White to move. How should white proceed?
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Mate in four.
The N on b6 looked so harmless.
1. Qxb3 Nc4
2. Qxc4 gxh6
3. Qf7 Qxh4+
4. gxh4 a5
5. Qxh7#
1. Nf7 Kg8
2. Ng5 …
I like Ats’ idea:
1. Nf7 Kg8
2. Ng5 …
If 2. … RxR
3. Qxh7 Kf8
4. Qh8# as WN guards f7 and BR on e7 blocks K.
Alas, it looks like 2. … Nf6 saves Black, as it guards the h7 pawn.
Qxb3 wins. There are several threats, including a smothered mate here (Qg8+, Rxg8 and Nf7#). If the Black Q leaves the a4-e8 diagonal, Rxe8 mates; if Rxe7, it’s mate on g8, and if gxh6, Qf7 is lethal. [The threat on h7 cannot be stopped by Nf6, because there’s now a mate on g7, and if Rxe7, Qf8 gets the job done. What a crushing move!
After Qb3, Nf6 should help black position a lot. Why is that not a good solution?
It’s very good in psychological terms because you’re less likely to consider playing the Q to the heavily defended g8 square. I’d already seen the smothered mate using the R to smother but it took me a while to see the other smother.
1. Qxb3, gxh6
2. Qf7 Qe4
3. Qxe8 #
No, I cannot find a way for black to save this game.