White to move. How should white proceed?
r5kr/1p3p2/6p1/q1PpQ2p/3R2R1/1K2P3/4B3/1n6 w – – 0 1
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Well, the first move is the easy part- simply has to be Rg6+. Ra4 might be playable or not, I haven’t looked deeply at it, but black should be ok with a simple retreat of Qd8, or maybe even just take the rook at g4-two rooks for a queen is usually good, though the knight at b1 might be a bit a bit of a liability for black, it is hard for me to say. So, let’s look at Rg6 and see where we go- I have to be quick tonight:
1. Rg6 fg6 (Kh7 2.Qg7#)
The other option is Kf8 but this is easy to see is bad: [1. …Kf8 2.Qh8 Ke7 3.Qf6 Kd7 (or 3. …Ke8 4.Rg8 Kd7 5.Qd6#; or 3. …Kf8 4.Qd6 Ke8 5.Rg8#) 4.Qd6 Kc8 5.Rg8 Qd8 6.Rd8#]. Continuing:
2. Qd5
The d5 pawn has to go, and white can’t wait to take it off, I think. The other rook and the bishop need open lines on the black king. With 2.Qd5+, the black king is in deep trouble. However, white needs to be careful here to not allow the black king to reach h6 when the white queen cannot check from f4 on the next move to drive him back to the seventh rank or force g5 to be played. Continuing:
2. …..Kf8
I haven’t looked to deeply at the alternatives here, but I don’t have the time tonight to do a completely thorough analysis. I can’t imagine they don’t eventually transpose into each other anyway- like I wrote, the only danger for white is allowing the black king to escape to h6 with the g-pawn still there for a single move
3. Qd6!
I spent several minutes trying to make Rf4 work, but it definitely loses to Kg7 and the black king will reach h6 with the f4 square taken away from the white queen. Continuing:
3. …..Kg7
The options: [3. …Ke8 4.Qd7 Kf8 5.Rf4 with mate on the next move]; or [3. …Kg8 4.Qg6 and the king is hopeless against the white pieces now]; or [3. …Kf7 4.Bc4 Kg7 5.Qe5 Kh7 (or 5. …Kh6 6.Qf4 with mate in 1 or 2 more) 6.Rd7 Kh6 7.Qf4 g5 8.Qf6#]. Continuing:
4. Qe5 Kf8
The options: [4. …Kh6 5.Qf4 g5 (or 5. …Kg7/h7 6.Rd7 with Bc4# to follow) 6.Qf6 Kh7 7.Rd7 with Qg7# to follow]; or [4. …Kh7 5.Rd7 Kh6 6.Qf4 with 7.Qf6# to follow]; or [4. …Kg8 5.Bc4 Kh7 6.Rd7 with mate soon to follow] and 4. …Kf7 is much like Kg8. Continuing:
5. Rf4
Safe now that the queen has the path to h6 through g7 covered. Continuing:
5. …..Kg8
6. Bc4 Kh7
7. Rf7 and we have already seen the rest in variations above.
I don’t see a defense, unless my assumption that it matters not what black does on move 2 is actually wrong. However, I have plans for the late night and no time to be 100% sure.
Ra4
Appears Rg6 would lead to atleast a draw!.
But fxg6, Qxd4 (Qe6 doesnt offers a quick move of Rook on d to 7th rank) will make sure there is a matting net,
Rxg6, fxg6 Qxd4+ (It is better than Qe6 since it allows a quick Bc4 or Rd7 if necessary.
Weel, Qc3 is mate, so something forceful is needed since the rook is en prix.
1. Rxg6+
1)
1. …, fxg6
2. Qxd5+, Kf8 (on Kg7, we go Qe5+ and the rook from d4 decices in the corner, on Kh7 we go Qf7+, Kh6, Qf4+ and again the rook on d4 decides on the 6th or 7th)
3. Rf4+, Ke8
4. Qe5+, Kd7
5. Rf7+… and since Kc6 is mate in 1, this will eventurally lead to mate on b7 with the Queen 😉
i´m rather sure, that 1. Rxg6+, fxg6, 2. Qxd5+ leads to a forced mate, but there are too many possible lines to make a more precise statement. 🙂
greets, jan
Rxg6 fxg6 2. Qxd4+ (I think this is better than Qe6+ because it allows Bc4 or Rd7 in subsequent moves easily.)
Rxg6 fxg6 2. Qxd4+
Rxg6 fxg6 2.Qd4+
Hi Susan Polgar,
Nice Puzzle.
Well,to me – “R*g6” – seems to be offensive best for this chess puzzle,variations exist.
Example one
===========
1.R*g6+ f*Rg6
2.Q*d5+ Kg7
3.Qe5+ Kh7
4.Rd7+ Kh6
5.Qf4+ g5
6.Qd6++ Mate
Example Two
===========
1.R*g6+ f*Rg6
2.Q*d5+ Kf8
3.Qd6+ Kf7
4.Bc4+ Kg7
5.Qe5+ Kh7
6.Rd7+ Kh6
7.Qf4+ g5
8.Qd6++ Mate
White wins the game.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
I thought for a moment about the defencive move Ra4, but after Qc3+ this looks stupid. Much enforced exchanges, white ends up with loss of material because of the hanging rook on g4 and the black knight.
So it has to be a “traditional breakthrough” with a sack:
1. Rxg6+ fxg6
2. Qxd5+
and with those two pawns gone, Q+R+B will spin a mate net round the nude black king, though there are many variations. E.g.:
2. … Kh7
3. Qf7+ Kh6
4. Qf4+ Kg7
5. Rd7+ Kg8
6. Bc4# (black could probably have defended a bit better, but not well enough to save the game)
or declining sack:
1. … Kf8
2. Qxh8+ Ke7
3. Qe5+ Kf8
4. Qd6+ Ke8
5. Rg8#
or walking the other way:
3. … Kd8
4. Rxd5+ Kc8
5. Qe8+ Kc7
6. Rd7# (there still is a white rook on g6)
1. Rxg6+ fxg6
2. Qxd5+ Kg7 [2. … Kf8 3. Qd6+ Kf7 4. Bc4+ Kg7 5. Qe5+ Kh6 6. Qf4+ g5 7. Qf6+ Kh7 8. Rd7#]
3. Qe5+ Kf8 [3. … Kf7 4. Bc4+ Kf8 5. Rf4#]
4. Rf4+ Kg8
5. Bc4+ Kh7
6. Rf7+ Kh6
7. Qf4+ g5
8. Qf6#
1. Rxg6+ Kf8
2. Qxh8+ Ke7
3. Qe5+ Kd7 [3. … Kf8 4. Qd6+ Ke8 5. Rg8#] [3. … Kd8 4. Rg8+ Kd7 5. Qd6#]
4. Rxd5+ Kc8
5. Qe8+ Kc7
6. Rd7#
I think 1)Rg6 is the best move because after 1)…fg6 2)Qd5 (after and the B will help to the win) now at all 2)…Kf8 3)Qd6 Kf7 then Bc4 1 if 3)…Kg7 4)Qe5 +- this is the correct move order i think. I would like at the end someone to answer the best move at every problem.
After several puzzles of mate in a few, its easy to get distracted by the same theme. Ra6 seems the best alternative. It threatens the black queen and prevents the immediate mate.
I appreciate Susan’s puzzles, this ones technical is complicated and fun to discern.