White to move. How can white save this game?
4r2k/4R1pp/1n5N/7n/q2p4/6QP/p5PK/8 w – – 0 1
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1 Qb3 threatens smothered mate after Qb8+. Black can’t take the Q or RxR and can’t take the Rook or Qb8 so has to take the knight:
1 … b7xa6
2 Qc7 and black can’t cover all the threats Qxa7 or Qb7 or Qc8 next move, and has no checks, so is mated.
1Qb3 wins
1. Qxg7+! Nxg7
2. Nf7+ Kg8
3. Nh6+ Kh8
4. Nf7 =
1. Qb3 wins quickly.
There is always the draw with Nf7+, Nh6 perpetual. But Qb3 wins with either Qf7 or Qg8.
1. Qb3! wins. The threat is Qg8+, Rxg8, Nf7 mate.
1…. Qxb3
2. Rxe8 mate
1…. gxh6
2. Qf7 with the threat of Qxh7 mate (2… Rxe7 3.Qf8 mate)
1…. Nd5
2. Qxa4 and white wins.
Perpetual check
1.Nf7+ Kg8
2.Nh6+ Kh8
3.Nf7+..
If 2..Kf8 then 3.Rf7#
Qb3
I think I have seen what I missed.
White can even try to win the game.
White has to start with
1. Qb3!!
( threatening Qxa4 – Rxe8 as well as Qg8 – Nf7 )I think black loses for sure. The only useful option seems
1……. gxh6, when
2. Qf7! Rxe7
3. Qf8 is mate.
1 – 0
Hope there isn’t any flaw.
1. Qb3
if
1… gxh6
2. Qf7 Rxe7
3. Qf8#
or
1….. Rxe7
2. Qg8#
or
1…. Qxb3
2. Rxe8+ Qg8
3. Rxg8#
or
1. …. a1(Q)
2. Qg8# Rxg8
3. Nf7#
Interesting and funny puzzle.
I have a strong feeling for
1. Qe5 Nf6 (see alternative B against Rxe8 mating below)
2. Qe6!
with the nice threat
2. … something
3. Qg8+ Rxg6
4. Nf7#.
Now 2. … Qa8 doesn’t prevent this, neither does 2. … Rxe7 3. Qg8#
A1)
2. … gxh6
3. Qxf6+ Kg8
4. Qg7#
A2)
2. … Qc4
3. Rxe8+ Ng8
4. Rxg8#
or
3. Nf7+ Kg8
4. Rxe8#
B)
1. Qe5 Rabcdf8 (Rg8 Nf7#)
Agin, I think 2. Qe6 looks the most interesting, I see many mating lines.
This is complicated, I may have overlooked something.
Draw with
1. Qxg7+ Nxg7 2. Nf7+ Kh8 (..Kf8 3. Tf7#) 3. Nh6+ …
Oops!
Forget about my first idea Qe5.
Too indirect and complicated to work, I think.
Far better is:
1. Qb3!!
With the idea Qg8+ Rxg8 Nf7# after most black moves, like Qa1.
1. … gxh6/g6 fails to Qf7, and Qxb3 or Qc4 fails of cource to Rxe8#.
Rxe7 fails to Qg8#.
If white wants to draw
1Qxg7+ Nxg7 2Nf7+ Kg8 3Nh6+ draw by repeat.
White can win if he wants by
1Qb3 threatens
(a)2Qg8+ Rxg8 3 Nf7#
(b) 2Qxa4 Nxa4 3 Rxe8#.
1… Qxb3
1… gxh6 Qf7 and mate follows.
2Rxe8+ Qg8
3Rxg8#
I suppose 1. Qb3 is the move.
Of course Black cant accept the offer (Re8 and mate). Black also cant take on e7 for Qg8 mate. For moves like a1Q White wins by Qg8+ Rxg8 Nf7 mate. And if Black plays gxh6 White should win with Qf7
Qb3!!
I liked this one. As Prof Bhat has already pointed out, 1.Qb3 is a mating net with the double threat of Rxe8/Qa4 and the smothered mate line of Qg8.
1. Qb3 has a double threat and should win
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,I could see at this page as of now,that most felt “Qb3” the best initial move.
=========
[ But to me,”Qb3″ is not a sound move,I didn’t mean its worst move but not a sound move.
Just,let me give,an out of box thinking then decide where does “Qb3” ends up for White – lol
1.Qb3 Qa8/2.Nf7 Kg8/3.Nd6+ Kh8/4.R*Re8+ Q*Re8/5.N*Qe8 a1(Q)/6.Q*Nb6 Qa8/7.Qb5 Nf4/8.Kg3 Qe4/9.Qb8 Qe3+/10.Kg4 h5+/11.Kg5 Qg3+/12.Kf5 g6+/13.Kf6 Nd5+/14.Ke6 Q*Qb8 … – lol Where does this end up ? It then will end up towards White lose / Black’s win – lol
Or
1.Qb3 Qa8/2.R*Re8+ Q*Re8/3.Qg8+ Q*Qg8 /4.N*Qg8 K*Ng8 – lol then what ?
Or
1.Qb3 Qa8/2.R*Re8+ Q*Re8/3.Q*a2 Qe5+/4.Kg1 Qe1+/5.Kh2 Qg3+ … – lol ]
So to me,initial move “Qb3” may lead to repeated move draw or even Black’s win ]
===============
Now,I will let know,my preference of initial move for White in this puzzle.[ Variations exist ]
Example One
===========
1.Qg5 a1(Q)
2.Nf7+ Kg8
3.Q*Nh5 d3
4.Nh6+ g*Nh6
5.Qf7+ Kh8
6.Q*h7++ Mate
Example Two
===========
1.Qg5 g*Nh6
2.Qe5+ Kg8
3.Qe6+ Kh8
4.Qf7 R*Re7
5.Qf8++ Mate
Example Three
=============
1.Qg5 g*Nh6
2.Qe5+ Kg8
3.Qe6+ Kh8
4.Qf7 Qc2
5.Q*Re8++ Mate
White wins the game [Still further interesting variations exist ]
As of this puzzle is concerned few other initial moves will also work out for White,if White is a an expert in chess.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]