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1. Rxb7+ Ka8
2. Ra7+ Kxa7
3. Qc7+ Ka6
4. Qb6#
The King has three legal moves after Rxb7+. Obvioiusly 1) Rxb7+, Kxb7 leads to a quicker mate after 2) Qc7+ and then if Ka6, 3) Qb6# or if Ka8, 3) Nb6# (which also applies as a variant in Alena’s line above). We can also mention 1) Rxb7+, Ka6, which leads directly back to Alena’s solution after 2) Ra7+.
Puzzles for Alena, or any who wish to try them:
3b4/6N1/1p3p2/p1p1k3/P1P3KP/1P6/8/8 b What should black do? Win, lose or draw?
4b3/p7/P2P3P/7k/8/3K3p/8/4B3 w What should white do? Win, lose or draw?
6k1/7p/7b/p4Nq1/1B6/4R3/2P3P1/5K2 w Troitsky 1898. White to move and win.
2K5/q7/5k2/P2Q4/8/8/8/8 w White to move and win.
Here is the solution for the first puzzle. Black must sacrifice the only bishop. If black doesn’t sacrifice it the game will be lost.
1…f5+
2. Nxf5 Bxh4
3. Nxh4 Kd4
4. Ng6 Kc3
5. Nd7 Kxa4
7. Nxb6+ Kb4
8. Kf3 a4
9. Nxa4 Kxa4
10. Ke2 Kb4
11. Kd2 Kxc4
12. Kc2
It’s a draw.
Here is the solution for the second puzzle. I have solved it quickly because I had come across the idea.
1. h7 Bg6+
2. Kc4 Bxh7
3. d7 h2
4. d8=Q h1=Q
5. Qd1+ Kg6
6. Qb1+ Kf7
7. Qb7+ Qxb7
8. axb7 Bg8
9. b8=Q Kg7+
10. Kd4 a6
11. Qg3+ Kf7
12. Bd2 a5
13. Bh6 Ke6
14. Qxg8+
It’s a win.
Here is the solution for the third puzzle.
1. Rg3 Qxg3
2. Nxh6+ Kh8
3. Bd6 Qg7
4. Be5 a4
5. Bxg7+ Kxg7
6. Nf5+ Kf6
7. Nd4 Ke5
8. Nb5 Kd5
9. Nc3+ Kc4
10. Nxa4 Kb4
11. Nb6 Kc3
12. Nd5+ Kxc2
13. Ke2 Kb3
14. Nf6 Kc4
15. Kf3 Kd4
16. Nxh7
It’s a win.
Here is the solution for the fourth puzzle. It’s the easiest puzzle of all.
V-1
1. Qd8+ Ke5
2. Qc7+ Qxc7+
3. Kxc7 Kd4
4. a6 Kc3
5. a7 Kd2
6. a8=Q
V-2
1. Qd8+ Ke6
2. Qb6+ Qxb6
3. axb6 Ke5
4. b7 Kf4
5. b8=Q+