White to move. How should white proceed?
2rnqrk1/1p1b1ppp/p2Pp3/1p6/3Q4/P4N2/5PPP/RB3RK1 w – – 0 1
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Bh7+ Kh7 Qh4+ Kg6 Qg5+ Kh7 Qh5+ Kg8 Ng5
OR
Bh7+ Kh8 Qh4 g6 Qh6
A castling without Nf6 … is ugly. 🙂
Best regards
Stef
bx
neat puzzle, but should be able to play it on site 🙂 I vote Bxh7
bh7+ followed by q r5+ wins
1Bxpch kxb 2 qch &night mates
how did black ever end up with a position like this 🙂
anyway…white plays Bxh7+
1) Bxh7+, and black has 2 options
If
(A)
1)…,Kxh7
2) Qh4+, Kg8
3) Ng5 and black cant prevent Qh7# next move
If
(B)
1)…,Kh8
2) Qh4, and i can’t see how black can prevent mate .
A drunk Yancey Ward would play Bb7 in a blitz game and see what happens
GM Ward
Wow, only seen this basic position about a hundred times from both sides of the board. This literally plays itself:
1. Bh7 Kh7 (Kh8 below)
2. Qh4 Kg6 (Kg8 see move 4 below)
3. Qg5 Kh7
4. Qh5 Kg8 (like I wrote)
5. Ng5 any move
6. Qh7#
Or, at move 1:
1. …..Kh8
2. Qh4
And the threat is Bg6 followed by mate with Qh7. There is really no defense. Black could try open a hole for the king to f6 through g7 by playing g6/g5, but white can efficiently cut this off:
2. …..g6
3. Qh6!
Here, 3.Bg6 should win, but isn’t pretty since the black king gets to f6 through g7 and white will have to bring more pressure to bear with the g-pawn, and/or clear the g6 bishop out of the way of the queen. If there is a mate in less than five more moves in that variation, I will eat a hat. After 3.Qh6, nothing can stop the mate starting with Bg6.
And Stef was right- hideous castle without a knight protecting h7.
1. Bh7:+ looks immediately crushing.
Why not
1.Bxh7+ Kxh7
2.Qh4+ Kg8 (2. …Kh6 3.Qg5+ Kh6 4.Qh5+ Kk8)
3.Ng5 with mate on the next move
If
1. …Kh8
2.Qh4 f6 (or any other black move)
3.Bg6+ Kg8
4.Qh7#
Is this really so easy or am I missing something subtle here?
1. Bxh7+ Kxh7
2. Qh4+ Kg6
3. Qg5+ Kh7
4. Qh5+ Kg8
5. Ng5 f6
6. Qh7#
OR
1. Bxh7+ Kh8
2. Qh4 g5
3. Qh6 Rg8
4. Bg6#
1. Bxh7+ (no hesitation) and Black has 2 replies:
1. … Kh8
1. … Kxh7
1. … Kxh7
2. Qh4+ Kg6 [2. … Kg8 3. Ng5 any 4. Qh7#]
3. Qg5+ Kh7
4. Qh5+ Kg8
5. Ng5 any
6. Qh7#
1. … Kh8
2. Qh4 [threat 3. Bg6+ Kg8 4. Qh7#]
2. … g5/6 [2. … Rc4 3. Be4+ Kg8 4. Qh7#]
3. Qh6 any
4. Bg6+ Kg8
5. Qh7#
Dear Stef,
A castling without Nf6 … is beautiful for White. 🙂
Beware Greeks vearing gifts 🙂
1.Bxh7 Kxh7 (1… Kh8 2. Qh4 and Bg6) 2. Qh4+ Kg8 3. Ng5 +-
Sayfa 10.068 oldu.10.binde kitap dağıtacaktınız.Hatırlatırımm.Merakla bekliyoruz.
classic
1. Bxh7+ Kxh7
2. Qh5+ Kg6
3. Qg5+ Kh7
4. Qh5+ Kg8
5. Ng5 …
6. Qh7#
@Lucymarie
“A castling without Nf6 … is beautiful for White.”
eheh.
You’re right. 🙂
Best regards
Stef
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,brainy minds of this blog had already discussed the best moves for this puzzle,so nothing needs to be added from my side for this puzzle – Good.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]