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Without the knights on the d-file, black could mate with Qxb2. This immediately suggests looking at a move of the black knight with check:
1. …..Nb4+ (Ne3 leads nowhere)
2. cb4!
The alternatives are clearly worse- Nxb4 leads to Qb2#, and 2.Kd2 allows both Rd3 and Qb2 with check and a sure loss of massive material, if not mate. 2.Kd1 allows both Rd3+ and Qa1+ with massive material loss or mate, and 2.Kc1 allows both Qa1+ and ab2+ with material loss and/or mate. Continuing:
2. …..Qc4
I see nothing else in this line for black. There are no other safe checks, and black’s queen must do something. The only alternative square for her majesty is d5 and white can just exchange there to be up a good rook. Continuing:
3. Kb1!
Definitely the only move that might hold: [3.Kd2?? Rd3! 4.Ke2 Rd5 wins easily]; or [3.Kd1?? Rd3 4.Qd2 Rd2 5.Kd2 Qd4 will also win easily]. Continuing:
3. …..Qd3
Again, what else can black do here? The only alternative is Rd3, but then white has time for a move like Qc1 to bring some more defense to the white king. Continuing:
4. Ka2
Or [4.Kc1?? cb4 and white will have to give up the queen for black’s rook, or give up the a1 rook for the a3 pawn just to prevent a quick mate since the c-file is now open for Rc8 with check and/or mate]. Continuing:
4. …..cb4
This or Qc4: [4. …Qc4?! 5.Kb1! (or 5.b3?? Qb4! 6.Re1 c4!-+)
5. …cb4 6.Qc1! and I don’t see a clear winning line for black here, but I might be missing something]. Continuing:
5. Rad1
Hard for me find the best defense here as nothing looks truly good since there are two threats posed by black. The main alternatives I see are Qc1 and Re4/e5, but none is clearly better than Rad1: [5.Qc1 b3! 6.Ka3 Qb5! 7.Re5 (to prevent Bc5) 7. …Qe5 should win]; or [5.Re5 b3 6.Ka3 Qa6 7.Kb3 Qa1 8.h6 Rd3! 9.Kc4 Rf3 and surely mate or massive material gain must follow here]; or [5.Re4 Rd5! 6.Qc1 b3 7.Ka3 Bc5! 8.Ka4 (or 8.Rb4 Bb4 9.Kb4 Kb6! 10.Qg1 Rd4! 11.Ka3 Qa6 12.Kb3 Qc4 13.Ka3 Qa4#]. Continuing:
5. …..Qc4!
6. Kb1
Or [6.Ka1 Qc2! 7.Qc1 Rd1 8.Rd1 ab2 9.Qb2 Qd1-+]. Right now, though, I don’t quite see how to finish this off, and I am out of time at the moment. White is threatening the rook at d8. Maybe a move like Rd4, or possible a more direct threat like Qb3 might work for black. He is still down material, but with a strong initiative. I will have to pick this up later as I have an appointment that I can’t delay.
Nb4+
1… Nb4+
2. cxb4 * Qc4+
0-1
e.g., if
3. Kb1 Qxd3+
4. Ka2 cxb4
etc. 0-1
* if 2. Nxb4 (instead of cxb4) then
2. …. Qxb2#
or 2. Kd2 Qxb2+ and 3…. Rxd3 0-1
or if 2. Kc1 Nxd3+ 0-1
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,nice chess puzzle but simple one – Black wins the game in ease.
I will wait to see others set of moves for this puzzle,if required I will post my set of moves for this puzzle.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
1. … Nb4+ looks very good.
Obviously if 2. Nxb4 Qxb2#
But white is crushed no matter what due to the dual threats of Qxa1+ (on Kc1 or Kd1) and Rxd3+ (on Kd2).
E.g.,2. Kd2 Rxd3+ 3. Ke2 Qxb2+ 4. Kf1 c4 and now there’s a mate threat at f2, so 5. Re2 Qxa1+ Kg2 6. Qg1+ Kh3 7. Qf1+ Kh4 8. Qxe2
Nb4+
1. … Nb4+
2. Nxb4 Qxb2#
2. Kd2 Rxd3+ 3. Ke2 Qxb2+ 4. Kf1 Rxf3+ 5. Kg1 Qf2 + 6. Kh1 Rxg3 7. Qxg3 Qxg3 looks winning.
2. cxb4 Qc4+ 3. Kb1 Qxd3+ 4. Kc1 cxb4 threatening 5. … Rc8# should do the trick.
1. Nb4+ should do it. If
1…cxb4 2. Qc4+.
1…Nxb4 2. Qxb2+
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,others had given the required set of moves for this chess puzzle – nothing to add further.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]