White to move. Can White save this game? Can you find the solution in less than 5 or 10 seconds?
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Qa6
Nope, not that quickly. I can’t even determine what is on the board in less than 10 seconds. For example, it took me at least 15 seconds to notice the bishop at h1. However, I don’t think it took me another 5 seconds to think of 1.Qa6 and 2.Nd7#
All forced…
1 Nd7+ Ka8
2 Bx7+ Kxb7
3 Qa6+ Ka8
4 Qc6#
Sorry but this idea should be very bad since after 4.Qc6 Black has 4.Nxc6… 🙁
Instead, white wins with the nice and direct 1.Qa6 building an inescapable mate! The only way to avoid 2. Qxb7 mate should be 1…bxa6 with 2.Nxa6 mate to follow… So Black can only resign after 1. Qa6!
QA6!
Yes. Qa6. About 5 seconds. Spent a few moments considering Bxb7, but Qa6 looks better.
Well, the 5-second solution is all forced checks: Nd7+ Ka8 Bxb7+ Kxb7 Qa6 mate. But the 10-second solution is one move faster, Qa6!. In a tournament situation I’d go with the Nd7+ line because it’s so forcing.
1. Qa6
1… ba and 2. N:a6#
1… anything else and 2 Qb7#
Qa6!!
Qa6
1Qa6!
1. Qa6 bxa6
2. Nxb6#
1. Qa6 c6 or b6
2. Qxb7#
No, not Nd7, this move order instead:
1.Qh3 gxh3
2.Nd7 mate
I black doesn’t play 1…gxh3, then white mates with queen to g2.
4…Nxc6…
Maybe 1.Qa6 works
Qa6!
1. qh6 if gh6 nh6# or if g6 qg7#
threat is qg7# and no moves to stop mate
Simply move 1. Qa7… and the game is over!!!
@Richard:
4 Qc6# is not possible due to 4. … Nxc6!!
However, I don’t see any defense to
1. Qa6!!!
and White checkmates in 1 🙂
Answer of Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 4:05:00 PM CDT is wrong.White’s 4th move is simply replied by a capture
by Blacks Knight at e7.!!
And What about 1.Qa6 ??
And What about 1.Qa6 ??
And What about 1.Qa6 ??
For Richard Scharwtz comment :
The Queen is hanging in c6, isn’t it?
@Richard Schwartz, 4) qc6 is not a mate due to the knight in e7. Qa6!!!! Seems to be the best move.
Richard Schwartz said…
4 Qc6#
4. … ♞xc6.
1. ♕a6, threatening
2. ♕xb7#
1. … bxa6
2. ♘d7#
1Qa6 mate in two.
1. Qa6
1 Nd7+ Ka8
2 Bxb7+ Kxb7
3 Qa6+ Ka8
4 Qc6+ Nxc6
5 Bc6#
qh6 threat qg7# only move stops qg7# is gh6 and this gives mate with nxh6
1. Qh6!
1-0
Yup. I was too quick to go with the forced moves. Too quick to notice that knight holding c6.
Never mind. 😉