This composition was shown to me when I visited 64 Chess Magazine in Moscow. There’s even a picture of it here. It is White to move. It is very difficult but enjoyable. Don’t use computer. See if you can solve it using your mind. It is about 10 moves long and it is very tricky. Have fun!
http://64.ru/?/ru/news/item=590 
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Hi Susan I was looking at Chessgames.com recently and I seen some of your sister Sofia’s games. She played some incredible games, and some endings looked like Bobby! Just beautiful! My questions are these? Why didn’t Sophie attain GM level, it’s clear she has the talent. And also why did she leave chess? Was it to raise a family? She could have been great!
TFK
Chess is not the most important thing in her life. She loves art and she enjoys being a wonderful Mom. Judit has the most incredible passion to be the best. My passion is to change this game for the better.
Even though we are sisters, we all have different goals.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.ChessForPeace.blogspot.com
I’m thinking 1.fxg6 kg8 2.f7
Susan, could solve it at the 64 office ? 😉
It is truly a magnificent puzzle. I really enjoy it.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.ChessForPeace.blogspot.com
I think I got it…
1.Ba4! (to prevent a nasty check on b5) b5
2.fg6+ Qg6
(if Kh6 3.Qh4+ Kg7 (Kg6 4.Bc2 winning) 4.Qh7+ Kf6 5.g7 Rg8 6. Bc2 winning by mate threat or winning the rook on g8)
(if Kh8 3.g7+ winning easily)
(if Kg8 3.h7+ Kg7 4.g7+ Kh7 5.Bc2+ Kg8 6. gf8=Q+ Kf8 7.Qg5 with winning position)
3.Bc2 Rf4+
4.Kg1 Rf6
5.Qg5 Re6
6.Kf1 Rf6+
7.Ke1 Re6+
8.Kd2 (Finally the king emerges from the first rank)
Rd6+
9.Kc3 Rc6+
10.Qc5 winning the pawn endgame
Are these lines correct?
Well done!
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
http://www.ChessForPeace.blogspot.com
No.
Actually the solution is not correct, the line 2 fg6+ Kg8 3.h7+ can be refuted by Kg7! (not Kh8 as I said…).
I love these kind of endgames!
Ok, the first thing that jumps out at you is the possible black queen-pin by the white bishop if moved to c2…something along the lines of 1. fxg6+ Qxg6 2. Bc2 and if 2. … Qxc2, then it’s all over with 3. Qg7#.
So first, let’s think through this line (if you can visualise this in your mind, all the better):
1. fxg6+ Qxg6
2. Bc2 Rxf4+
—ok so far so good, now move the king over one…gotta move the king to g1 because 3. Ke1-e2 yields 3. … Re4! forcing the trade: 4. Bxe4 Qxe4+ which looks dead drawn.
3. Kg1 Rf6
—protecting the queen, now white should protect the h-pawn while maintaining the g-file attack on the pinned black queen
4. Qg5 Rxe6
—with the plan (like Fischers, or Capablanca, or Kasparov, or?) of letting Black take the e6 pawn, but then “walking the king over behind the bishop as the black rook applies checks”
5. Kf1 Rf6+
6. Ke1 Re6+
7. Kd1 Rd6+
8. Kc1 Rc6
—Drat! this is no good! The black pawn on b6 prohibits 9. Qc5, but it would win if I could get rid of the black pawn of b6. If the black pawn weren’t on b6, I could play 9. Qc5, then 9. … Qxc2+ 10. Kxc2, then it’s White Queen vs. Rook, or 9. … Rxc5 10. b4xc5 Qxb2+ 11. Kxb2, and white goes on to queen the passed c-pawn and win…
So, all I need to do is get the black pawn on b6 to b5.
think…think….ahah! 1. Ba4!! attacking the black queen. Black can’t take the bishop with the queen or move out of the way and still protect the g6 pawn because of white’s e6 pawn, as white’s queen threatens to take the g6 pawn with check and mate next move. So:
1. Ba4! b5
—then repeat the previous move sequence:
2. fxg6+ Qxg6
3. Bc2 Rxf4+
4. Kg1 Rf6
5. Qg5 Rxe6
5. Kf1 Rf6+
6. Ke1 Re6+
7. Kd1 Rd6+
8. Kc1 Rc6+
9. Qc5!
—then either:
9. … Qxc2+
10. Kxc2 and white wins
— or —
9. … Kh6
10. Bxg6 Rxg6 and white wins, Queen and pawn vs Rook and 2 pawns
Practice solving compositions like this, like in Lev Albert’s Chess Training Pocket Book–300 most important positions & Ideas or go for it and study the omnibus:
Laszlo Polgar’s 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games
http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Chess-ISBN_1884822312.html?isrc=b-search
I’m not sure but the winning variation in this case can be
2.fg6+ Kg8
3.g7 Rf5
(if Rf6 4.h7+ Kh7 5.Bc2+ Kg8 6.Qh4 with mate )
4. Bc2 Qh5 the final stalemate trick!
(if Qa8 5.h7+ Kh7 6.g8=Q+ winning)
5.h7+ Qh7
6.Bf5 Qf5
7.Qg5 and the queen endgame is lost (the g7 pawn is too strong)
If
2. fg6+ Kg8
3. g7 Rf5
4. h7+!
—immediately, forcing the rook pin
4. … Kxh7
5. Bc2
—if 5. … Qh5 then
6. g8=Q+ mate next
5. … Kg8
6. Bxf5 winning
santiRd6+>
8.Kd2 Re2+! is very strong and at least guarantees a draw.
instead it should be
8. Kd1 Rd6+ 9.Kc1 Rc6 ( the last but not the least trick) 10. Qc5!! wins for white
Thank you for spotting the errors in the lines (bundle, chess_fun and Vohaul)
Now we’re sure that we have the correct solution! 🙂