White to move. How should White proceed?
7q/4p1k1/8/2N2p2/2B5/4R3/8/1K6 w – – 0 1
Denes, 1955
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This is a fairly famous puzzle and, unfortunately for me, I have seen it multiple times over the years, and it has been posted here before, but is not in my notes. The goal will be to find white a technically decisive advantage, but if this were a game, white would be deeply challenged to win it over the board. The solution is stunningly beautiful.
And, I was unable to solve it the first time I saw it- the key move is very difficult to find.
Well, to me this seems quite straightforward:
1. Rg3+ Kh6/h7
1. … Kf6 2.Nd7#
2. Rh3+ Kg7 else loss of queen
3. Ne6+ Kg8
4. Nd4+ Kg7
5. Nxf6+
And the queen is lost.
Do I miss something?
Oops…
1. Rg3+ Kf8 looks more complicated….
1.Rg3+ Kg8 2.Rh3! Qxh3 3. Ke6+ Kf7 (3…Ke8 4. Bc6+ Kf7) 4. Kg5+ winning the Queen.
oh sorry. i meant ( …4.Bb5+)
Not so difficult after all. No subtle trapping the King into a checkmate net seems possible
because of 2 checking threats (Qh1+ and Qb8+) so it must be a rather forced line.
After some trials-and-errors with 1. Ne6+ Kf7(g8) I realized that Rh3 may be possible since
Qxh3 allows Ng5+ fork (of course immediate 1. Ne6+ Kf6 gives nothing).
Then the solution came quickly:
1. Rg3+ Kf8 (the only move, as noted above 1…. Kf6 2. Nd7#, 1…. Kh7 2. Rh3+ winning Q)
and now 2. Rh3!! and Q is trapped!
2… Qxh3 3. Ne6+ Kf7 (or Kg8) 4. Ng5+ winning Q
3. Ne6+ Ke8 4. Bb5+! Kf7 5. Ng5+
after 2. Rh3!! Q has no escape:
2…. Qg7 3. Ne6+
2… Qf6 3. Nd7+
2. … Qe5 3. Nd7+
2…. Qd4 3. Ne6+
2…. Qc3 3. Rxc3
Cute coordination of N and B
Amazing!