Very pretty! I wanted to play the rook sacrifice at d2 followed by Qe3 or Ng3, but I can’t quite find a win in there for black, though I think it might hold for black as a draw. It was only then that I saw the possibility of giving up the queen at e3 and mating with the rook and knight- a theme we have seen in Susan’s puzzle posts before, though usually in a corner:
1. …..Qe3!! 2. Kd1
White gets mated on 2.Be3: [2.Be3 Re2! 3.Kf1 (mirror mate on 3.Kd1 Ne3 4.Kc1 Rc2#) 3. …Ne3 4.Kg1 Rg2#]. Continuing:
2. …..Qd3!
The final threat. 2. …Rd2 might win, too, but is very complicated and the best line I can find for black in about 15 minutes of looking at it, he is up two pieces for a rook and a pawn, but has a somewhat useless king’s bishop. 2. …Qd3 pins the helpless bishop, immobilizes the white king and queen, and the black knight is coming in for the kill:
3. Re1
Everything else is a mate- 3.Qb5 allows Qd2#. 3.Rh2 allows Ne3 followed by Qf1#. White can delay things with either Qf8+ or Qd6+, but those are also mates. Now Rd2 wins enough material and maintains enough of an attack to be clearly decisive:
3. …..Rd2 4. Qd2 Qb1 5. Qc1 Qa2 6. Qc2
Black was threatening Ba4#. Continuing:
6. …..Qa3 (threatening Ba4 again) 7. Kd2
There is nothing clearly better for white. Continuing:
7. …..d4 and the coming convention of black pieces that starts with Ne3 and/or Qa5 is going to cost white at least the rook, and probably his queen.
The first move is easy to spot. But the continuation is quite difficult.
1……… Qe3+! 2. Kd1 (2. Bxe3 Re2+ 3. K_1 Nxe3+ 4. K_1 Rg2/c2#) 2……. Qd3!! A nice, calm waiting move. Black is threatening Rxd2+ followed by Qxb1+ winning too much material. Also threatened is Ne3+ followed by Qe2#. I can’t see a defence for white. 0-1
1…Qe3+ !
This is way too difficult.
De3+
Very pretty! I wanted to play the rook sacrifice at d2 followed by Qe3 or Ng3, but I can’t quite find a win in there for black, though I think it might hold for black as a draw. It was only then that I saw the possibility of giving up the queen at e3 and mating with the rook and knight- a theme we have seen in Susan’s puzzle posts before, though usually in a corner:
1. …..Qe3!!
2. Kd1
White gets mated on 2.Be3: [2.Be3 Re2! 3.Kf1 (mirror mate on 3.Kd1 Ne3 4.Kc1 Rc2#) 3. …Ne3 4.Kg1 Rg2#]. Continuing:
2. …..Qd3!
The final threat. 2. …Rd2 might win, too, but is very complicated and the best line I can find for black in about 15 minutes of looking at it, he is up two pieces for a rook and a pawn, but has a somewhat useless king’s bishop. 2. …Qd3 pins the helpless bishop, immobilizes the white king and queen, and the black knight is coming in for the kill:
3. Re1
Everything else is a mate- 3.Qb5 allows Qd2#. 3.Rh2 allows Ne3 followed by Qf1#. White can delay things with either Qf8+ or Qd6+, but those are also mates. Now Rd2 wins enough material and maintains enough of an attack to be clearly decisive:
3. …..Rd2
4. Qd2 Qb1
5. Qc1 Qa2
6. Qc2
Black was threatening Ba4#. Continuing:
6. …..Qa3 (threatening Ba4 again)
7. Kd2
There is nothing clearly better for white. Continuing:
7. …..d4 and the coming convention of black pieces that starts with Ne3 and/or Qa5 is going to cost white at least the rook, and probably his queen.
1…Qe3+ 2. B:e3 Re2+ 3. K any N:e3+ and mate next. Cute
The first move is easy to spot.
But the continuation is quite difficult.
1……… Qe3+!
2. Kd1
(2. Bxe3 Re2+
3. K_1 Nxe3+
4. K_1 Rg2/c2#)
2……. Qd3!!
A nice, calm waiting move.
Black is threatening Rxd2+ followed by Qxb1+ winning too much material. Also threatened is Ne3+ followed by Qe2#. I can’t see a defence for white.
0-1
1. … Nd4
2. Be3 Re2+
3. Kf1 Rb2+
4. Ke1 Rxb4
or
1. … Nd4
2. Rb2 Nf3+
3. Kd1 Rxb2
4. Qxb2 Ba4+
5. Kc1 Qxb2+
6. Kxb2 Nxd2
Queen sac…