White to move. Can you find the absolute best continuation for White?
5r2/R2R4/4B1pk/5p2/8/1p4Kp/pr3P2/8 w – – 0 1
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1. Rh7+ Kg5 2. f4+ Kf6 3. Bc4/Bd5 with the threat Rf7+ mates. If 3…g5, 4. Rh6 mate.
Black can check at g2 or Queen the pawn at a1, but cannot prevent the mate.
I agree with most of Umesh::ഉമേഷ്’s moves, except that black can still queen the pawn, and then move Ra2 to block the mate. To prevent that,
1. Rh7+ Kg5 2. f4+ Kf6 3. Bxb3
I think Bxb3 as the 3rd move wouldn’t be best because Rxb3 checks — after which it is difficult for the king to get out of check without endangering the mating net. Take for example Kh4? g5+ Kh5, but white still does mate with either Rh6 or Ra6, depending on how black chooses to die (i.e. a1=Q’s answer is Rh6, whereas Rg8’s answer is Ra6). Hence what Umesh said is better — Bc4 and Bd5.
However, I believe that Bd5 is better than Bc4 because Bd5 is the best way to defuse the potential check that black has with Rg2. So…if black was to do their best defense, I see this:
1. Rh7+ Kg5
2. f4+ Kf6
3. Bd5 Rg2+
4. Bxg2 hxg2
5. Ra6#
If it was Bc4, then black’s response to Rg2+ would take an extra move to do Kxh3 followed by KxR.
tvail, not quite. Instead of 4…hxg2, black would play 4…Re8 if he wants to be annoying and still doesn’t want to resign, and from there it is only a mate in 3. It doesn’t matter really.
I dont see a mate for white after
a1=Q Rxa1
Ra2 and then Ra6
So may be 1-Kh4 is the move to consider
tvail, it’s a big mistake to play 4.Bxg2
Just play 4. Kf3 or Kxh3 and black can’t avoid mate.
How about
1. Kh4 Rh8
2. Bg8
and mate in 2.
1. Kh4 Rh8
2. Bg8
and mate in 2
2 … g5+ 3 Kxh3 Rxg8 and black wins.
1. Rh7+ Kg5
2. f4+ Kf6
3. Bd5/c4 Rg2+
4. Kxh3 Rg3+
5. Kxg3 a1Q
6. Raf7+ Rxf7
7. Rxf7#
1. Rh7+ Kg5
2. f4+ Kf6
3. Bd5
And White will mate by Raf7+ RxR RxR#.
1. Bg8 ( I rejected 1. Rh7+ for the wrong reason but these guys found the right reasons why it gets complicated )
Now White is threatening Rh7+ Kg5 f4+ Kf6 Ra6#
1. … Rxf2 2. Kxf2 and now 2. … b2 can be met by 3. Bxa2 and 2. … Rxg8 can be met by 3. R(e)b7
1. … f4+ 2. Kg4
No, I didn’t test my move against the a1=Q followed by Rb2 concept so 1. Bg8 a1=Q 2. Rh7+ Kg5 3. f4+ Kf6 4. Rxa1 Ra2 5. Rd1 Ra6
If the bishop is at d5 in a similar line White could play 4. Rf7+ Rxf7 5. Rxf7# but I wasn’t paying attention to what the first poster was saying and made the same mistake as the one made in the second comment which was thinking that Black was planning to follow up with Ra6#
1. Bg8!! if 1….Rxg8, then 2. Rh7+, followed by 3. f4+ and 4. Ra6#
if 1….g5, then 2. Ra6+, followed by 3. Rh6#
if 1….f4+, then 3. Kg4, followed by 3. Rh6# or Ra6#
It is nice, that bishop on g8 stops black rook to go to h8 as a good resource to defend.
After 1. Bg8? black plays 1…. Bxf2 and wins.
I’ve invented a new saying, wise people accept wise advice, fools accept foolish advice.