Qd3–e4+
and white wins
John from Amsterdam
Qe5+ probably wins, but it’s a long struggle still. No surprise tactics.
like i said before with my initial look of the board i wanted to take out the queens to give black less chance to defend.
theres different variations but i believe trading off the queens and using the white rook and king to target those black pawns is the way to go.
i own no chess books and havnt been formally trained in chess endings.. im just going by what i see. i dont like working with other people to solve something so if you have different ideas go do it then. im not here to debate things..
Easy problem. 1 Qxb6+ Rxb6 2. Rc7 and the rook and pawns endgame is won. WCF World Chess Champion World Grand Master Stan Vaughan also 3 time WCCF World Correspondence Chess Champion and 2 time Mensa World Correspondence Chess Champion
WCF GM Stan Vaughan with correct play after trading off queens White can force endgame and force rooks off if white heads to h file and if black rook goes to f5 reposition white rook to f6 forcing rooks off and g5xf6 then head to g7 with White king only AFTER rooks off with position of white Kg7 pawns f6 and g5 with Black in zugzwang King e6 pawns f7 and g6
easy endgame…
This comment has been removed by the author.
1 Qe5+ Kc2
2 Qd6 wins Rook
If 1…KC1,
2. Rb8 wins
Because when black queen moves out of the way, Qb2+, or Qa1+, depending on where the black Queen is positioned.
Ok I spent a bit of time on this puzzle. I was trying to swap rooks for a while and maybe give up the backward white pawn – but did not make headway. Then I thought how about giving up the forward g pawn and marching with the backward one and that appears to win. Here’s my solution – just giving the main line:
Qxb6 Rxb6 Rc7 Rb4+ Kf3 Rb3+ Kg4 Rb4+ Kh3 Rb5 Rxf7 Rxg5 Rf6 Kc3 g4 Kd4 Kh4 Ra5 Rxg6 +/-
There is one line I have seen started yet, and it only now occurred to me:
1. Qe5 Kc1
2. Qf6 and the black rook doubly pinned to a single square.
1.Qe5+ Kc1 (Kc2 Qd6)
2.Rb8 Rc4+
3.Kd3 Rd4+
4.Kc3 Qd6
5.Qe3+ Rd2
6.Rb4 f5
7.Ra4 Qc6+
8.Rc4 …. and B is v lost here
8. …Qd5
9.Rc8 Qd7 (Kd1? Qa5+?)
10.Rc5 Qd6
11.Kb3+ Qxc5
12.Qxc5+
Black could have played some moves that lose quicker but force a unique reply from White, but this seems ok.
My two cents:
1. Qe5+ .. Kc1 (i hope there will be no need to explain why other replies lose immediately…)
2. Qf4+ .. Kd1 (if Kb 3.Rb8)
3. Rxc6+ Qxc6+
4. Ke3.
Now White is targeting f7, keeping the enemy king distant and the black queen won’t harass the white king for long. Black will try to protect f7 with the queen, and at that time White will do some manouver i think… if i were a GM i could tell you that, you know!
QxQ know it’s wrong
I look forward to your informed explanation of the solution.
1.Qe5 Kc1! (1…Kc2? 2.Qd6+-; 1…Kb3 2.Qd5+-; 1…Ka~ 2.Ra8 Kb~ 3.Rb8+-) 2.Rb8 Rc4 3.Kd3 Rd4 4.Kc3 Qd6 5.Qe3 Rd2 6.Rb4 f6 7.Ra4 Qc6 8.Rc4 Qd5 9.Qe1 Rd1 10.Qe2 Rd2 11.Kb3 Kb1 12.Qe1 Rd1 13.Qb4!
don’t have time to work out the details… but what about
1. g4
and play off the fact that black doesn’t really want to move any of his pieces.
not to mention the reason why that Qa1+ line fails is because the pawn is not on g4.
I think the “anonymous” of 17th november 1:23 PM is right. Maybe it’s Susan…After 1.Qe5+ Kc1 2.Rb8 Rc4+ 3.Kd3 Rd4+ 4.Kc3 Qd6! 5.Qe3+ (not 5.Qb5 Rd3+! 6.Qxd3 Qe5+ 7.Qd4 Qxg3+ 8.Qd3 Qe5+!=)5…Rd2, 6.Rb4!! is the magnificent move I didn’t find. Well done!
some ideas behind g4 is explored by Shulita on november 13..
This is really a very easy puzzle, Susan.
White delivers a mate in two by the following manoeuvres: 1.Qxb6+ Ka1 (alternatively Ka2 or Ka3 if Black prefers) 2.Ra8#. WCH GM Sid Vaughan (Stan’s brother), World Chess Helpmate Champion
Qe5 followed by r-b8
qe5 followed by r-b8 looks menacing
Please post the solution…
Susan has not delivered her commentary explaining the winning line yet.
1. g4 rc4+
2. kd5 rd4+
3. ke5
1-0
1. g4 re6+
2. kd5
1-0
1. g4 QxQ
2. QxQ+ kc2
3. Rb7
1-0
1. g4 rc4+
2. kd5 rd4+
3. ke5
1-0
1. g4 re6+
2. kd5
1-0
1. g4 QxQ
2. rxQ+ kc3
3. Rb7
1-0
zimmez, that line is a draw
1. g4 QxQ
2. rxQ+ kc3
3. Rb7
Then r-c4 checks and keeps checking until it draws or picks up the g4 pawn (by going back to c4)
Some comments to the solution.
6.- f6 is not the main variation because
11.Qf1 Rd1 12.Qf4 Rd2 13.gf6 also wins
and more important
6.- f5 7.Ra4 Qc6 8.Rc4 Qd5 9.Rc8 leads to the most important position of this study.
With black to move white wins,
but with white to move it is only a draw.
(A reciprocal zugzwang).
Both sides have no waiting moves.
Now
9.- Qd7 10.Rc5 Qd6 11.Kb3 Kb1
12.Rc1 Kc1 13.Qe1 Rd1 14.Qc3 15.Qb2#
is a more study like end.
After 6.-f6 … 9.Rc8? does not work because 9.-f5!! lead to the position with white to move.
Ther is also a nice pawn ending possible.
After 6.-Qc6 7.Rc4 Qd5 8.Rc5 Qc5 9.Qc5 Rc2 10.Kd4 Rc5 11.Kc5
white wins because after
11.-Kd2 12.Kd6 Ke3 13.Ke7 Ke4
14.Kf6! we have an other reciprocal zugzwang.
http://home.studieaccess.nl/heijd336/home.html …
for the author’s solution
Anon 10:55
I see your point..
In this particular line however, if black played Kc3, the 3rd rank is blocked for the black rook to check isn’t it, for example Rc4+ then Kf3 guarding the g4 pawn and the black rook can’t check on c3. (If then Rc5 to threaten the g5 pawn, white can take on Rf7 and after Rxg5 play Kf4 closing in on the g6 pawn)
I guess however, the king can move to any other square after Rxb8+, for example kc2, then I agree with your argumentation..