White to move. How should white proceed?
b4b1k/1q3pn1/3p1Np1/1p2rN1p/p1p1P1Q1/P1P4R/1P3PPP/6K1 w – – 0 1
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1. Qg5
Threatening Qh6#.
1. … Ne6 or Ne8 or Nxf5.
2. Rxh5+
2. … Kg7
3. Rh7#
2. … gxh5
3. Rg8#
2. … Bh6 (if 1… Nxf5, then Nh6 is possible, too)
3. Qxh6# (if 1. … Nxf5, then first 3. Rxh6 and then 4. Qxh6#).
White has a forced mate in six.
1. Qg5, Nxf5
2. Rxh5+, Bh6
3. Rxh6+, Kg7
4. Rh7+, Kf8
5. Rh8+, Ke7
6. Re8#
At first, I thought it had to be 1.Rh5 followed by 2.Qg5. This works if black takes with the pawn on move 1, but if he takes with the knight instead, I can’t find a win for white, nor a draw. With that out the way, I looked at the move of Qg5 as the first move, and found this is a forced mate:
1. Qg5
Threatens Qh6#. Black’s only defense to this is to move the knight at g7 out of the way of his bishop, but this then allows Rh5 followed by a quick mate:
1. …..Nf5 (Ne8/6 2.Rh5 gh5 3.Qg8)
2. Rh5! Bh6
Shorter mates otherwise: [2. …Kg7 3.Rh7#]; [2. …gh5 3.Qg8#]; [2. …Nh6 3.Rh6 Bh6 (3. …Kg7 4.Rh7#) 4.Qh6#]. Continuing:
3. Rh6 Kg7 (Nh6 4.Qh6#)
4. Nh5 Kg8 (Kf8 5.Rh8#)
5. Qd8 Re8
6. Qe8#
I know this sounds naive, but wouldn’t 1. Qg5 be sufficient? if 1…Nxf5 Rxh5+ with mate to follow. If 1…Rxf5 Qh6#. I don’t see a defense to 1. Qg5.
I see …
Qg5
threatens mate on h6, so the knight needs to leave
… say Nxf5, then
Rxh5 gxh5
Qg8 mate
or if
Rxh5 Nh6
Rh6 Bxh6
Qxh6 mate
i think, it’s simple, at least, if this is the right solution:
1. Qg5 Nxf5
2. Rxh5+ Nh6 (Kg7, 3. Rh7#)
3. Rxh6+ Bxh6 (Kg7, 4. Rh7#)
4. Qxh6#
2. … Bh6
3. Rxh6+ Kg7 (Nh6, 4. Qxh6#)
4. Nh5+ Kf8
5. Qd8+ Re8
6. Rh8#
4. … Kg8
5. Qd8+ Re8
6, Qxe8#
2. … gxh5
3. Qg8#
1. … Ne6/e8
2. Rxh5+ gxh5 (Kg7, 2. Rh7#)
3. Qg8#
1. … other
2. Qh6#
well, there’s more variations than i thought at first glance. greets to all! jan
Oh well…
f7 is well protected, so, even in a dream, a knight could not hit this square to place a half-smothered mate!
The checkmate with a rook in h5 is very pleasant and tempting, but h5 is well protected enough, so the direct h5 sac doesn’t work either.
But another mate with rook (??) or queen (!) is very possible!
So:
1. Qg5! (threat 2. Qh6#)
Now the Knight g7 must move to allow protection of h6 with the Bishop f8.
So…
1 … Nxf5 is a good parry but removes the guard of the square h5
2. Rxh5+ (one for the treble, two for the bass!)
and the horror, the horror!
2… gxh5 is not possible, because now the g-file is wide open for the queen and 3.Qg8# is now possible.
2…Nh6 is not possible too because of 3. Rxh6+ Bxh6 (3… Kg7 4. Rh7#) 4. Qxh6#
2… Bh6 is more resistant, but after
3. Rxh6+ Kg7
4. Rh7+ Kf8
5. Rh8+ Ke7 (5…Kg7 6.Rg8#)
6.Re8#
Whose game it is?
1.Qg5 (with the idea 2.Qh6 checkmate) Nxf5 3.Rxh5+ and mate seems unavoidable
1. Qg5 (a) Rxf5
2. Qh6#
1. … (b) Nxf5
2. Rxh5+ (b1) gxh5
3. Qg8#
2. …. (b2) Nh6
3. Rxh6#
Mark
Qg5 no way to save at Qh6. If Ne6 then R sacrifice and mate.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,already profoundly discussed the possibilities of this puzzle by others,nothing their to add from my side.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]