Joitsa 1500 A.D.
White to move and win!
1Q3K2/6P1/4q3/P2b4/B7/8/k7/8 w – – 0 1
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1. Bb3+! Bb3 2. Qb3+! Qb3 3. g8=Q+ if 3… K moves 4. Qb3+ Kb3 or 3… Qg8+ 4. Qg8 and pawn at a file queens
1.Bb3!+ B*b3 2.Q*d3+!! Q*d3 (K*d3) g8 (Q)
3.k*d3 g8(q)and pawn a5 win.
1.Bb3!+ B*b3 2.Q*b3+!! Q*b3 (K*b3) g8 (Q)
3.k*d3 g8(q)and pawn a5 win.
Susano,
A classic problem, but the solution isn’t quite that easy. Among the many complications you overlook, even in the line you give, the black king can retreat to a1 since white can’t take the black queen at b3 with the new white queen. That is one clue.
In addition, one further clue:
1. Bb3 Ka1!!
And what can white do to win now?
2. Bd5 Qf7! leads to stalemate.
You need to think about this a bit more.
I know the solution to this.
Qf7+.
Kxf7!!!
I wrote out the full solution including the warning on Ka1 and BQ sacrifice. But my iPad conked out due to power out.
And the solution could not be posted!
Thank you very much, Yancey Ward.
1. Qb3+! Ka1
– 1. … Bxb3 2.Bxb3+ Kxb3/Qxb3 3.g8=Q and the a-pawn will queen and win
2. Qc3+ Ka2
– 2. … Kb1 3.Bc2+ Ka2 (Kc1 4.Bf5+ wins the queen) 4.Qb3+ and if Ka1 5.Qb1#; if Bxb3 then 5.Bxb3+ and wins – see above
3. Bb3+
– 3. … Ka3 4.Bxd5+ and wins
– 3. … Bxb3 4.Qxb3+ Kxb3/Qxb3 5.g8=Q and wins
Fajac,
You are close to a full solution, but you are missing something in the clue that I alluded to in my very first comment to Susano’s solution. For example:
1. Qb3!! Bb3
2. Bb3 Qb3! (Kb3 does lose for black)
3. g8(Q) Ka1!!
This is a draw- white cannot take the queen at b3 without stalemating black, and all other moves by white are technical draws as can be confirmed by Nalimov Tablebase. This complication also applies to the main line you gave where black first retreats to a1 on being checked by the queen from b3.
I fell at the first hurdle because I had the pawns going down the board, but it’s 3. g8(B).
Sorry, missed the BQ refusing to capture the WB.
1. Qxb3+.
A-1…….Bxb3. 2. Bxb3+. K/Qxb3. 3. g8=B!. Qxg8+. (Ka1. 4. Bxb3 wins as no stalemate) 4. Kxg8 and a pawn queens again for a win.
B-1…….Ka1. 2. Qc3+.
B1-2……..Ka2. 3. Bb3+.
B11-3……. Bxb3. 4. Qxb3+. Transposes into K/Qxb3. 5. g8=B! Above.
B12-3……..Ka1. Qc1# or 3….Kb1. 4. Qc2+. Ka1. 5. Qa2#
B2-2…….Kb1. 3. Bc2+
B21- 3……Ka2. 4. Bb3+ transposes into B1 above
B21- 3…….Kc1?. 4. Bb3+. Kb1. 5. Qc2+. Ka1. 6. Qa2#
Yes, the underpromotion is the key feature.
Yancy, you are too funny!