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Qf7 check and its almost finish
My grandchildren’s play.
1.Qf6+ Qxf6
2.exf6+ Kh7
3.Rxh4+ Nh5
4.Rxh5+ Kg8
5.Rc8#
Depending on black’s reply on 2nd move the play in h file and 8th rank are interchangeable.
This immediately looks like a very simple mate in 4 starting with Qf6+.
Then I begin pondering about Nh5 as answer to a later Rxh4+.
But this black resource is of course an illusion:-)
With K on h7 the g6 pawn is pinned by Bb1, so Nh5 is simply followed by Rxh5 mating.
1. Qf6+ Qxf6 (main line)
2. exf6+
But not 2. gxf6+?? Kh6!
2. … Kh7
Here Kg8 Rc8+ Kh7 was exactly equal with swapped moves.
Not Kf8?? Rc8#.
3. Rxh4+ Nh5
4. Rxh5+! Kg8 (only legal move)
5. Rc8#
Side line (black gives queen):
1. Qxf6+ Kg8/Kf8
But not 1. … Kh7?? 2. Qxf7#.
2. Qxd8+ Kg7 (Kh7 seems equal with swapped moves)
3. Qf6+ Kh7 (3. … Kg8 4. Rc8+ Kh7 5. Rxh8#/Qxh8#)
4. Rxh4+ Nh5
5. Rxh5+! Kg8 (only legal move)
6. Rc8#/Rxh8#/Qxh8#
Si it’s mate in 6 moves if I have not miscalculated.
1.Qf6+!!
A>1……Kh7.2.Qxf7#!
B>1……Kg8.2.Qxd8+.
B1>2….Kh7.3.Rxh4+.Nh5.4.Rxh5+!.Kg7.5.Qxh8#!
B2>2….Kg7.3.Qf6+.
B21>3..Kg8.4.Rc8+.Kh7.5.Rxh8#!
B22>3..Kh7.4.Rxh4+.Nh5.5.Rxh5+.Kg8.6.Rc8/Rxh8#!
C>1……Qxf6.2.exf6+.
C1>2….Kh7.3.Rxh4+.Nh5.4.Rxh5+.Kg8.5.Rc8#!
C2>2….Kf8,3,R c8#!
C3>2….Kg8.3.Rc8+.Kh7.4.Rxh4+.Nh5.5.Rxh5#!
Simply
1. Qf6+ .. Qxf6; otherwise obvious mate in few moves
2. gxf6 (it is important to keep the e pawn protected)
2 .. Kh7 or mate in one
3. Rxh4+
3 .. Nh5 is a useless interposition: Rxh5+
Qf6+ ?
1. Qf6+!
if …Kh7 then
2. Rxh4+ Nh5
3. Rxh5+ Kg8
4. Qxh8 mate
so 1. …Qxf6 is forced
2. exf6+ Kh7
3. Rxh4+ Nh5
4. Rxh5+ Kg8
5. Rc8 mate
To Consul:
I wonder about your move 2. gxf6??
This allowes black to escape with Kh6 and Kg5 and black wins.
Looks like the only error possible for white to make here.
It has to be 2. exf6!
pht,
It is not mate in 6.
By your own admission 1…. Kh7 2.Qxf7#
Why not use the same on move 4?
1.Qf6+ Kg8
2.QxQ+ Kg7
3.Qf6+ Kh7
4.Qxf7#
So side variation is not main variation (longest).
The puzzle is mate in 5