This position is very difficult for both sides. However, White can win. Try to figure out ALL variations. It should take you at least 15 – 30 minutes or more if you do not use the help of a computer. Remember, you need to calculate ALL variations. Have fun!
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
This one doesnt look hard. Bh8 followed by either Kxh8 Qxf8# or Qf6 looks like an easy win for white. Someone below me will post the obvious thing I am missing that makes this a difficult puzzle though.
I was also thinking about Bh8 but only because Susan says that the position is difficult. I don’t think I will even consider that move if Susan didn’t say that it is difficult.
Black might continue with 1. … Qd4 2. Qf6 Qd5+ 3. Kh2 Qxe5 4. Qxe5 f6 and so on.
The point is that you have to consider all the variations. If you think Bh8 is the win the pretend you’re black: do you just resign? No, so you move your rook somewhere. On Qf6 threatening mate you move your king. Whether black can survive is something that you have to calculate.
Bh8 Kh8 Qf8
Bh8 Rc8 Qf6 Kf8 Bg7 Kg8 ( Kd8 Bb5#) Bh6 Rc1 Qg7#
Bh8 Qh5 Qf6 Qh6 g4! b2 g5! +-
Bh8 Rb8!? Qf6 Kf8 Bb5! Qe4+ ( Rxb5 Qd8#) Kh2 Forced Mate!
Nice puzzle, I probably am wrong somewhere…
In the Qh6 f4 line given above, instead on b2 Black plays a rook move, so after g5 the black queen can go to f8, and still defend against the mate on g7.
How about this…
1. Bg5 Qd4
2. Qf6 Qd8
3. QxQ RxQ
4. BxR a3
5. Ba5 a2
6. Bc3
oops, sorry, I meant g4, not f4, in my comment, above. Now you know why I am lousy at chess.
Bg5 Fails do to Qh5 and h6
1.bh8 qh5
2.qf6 qh6
3.g4 rb8
4.g5?! qf8 -+
more to come…
what about
1.qc5 ra8
2.qe3 qh5 (… qd1, 2.f3 +-)
3.f3
I)
3… a3
4.g4 a2
5.gxh a1Q
6.qh6 +-
II)
3….g5
4.g4 hg6
5.bxg5 qg7
6.bh6 qh8
7.qg5+ +-
maybe there are better moves than 1. … ra8 for black?
correcting a misspelling (move 4):
3….g5
4.g4 qh6
5.bxg5 qg7
6.bh6 qh8
7.qg5+ +-
1.qc5 h5
2.qe3 kh7
3.f3 qb4
4.qg5 +-
so 1….h5 is not better than 1. …ra8
1.qc5 a3
2.qe3 qh5
3.be2 qf5
4.qh6 +-
so, 1…a3 is not a possibility, too
hmmm – my first move would be
1.Qc5!
sincerly, Vohaul
1.qc5 qh5 (1…g5, bxh7+ +-)
2.qe3 rc8
(3.be2? qf5,4.qh6 qd4+,5.kh3 qh1+ =)
3.f3! (and further like mentioned above)
the idea of catching the queen seems to work properly!
I think this is correct
1. Bg5 Qd4 (if Qh5 then 2. f3 h6 3 g4)
2. Qf6 Qd8
3. QxQ RxQ
4. BxR a3
5. Ba5 a2
6. Bc3
Pedro
:-(( my 1.qc5 lines do not work because i’ve missed so far 1. … rb8! and the black queen has a safe place on b4 …
buhuhu …
this bg5 thing might be indeed the solution!
your sad Vohaul
you guys have now spent over 12 hours on this one. susan said 30 minutes.
say anonymous. and there are a lot of them around here. I love your comment.
Anonymous said…
oops, sorry, I meant g4, not f4, in my comment, above. Now you know why I am lousy at chess.
Friday, June 16, 2006 12:55:43 AM
because you are anonymous instead of having a name it is impossible to figure out where you made the wrong comment.
@anonym – the last one
– some people here in this blog aren’t chess professionals – so – they have a little other work to do, than spenting hours and hours sitting in front of a chess position
… that make’s the difference between chess pros, computers – and normal human beings …
(by the way – the first – by you applauded line – has a mistake in it – work it out – if you have time … and moreover – computer lines do not have any branch variation … be sure, the f4/g4 line was shredder made…)
Plaese don’t think that bloggers spent their lives in front of “difficult positions” – they think about chess problems, if there is a little time – so, 30 minutes a day for the given position might be included in 12 hours of a real job!
… if you, dear @anonym, would be in need to work for your money – you would keep your snidely judgements on your own – im sure! (unless ‘u are a genius – Be it!)
sincerly – your 12h man – Vohaul
First Bh8, Qh5.
So first f3 : if Qh5, g4 etc …
So f3 Qd4 and threat of perpetual after Bh8.
So f3 Qd4 and perhaps Bxh7 ?
Well I have no more time…
Oops I meant Bxg6.
Perpetual after Bh8, QxB, Qf6 and the Black Queen checks.
Does this work?
1. Bg5 Qh5 (if 1 … Qd4 2. Qf6 Qd8 3. QxQ & wins the rook)
2. Qf6 h6
3. Be2! +-
Black has to pick the Bishop to save the queen, and if so, the h6 pawn falls and mate is inevitable.
Steven.