The postion suggests a mate by playing a rook to the b-file at some point. My first thought was to play R7a3 to threaten either rook to the b-file for mate, but I can’t really find a good continuation for white after black replies with either c5 or Kb5 in both of which the black king escapes the trap on the b-file. However, the fact of c5 staring me in the face got me to notice the other way of protecting the a7 rook while, at the same time preventing black from playing c5. The rest was simple:
1. Bc5
Occupy c5 keeping the black pawn at c6 as a prison stone for his master.
1. …..Kb5 (only move, of course) 2. R1a4
The trickiest move to see, but the need to cut of the black king from c4 makes it seem obvious even if you can’t see the mate coming (which I couldn’t until the position was in front of me) White is threatening mate two different ways now- R7a5 and Rb4, and there is nothing black can do that prevents both.
I think 1. R1a5! followed by 2. Bc5 mate. I don’t see how Black can avoid that.
Bc5+ Kb5
Ra4 Ra8
Rb4++
Bc5+ Kb5
Ra4 Rxd4
Ra5++
1.Ba3!! with the idea of Bc1, to deny Black the bishop pair.
The postion suggests a mate by playing a rook to the b-file at some point. My first thought was to play R7a3 to threaten either rook to the b-file for mate, but I can’t really find a good continuation for white after black replies with either c5 or Kb5 in both of which the black king escapes the trap on the b-file. However, the fact of c5 staring me in the face got me to notice the other way of protecting the a7 rook while, at the same time preventing black from playing c5. The rest was simple:
1. Bc5
Occupy c5 keeping the black pawn at c6 as a prison stone for his master.
1. …..Kb5 (only move, of course)
2. R1a4
The trickiest move to see, but the need to cut of the black king from c4 makes it seem obvious even if you can’t see the mate coming (which I couldn’t until the position was in front of me) White is threatening mate two different ways now- R7a5 and Rb4, and there is nothing black can do that prevents both.
Khairie,
You are closer than you know, but R1a5 is met sufficiently by 1. …c5 giving the black king access to c6. Find a way to prevent c5.
1. Ba3 .. Ba6, and not Kxa7 losing the so important bishop pair,
2. Ba2, attacking the pawn, and Black must resign!
1. Bc5+ .. Kb5
2. R1a4 closing the way out for the black king
.. Ra8, just to be mated in four and not in three…
3. Rxa8 .. any
4. R7a5#
1.Ra4 c5 freeing c6 for the K
1. Ba3 Ka7
1. Bc5+ blocking teh c-pawn and
protecting a7
… Kb5
2. Ra4
Bc5+ and R1a4
Bc5, R1a4, R7a5
In a blitz, I’d go for Bc5+ and hope for a mating pattern. I didn’t analyze to the end, but the black king looks mateable.
i think, the solution is:
1. Bc5+ Kb5
2. R1a4 and either Rb4# or R7a5# next move. greets, jan
1 bc5+ Kb5 (force move and block the white c5 pawn
2. R1a4 and
3. R7a5#
1.Bc5+ Kb5
2.Ra1a4 Rexd4
3.Ra7a5#
– From MR KO (Malaysian)
1.Bc5+!!! Kb5
2. R1a4 and R1a5 or Rb4 are unstoppable
1. Bc5+ Kb5 2. R1a4 and Black is powerless to prevent mate. Even 2…R:d4 does not help because of the simple 3. R7a5#
Mate in 3:
1 Bc5+ Kb4
2 R1a4!
Black has 34 possible moves, none of which stop White from mating in two different ways next move.
2 … any
3 R7a5# or Rb4#
1 Bc5+ Kb5
2 R(1)a4 Ra8
3 Rxa8 Rxd4
4 R98)a5#
From Spain..
1)Bc5+,Kb5
2)R1a4!, and 3)R7a5# or Rb4#
1)R1a5?!,c5!
Greetings from Spain
1 Bc5+ Kb5
2 R(1)a4 Ra8
3 Rxa8 Rxd4
4 R(8)a5#
R1a4 cant work because of Rxd4. The solution I see is
1: R7a4
if c5
then 2: dxc5+ and wins rook on e4
anything else 2: Rb4#
Thanks Yancey, a very instructive solution.