Clearing the line to h6 certainly suggests itself. The only problem is the bishop at e3 is hanging, but after a minute’s thought, I can see it doesn’t matter:
1. f5!
Threatens Bh6#. Continuing:
1. …..Re3
There may be longer defenses, but do they even matter? Continuing:
2. fg6
Threatens Rf7#. I don’t see anything other than sacrificial delays.
Two interesting mate patterns that may well occur in endgame help White to win the game easily.
1.f5! (threat Bh6#, pattern often seen in KBN / K) Rxe3 2.fxe6 (or fxg6) (threat Rf7#, pattern often seen in the very drawish KRN / KR, though some winning positions exist)
and that’s it!
PS: after I’ve solved this puzzle, I checked the game. A spectacular short game with sacrifices. A must see even if both are not GM.
1. … Rxc3+ 2. Kb2! Rxe3 (still to avoid Bh6#) 3. fxe6/fxg6 Re2+ etc. goes as above. Should be mate in 6 I think. Rf7# is a classic theme, here the threat Bh6# gains the tempo to make it happen.
1.f5 Rxe3 2.fxe6 and soon e7#.
Clearing the line to h6 certainly suggests itself. The only problem is the bishop at e3 is hanging, but after a minute’s thought, I can see it doesn’t matter:
1. f5!
Threatens Bh6#. Continuing:
1. …..Re3
There may be longer defenses, but do they even matter? Continuing:
2. fg6
Threatens Rf7#. I don’t see anything other than sacrificial delays.
1. f5, threatening
2. Bh6#
1. … Rxe3
2. fxe6, threatening both
3. e7# and
3. Rf7#.
1. f5! (threatening 2. Bh6#)
1. … Rxe3
2. fxg6 (or 2. fxe6) and checkmate through 3. Rf7# is inevitable.
Two interesting mate patterns that may well occur in endgame help White to win the game easily.
1.f5! (threat Bh6#, pattern often seen in KBN / K) Rxe3
2.fxe6 (or fxg6) (threat Rf7#, pattern often seen in the very drawish KRN / KR, though some winning positions exist)
and that’s it!
PS: after I’ve solved this puzzle, I checked the game. A spectacular short game with sacrifices. A must see even if both are not GM.
f5!
1. f5!
White is threatening Bh6#, and black’s king can’t move.
Black can respond with 1. … Rxe3 to remove the threat, but now white has 2. fxe6 creating a new unstoppable threat of Rh8#.
The best Black can do is delay with silly checks, holding out for a half dozen moves. E.g.,
1. … Rxc3+
2. Kb2 Rxe3
3. fxe6 Re2+
4. Kb3 Rb2+
5. Kxb2 any
6. Rh8#
Also, black can respond with 1. … g4, but this is just as useless:
1. … g4
2. Bxg4 Rxc3+
3. Kb2 Rc2+
4. Kxc2 any
5. Bh6#
1. BXc5 bXc5
2. Rh8+ Kf7
3. RXa8
White gets a rook and a pawn for a bishop
and is up a pawn.
1. f5!! Rxe3
(forced, else Bh6+ checmkate)
2. fxg6 1-0
(Black cannot stop Rf7+ checkmate)
1. f5!! Rxe3 (to avoid Bh6#, alternative below)
2. fxe6/fxg6 Re1+ (Rxe5 Rf7#)
3. Kb2 Re2+
4. Ka3/Kb3 Rxa2+/Rb2+
5. KxR any
6. Rf7#
1. … Rxc3+
2. Kb2! Rxe3 (still to avoid Bh6#)
3. fxe6/fxg6 Re2+ etc.
goes as above.
Should be mate in 6 I think.
Rf7# is a classic theme, here the threat Bh6# gains the tempo to make it happen.