Bxh7, Rxh7, Qe8 works out without losing material (I think), so it is natural to consider Bh6 as it removes the escape for the king. I’d probably play Bxh7 in a game, but I’m not convince it is enough to deal with all those queen side pawns.
a) 1….Re7 2.Qe8+ Kg7 3.Qxe6. At first I thought that black might be O.K here and could have some compensation with three passed pawns but then I realized that black will lose his other bishop too with 4.Qg4+ and there nothing black can do.However, there is a line I found that leads to mate.
Ex: 3….c3 [what else?] (black has run out of moves Ex 3…f5 4.Bh6+ mates; 3…Re7 BxB wins; and 3…Kh8 4.RxB RxR 5.Qxf6+ wins) 4.RxB! RXR 5.Bh6+ KxB 6. Qxf6+ Kh5 7.Bf5 (threating 8.g4+ Rxp 9.BxR#) Rd1+ 8.Kh2 Qb8+(Or Qc7+) 9.g3 Rd4 (roolk must come back to stop mate) 10.Bg4+ RxB 11.PxR+ KxP 12. f3+ Kh5 13.Kh3! and mate next move.
b) 1….Bb6 2.Re8+ BxR 3.BxQ threating 4.Bc5 5.Qe8+ and winning another piece.
1… bb6 2. rd8+ (rd6 may be even better) bxd8 3. bxa7 rxa7 4. qe8+ i am not sure that white wins all that easy 1… rd7 2. qe8+ +- 1… qc5 2. bxh7 rxh7 3. qg6 rg7 4. qe8 kh7 5. rxf4 +-
however, after reading the comments i think 1. bxh7 kh7 2 qe8 kg7 3 qxe6 may also work because of unsecure black king: 3… c3 rd3 3… a3 4. bb8 !? qxb8 5 rxd4 with attack (rg4 with #)
Bh6 looks strong.
After Bh6 then Bxf2+, Kh1 f5 and then what?
I like Be3 where Bxe3 leads to mate, so maybe Rd7, Qe8+ Kg7, Qxe6
After Bh6 then Bxf2+, Kh1 f5 and then what?
Rd8
Bxh7, Rxh7, Qe8 works out without losing material (I think), so it is natural to consider Bh6 as it removes the escape for the king. I’d probably play Bxh7 in a game, but I’m not convince it is enough to deal with all those queen side pawns.
I was thinking:
1.Be3
And black has a couple of options:
a) 1….Re7 2.Qe8+ Kg7 3.Qxe6. At first I thought that black might be O.K here and could have some compensation with three passed pawns but then I realized that black will lose his other bishop too with 4.Qg4+ and there nothing black can do.However, there is a line I found that leads to mate.
Ex: 3….c3 [what else?] (black has run out of moves Ex 3…f5 4.Bh6+ mates; 3…Re7 BxB wins; and 3…Kh8 4.RxB RxR 5.Qxf6+ wins)
4.RxB! RXR
5.Bh6+ KxB
6. Qxf6+ Kh5
7.Bf5 (threating 8.g4+ Rxp 9.BxR#) Rd1+
8.Kh2 Qb8+(Or Qc7+)
9.g3 Rd4 (roolk must come back to stop mate)
10.Bg4+ RxB
11.PxR+ KxP
12. f3+ Kh5
13.Kh3! and mate next move.
b) 1….Bb6
2.Re8+ BxR
3.BxQ threating 4.Bc5 5.Qe8+ and winning another piece.
Bxh7+ Rxh7 Qe8+
After:
1.Bh6
… doesn’t Black win after:
1…Kh8
2.Bf8 Rb7
3.Be4 Bxf2+
?
Also:
1.Bxh7+ Rxh7
2.Qe8+ Kg7
3.Qxe6 a3
… leaves Black looking all right.
How about:
1.Be3 Bb6
2.Rd6
… and now the threat of 3.Bxh7+ is a real danger.
anonymous:
Also:
1.Bxh7+ Rxh7
2.Qe8+ Kg7
3.Qxe6 a3
loses to
4. Be3! (Bxe3? 5. Rd7+ and wins the queen)
my solution was also 1. be3
1… bb6 2. rd8+ (rd6 may be even better) bxd8 3. bxa7 rxa7 4. qe8+ i am not sure that white wins all that easy
1… rd7 2. qe8+ +-
1… qc5 2. bxh7 rxh7 3. qg6 rg7 4. qe8 kh7 5. rxf4 +-
however, after reading the comments i think 1. bxh7 kh7 2 qe8 kg7 3 qxe6 may also work because of unsecure black king:
3… c3 rd3
3… a3 4. bb8 !? qxb8 5 rxd4 with attack (rg4 with #)
1.Bxh7+ Rxh7
2.Qe8+ Kg7
3.Qxe6 a3
loses to
4. Be3! (Bxe3? 5. Rd7+ and wins the queen)
Sorry, but I don’t see a win for White after:
4…Rh4
White seems to have a perpetual after:
1.Bxh7+ Rxh7
2.Qe8+ Kg7
3.Qxe6 a3
4.Be3 Rh4
5.g4 a2
6.Bxd4 Qxd4
7.Qe7+
… etc., but I don’t see anything resembling a win.
The right move is:
1.Be3!
guys..
4…Rh4 is a blunder
5. g3 wins
just my 5 cents
4…Rh4 is a blunder
5. g3 wins
For Black, that is, after 5…Qa4.
I spoke too soon. Black can’t escape the perpetual after 5…Qa4. In any event 1.Be3 wins clearly.