White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: William Harvey
Daily Chess Improvement: Mating Tactic!
About Author
White to move. How should white proceed?
Source: William Harvey
A sort of smothered mate by N also lurks in the sideline.
Interesting position for black, all lined up on the 8th rank like sitting ducks, blocked in by the pawn structure. Makes me wonder just how intimidating it must be to play against GM Zsuzsa Polgar
Well, I am no more in favorable time zone.
1.Nxf6 (threatens 2.Qxg8# ) gxf6
(1…. Bf7 2.Nh7#)
(1…. Kf7 2.Qxg8#)
2.Bh7 Qg4+
(2…. Qe6 3.Rxe6 Bf7 4.Bh6#)
(2…. Bf7 3.Bh6#)
(2… Kf7 3.Qxg8#)
3.hxg4 Kf7
4.Qxg8#
It doesn’t look like black has any options after 1. Nxf6 but to delay the inevitable by four moves at best…
Please tell me what is wrong with:
1. Nxf6 gxf6
2. Bh6+ Kf7
3. Qg7 mate
After 1…. gxf6 your line is the best. I overlooked it.
mesilah: Your line is almost correct, but t’s mate in 4 coz black can play 1.-Qg4+
This is an interesting proposition.
I considered three lines for their merits:
a-bishop f6
b-knight f6
c-bishop h6
all have catastrophic outcomes for black
a is discussed above and mate in 4 is assured
b – p x bishop fails as knight x f6 loses; any other reply by black can be met with knight takes d6…here black might have an opening…what do you think?
c is mate in 4, at worst
1- Nxf6 ….The best delay for blacks is Qe6
2- TxQe6 Pxf6
3- Bh6+ Kf7
4- Qg7++