1.d8Q! is obvious. But the point comes much later: Rd2 (1…Rxd8 2.Bxd8 h1Q 3.Bc8 Kh2 4.Bc7#) 2.Qxd2 (All other moves misplace either the king or bishop: 2.Be2 Rxd8 3.Bxd8 h1Q-+; 2.Ke3 Rxd8 3.Bxd8 h1Q 4.Bc8 Kg3-+) cxd2 3.Bg3! (3.Bd8 d1N-+) d1N At first I stopped here, but then I continued the variation: 4.Kf3 h1Q 5.Kf4, and all variations lead to a draw. For instance 5…Qg1 (5…Nc3 6.Bc8 Kg2 7.Bb7=; 5…Qc6 6.Bf1=) 6.Bc8 Kg2 7.Bb7 Kf1 8.Ba6 with a perpetual.
1.d8Q! is obvious. But the point comes much later: Rd2 (1…Rxd8 2.Bxd8 h1Q 3.Bc8 Kh2 4.Bc7#) 2.Qxd2 (All other moves misplace either the king or bishop: 2.Be2 Rxd8 3.Bxd8 h1Q-+; 2.Ke3 Rxd8 3.Bxd8 h1Q 4.Bc8 Kg3-+) cxd2 3.Bg3! (3.Bd8 d1N-+) d1N At first I stopped here, but then I continued the variation: 4.Kf3 h1Q 5.Kf4, and all variations lead to a draw. For instance 5…Qg1 (5…Nc3 6.Bc8 Kg2 7.Bb7=; 5…Qc6 6.Bf1=) 6.Bc8 Kg2 7.Bb7 Kf1 8.Ba6 with a perpetual.
Fabiano Caruana
i’ll go with:
d8 = Q Rxd8
Bxd8
if then …h1 = Q
Bc8+ and the K must go to h2
Bc7#
so black has to avoid this by pushing the c pawn, which can be stopped with Bg5.
if black plays other variations like moving to g4 to avoid the mate, should allow white to pick up the pawns and draw (at least)
totally off the cuff, didn’t use a board (and don’t visualize that well) so sorry if wrong. but, that’s what i’d try
1. Bc8 I think…
If 1. … Rxd7 2. Bg3! h1=N+ =
1. Bc8??
And what if 1 … Kxh4? 🙂
How do you intend to stop the pawns then?
I think Fabiano’s suggestion is a bit better. And correct.
1. d8=Q Rd2+ or h1=Q (…Rxd8 results in mate) 2. Qc8+ (If 1…Rd2+ then 2. Be2 c2 3. Qc8+ Kxh4 4. Qh8+ K moves 5. Qh1) Kxh4 3. Qh8+ K moves 4. Qxh1
Bg4