White to move. How should White proceed?
5qk1/2p2npp/npN5/p7/P3Q3/6PP/5PNK/8 w – – 0 1
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At first glance , i’d say Ne7+ , Kh8 forced , followed by Nf4 , with the threat Ng6+ , hxg6 , Qh4# .
If Black answers g6 after Nf4 to avoid this , then Nxg6+ will win the queen
Ne7+ Kh8
Nf4 threatens a nasty check on g6.
Then the black queen has to move, and I can see wins for white after Qe8, and Qd8 but nothing clear after Qb8 – although white’s position looks threatening.
hmm sorry not Qh4# , cause there is Nh6 blocking , but Ng6+ follows and wins the queen , in any case , white wins the queen
Erick, I’m with you. After:
1.Ne7+ Kh8
2.Nf4 Qb8
3.Ne6
… White’s got some terrific piece activity for the pawn. But I don’t see any clincher.
except if black plays maybe Qb8 after Nf4 to avoid losing it , but then it seems white has a strong attack likely to win the game once queen goes on e6 , cause black night will have to move and g7 square will become vulnerable
You might be right.
After eg 3. Qe6 Nd6 white can play Qg4 threatening both N(4)-g6+ followed by Qh4++ and Ne6 with a fatal attack on g7.
Hm. What else seems not to save Black is:
1.Ne7+ Kh8
2.Nf4 Qb8
3.Qe6 Nh6
4.Nc8
You’re onto something here, Anon 12:05.
Actually I prefer Nf4 first threating Ne7+ and now Qb8 is impossible. What choice black has?
1… Nd6 Ne7+ with easy win
1… Nc5 Ne7+ same
1… g5 Ne7+ Kg7 Qd4+ Kh6 Qf6#
1… Kh8 Ne7 seems like a win too
1… Ng5 Qc4+ Kh8 Qa6 winning
Actually I prefer Nf4 first
…
1… Kh8 Ne7 seems like a win too
Well, that’s the $65,536 question, isn’t it? 🙂 After:
1.Nf4 Kh8
2.Ne7 Qb8
3.Qe6
… we’ve transposed back to your main line from post #5. Does it win? I don’t know, but it looks White’s best shot.
The solution is not as clear cut as most puzzles often are. Susan is humane after all and she can make mistakes. I gave this puzzle to Crafty and It did not come up with a trick we humans have missed. So my guess is that there is an error in this puzzle.
Ne7+ then Nf4 is the correct idea 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
Dear Susan,
After:
1.Ne7+ Kh8
2.Nf4 Qb8
We cannot seem to find the right path. Can you please save us from our predicament?
All the best
A. Weiler