White to move. Find the absolute best continuation!
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Qxf5
It is about threats. Sure, black is threatening to promote, but in this particular position, there is no need to worry, as white has a won game. The solution is 1.Rxf8+!!, Qg8 (forced) and after 3.Qc8, white mates immediately after with 4.Qxg8#
I first tried something like Qc7 and Qc3 but failed to find right continuation. Then I found pedestrian approach
1.Rxf8+ Qxf8
2.Qc3+ Qg7
3.Qc8+ Qf8
4.Qxf8#
In my solution it can be extended by black by one move viz.2…. Bd4.
However 1.Qxf5 is met by 1…. Qb7+ followed by 2…. QxR.
1.Qc3 is met by 1….. QxQ 2.RxQ (2.Rxf8+ does not result in mate.) Re3 white can not stop queening but black should not try 1….. Bd4??
Prof. S. G. BHAT, I don’t think the queen can take the Rook if my move 1. Qxf5, Qb7+ 2.Bd5 Qxc8 3. Qe5+ Rf6 4. Qxf6#
Last night at 5 a.m. (I don’t know whether I should call it early morning today;but a late riser has legal rights to call even 9.a.m. as night but certainly it was not before I went to sleep) lying on bed i was recollecting what was yesterday’s puzzle;whether it was groundhog Day.Then I remembered the problem and my rejoinder to 1.Qxf5. I suddenly realised ( a rare case for me without looking at the diagram)that it should be 1. Qxf5, Qb7+ 2.Kh3 RxR 2…. QxR would be punished by 3.Qe5+ leading to mate, but now I find 2.Bd5 is a good reply.
1. Qxf5, Qb7+ 2.Bd5 Now we need to find out the continuation 2…. Qxd5+ 3.Qxd5 Rxc8
White’s chance is only a draw, here’s the continuation
4. Qe5+, Kg8 (forced) 5. Qe6+ Kg7 (if Kh8 black losses) 6. Qe7+, Kh6/g8 are the only place to go which can be check perpetually. If King move to h6 he can move to h5 which can be perpetually check.
5. Qe6+, Kh8 6. Qxc8+, Kg7 7. Qxc1. Black has 3 pawns and Bishop against Queen and 3 pawns.
Another idea.
1.Qxf5 Bc5 what white can do?
2.Qxc5 Qb7+
3.Bd5 Rxc8 Q exchange by 4.Bxb7 Rxc5 is good for black.
4.Qd4+ Qg7 and black seems to have upper hand.
1.Rf8 is the correct line- looks like a mate in five to me overall.
As for 1.Qf5, that surely loses to the simple 1. …Bc5, as Prof. Bhat outlines in his last comment.
Of more interest is the other defense against 1.Qf5, namely 1. ….Qb7?:
The line Prof. Bhat outlines there is surely a draw by repetition- one white will have to take.