White to move and win. This was composed by GM Golubev about 25 years ago. Enjoy 🙂
Source: ChessToday.net
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It was pretty clear that 1.f7 was the right move from the beginning:
1.Kb8?? Rg8+ 2.Kc7 Ne8+ followed by Nxf6.
so
1.f7! Rc1 2.f8=Q Rc8+ 3.Qxc8 Nxc8 This is where you have to focus.
4.Kb8 would not work after 4…Nxa7, so what’s the difference between 4.b3 and b4?
If 4.b3?? Nxa7 5.e7 Nb5 6.e8=N it’s a draw. By reading this paragraph you’ve hopefully understood what happens after 4.b4.
4.b4 Nxa7 5.e7 Nb5 6.e8=N Nc7+ (forced this time because the b-pawn covers the a5 square) 7.Nxc7 mate.
Lesson learned: when presented a problem such as this one, ask yourself what’s the difference between the similar variations.
1.f7 Rc1 2.f8=Q Rc8 3.Qc8 Nc8 4.b3 b5
5.b4 Ne7 6.Kb8 Nc6 7.Kc7 + –
1.f7 Rc1 (Rf1 2.Kb8)
2.f8:Q Rc8+
3.Qxc8 Nxc8
4.b3! b5 (kb5 5.Kb7)
5.Kb8 Nxa7
6.Kc7! now Nb5+ is no longer available thanks to b3! e7-e8 is following.
Well, there are only two possible first moves Kb8 and f7 (only ways to stop Rg8#).
1. Kb8 Rg8 (forced, I think)
2. Kc7 Nf7 and, now, black has a8 covered by the rook, is threatening Ka7 immediately. Now, can the knight be taken at f7?
3. ef7 Rh8
4. Kd7 Ka7
5. Ke7 and white wins; and
3. …..Rf8 is no better in this line for black.
So, at move two, black needs to consider another move for the knight (the more obvious one)
1. Kb8 Rg8
2. Kc7 Ne8
3. Kd6 Nf6 and black should win this easily. All in all, I think Kb8 is a loser for white.
1. f7 Rg7, and now, if
2. f8(Q)Ra7
3. Kb8 Rb7 with a perpetual. So, at move two, white must try something else to win in this line.
1. f7 Rg7
2. Kb8 Kb5 (Nf7/Rf7 loses to a8(Q)
3. f8(Q)Rb7
4. Ka8 Rc7
5. e7 Rc8
6. Qc8 Nc8
7. e8(Q) wins. And, the other alterantive second move for black
1. f7 Rc1
2. f8(Q)Rc8
3. Qc8 Nc8
4. Kb8 Na7
5. e7 wins for white.
Also, I forgot:
1. f7 Nf7
2. ef7 Rf1
3. Kb8 also wins for white.
Uuughhh! (Peanuts} a white to move puzzle? Susan u didnt tell me Cost-a-Rook livin in Miami! Now we gotta swindle lil sister somehow, let me know if you come up with any ideas, the old ideas dont work ya know? Dunne hit me in the face on the U.S.C.F. website though! , i gotta tell u this, an old guy played the exchange caro vs. me at chess park, i put my pawn on f6! hehehehe. then i went to tears!!! Susan they “Mixin Me Up”! hahaha. THE CHESS GODS ARE AGAINST ME! hehe I QUIT! haha. IM SURPRISED VISHY LOST SO EASILY! hehe. UM not. hehe.
Not knowing whether this is a hard or an easy puzzle, I thought I had solved it, but was suspicious because some pawns seemed irrelevant. So I decided to check it with Fritz. And all I can say is WOW!! Suggest everyone keep looking until they are saying WOW!! as well
Oh susan i just saw So- Malakhaov Wow!!! Doofus u forgot an exclaim! haha.
The only way to stop the mate seems to be f7.
1. f7 Nxf7
2. ef7 Rf1
3. Kb8
1. f7 Rf1
2. Kb8
1. f7 Rc1
2. f8Q Rc8+
3. Qxc8 Nxc8
4. Bb8 Nxa7
5. e7
I’m probably missing a continuaton for Black somewhere
Main line: 1. f7 Rc1 2. f8=Q Rc8+ 3. Qxc8 Nxc8 4. b4! Nxa7 5. e7 Nb5 6. e8=N!! ~ 7. N(x)c7#
If white doesn’t want to get mated, then f7 must be the first move.
Interesting: After running 20min on a strong PC, Rybka3 could NOT find the solution on its’ own. Not even when (later in the game) the position is forced mate in 3 moves.