White to move. What is the absolute best continuation for White?
rn5k/1p4b1/1q1p4/2pPpp2/2b1N1Q1/p5P1/1P1B1P1P/R5K1 w – – 0 1
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I can conceive of only one starting move from this position as white:
1. Qh5 Kg8 (Bh6 below)
And, again, I can see only one second move for white:
2. Qe8 Kh7 (Bf8 3.Qg6 #s in 2 more)
And, again, I can conceive of only one continuation:
3. Ng5 Kh6
Finally a position where the options for white were more than one move, but one really stands out as a way to drive the black king into white pawns (or get denuded). There might be a shorter mate, but this is the one I can actually see without too much mental effort:
4. Qe6 Kh5 (Bf6 is similar)
5. Qf7 Kh6 (Kg4 6.h3#)
6. Qf5 and the only moves that prevent Qh7# are Kh5 and Bd3, but then Nh3 is mate in both cases.
Back at move 1, black is still going to get mated if he blocks the first check with Bh6:
1. Qh5 Bh6
2. Qh6 Kg8
3. Nf6 Kf7
4. Bg5 and I defy anyone to prevent mate in 3 or less from here. I have looked at Ke7, Qc7, Bd5, Na6, and ab2. For example:
4. …..Qc7
5. Qh7 Kf8
6. Bh6 Qg7 (only move)
7. Qg7# Or
4. …..Ke7
5. Ne8 Ke8 (Kd7 6.Qe6#; Kf7 6.Qf6)
6. Qe6 Kf8
7. Bh6#
Qh5+ Kg8
Qe8+ Kh7
Ng5+ Kh6
Ne6+ Kh7
Qf7 Qc7
Qxc7 Nd7
Qh5+ Kg8
Qe8+ Kh7
Ng5+ Kh6
Qe6+ Kh5
Qf7+ Kg6
Ne6+ Kh7
Qg7#
Tbis is relatively easy. White is a piece down and two of his pieces are forked. This means attack, and forced moves. That usually means checks. Also black is quite depleted on the King side of pieces. This also means immediate attacks. Finally there are back rank components and the potential to move the white knight around double attacking the black bishop on g7. This leads to a forced mate knowing too one get to the king to leave his safe perch at the back. Also there is the potential for a killer discovered check with bishop once the king comes out. The only question is “can one calculate the 8 moves required?” (but even if not, it’s not a problem because the first three moves are so obvious and if not calculated are an obvious draw by perpetual).
1. Qh5+ Kg8.
2. Qe+ Kh7
3. Ng5+ Kh6 (out of his safe perch)
4. Qe6+ (the only not so intuitive move, though obvious) Kh5
5. Qf7+ Kh6
6. Ne6 discovered check and attackign the BB on g7. f4
7. Qg7+ Kh5
8. Qg5 mate.
psyche /anonymous.
1.Qh5+ Kg8
2.Qe8+ Kh7
3.Ng5+ Kh6
4.Qe6+ Kh5
5.Qf7+ Kg4
6.h3+ Kxh3
7.Qh5#
– From MR KO (Malaysian)
White should mate in a few moves. My main line:
1. Qh5+ Kg8
1. … Bh6 2.Qxh6+ Kg8 3.Qe6+
Four moves for Black here:
a) 3. … Kh8
4. Nf6 Qd8
5. Qf7 Qxf6
6. Qxf6+ Kg8/h7
7. Bh6 and mate on g7
b) 3. … Kf8 4.Bh6#;
c) 3. … Kh7
4. Qf7+ Kh8
5. Nf6 and mate on g8 or h7
d) 3. … Kg7
4. Bh6+ Kh7
5. Ng5+ Kh8
6. Qf6+ and mate on g7
2. Qe8+ Kh7
2. … Bf8
3. Qg6+ Bg7 (Kh8 4.Nf6 and mate on h7 or g8)
4. Nf6+ Kf8/h8
5. Qe8/h7#
3. Ng5+ Kh6
4. Ne6+ Kh7
5. Qf7
and Black can’t do anything about mate on g7
i think, the solution must be something like
1. Qh5+ Kg8
2. Qe8+ Kh7
3. Ng5+ Kh6
4. Ne6+ Kh7
5. Qf7 Qc7
6. Qxc7 Nd7
8. Qxd7 axb2
9. Qxg7#
but what if black interposes the bishop? let´s see:
2. … Bf8
3. Qxf8+ Kh7
4. Ng5+ Kg6
5. Qf7+ Kh6
6. Ne6+ f4
7. Qg7+ Kh5
8. Qg5#
1. … Bh6
2. Qxh6+ Kg8
3. Qe6+ Kg7
4. Bh6+ Kh7
5. Ng5+ Kh8
6. Qf6+ Kg8
7. Qg7#
4. … Kh8
5. Qf6+ Kh7/g8
6. Qg7#
3. … Kh8
4. Qe8+ Kh7
5. Qf7+ Kh8
6. Nf6 Qc7
7. Qg8#
4. … Kg7
5. Qe7+ Kh8
6. Bh6 Qc7
7. Qxc7
what the hell, i m getting tired of this. greets, jan
1.Qh5+
Can this be called a puzzle?
This is my idea:
1. Qh5+ Kg8
2. Qe8+ Kh7
3. Ng5+ Kh6
4. Qg8
Here, Kg6 is the only way to meet the threat of Qh7#, so…
4. … Kg6
5. Qf7+ Kh6
6. Ne6+ Kh7
7. Qxg7#
Best Regards
I posted this line before…
This is my idea:
1. Qh5+ Kg8
2. Qe8+ Kh7
3. Ng5+ Kh6
4. Qg8
Here, Kg6 is the only way to meet the threat of Qh7#, so…
4. … Kg6
5. Qf7+ Kh6
6. Ne6+ Kh7
7. Qxg7#
But I checked in my computer and it answered 4. … f4!
So in this line 4. … Kg6 is not forced.
I felt disapointed with myself.
Then I came back to work and was almost dropping the line 4.Qg8 when I found the spetacular continuation…
5. Qe6+ Kh5
6. g4+ Kh4 (6. … KxN is mate in two)
7. Nf3+ Kh3 (forced)
8. g5#
An interesting end!
There are many subvariations like 6. … KxN what is mate in 8 too, but 6. … Kh4 is logical and beautiful.
Now I checked on my my computer and it’s ok. But anyway, I made a mistake earlier.
I’m sorry.
Best Regards from Brazil
I was so focused on Nf6+ Bxf6 bringing in the bishop I didn’t see the Ng5 idea.
Szu, could you be my chess mentor???
I really want to improve my level.
Zam
Qh5+ Kg8
Qe8+ Kh7
Ng5+ Kh6
Ne6+ Kh7
Qf7 Qc7
Qxc7 Nd7
Qxd7 Rg8
Ng5+ Kg6
Qf7+ Kh6
Qxf5 Bxd5
Nf7++
my varitation was also a mate although it took a few more moves…