White to move. How should White proceed?
1r6/1p2k1p1/q1rp1p1p/1R6/4PR2/1Q2n1PB/p1P4P/3n2K1 w – – 0 1
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1 Qe6+ Kf1 (else Qd7 mates)
2 Rxf6+ Kxf6
3 Qxf6+ and white should win against the exposed king.
Probably 1. Qe6+, if 1… Kf8 then 2. Rxf6+ gxf6 3. Qxf6+ and then get the rook and/or bishop to help.
While many players might not be able to see this mate-in-X from the initial position, the moves that achieve it are natural and obvious:
White is down a piece and two pawns, and Black is getting ready to promote a pawn. Since White is down material and can’t stop the pawn from promoting, she needs to act quickly.
Fortunately, White’s pieces are well placed, and the Queen can get into play with check:
1 Qe6+
The Queen, supported by the Bishop, gets in the Black King’s face.
1 …. Kf8
The other alternative (d8) is mate next by Qd7.
2 Rxf6+
This move is also obvious, if only because there’s no other good move available. The plan is simple: White gives up her Rook to clear out some of the pawns that are shielding Black’s King.
2 …. gxf6
3 Qxf6+
And now Black has two ways to go:
VARIATION ONE:
3 …. Kg8
4 Qg6+
White can’t afford to get careless here: After 4 Be6+ Kh7, White can no longer create a mating net, e.g. 5 Bf7 Rg8! and now White must settle for perpetual check.
With the given move, White keeps Black’s King confined to the back rank until the Bishop can get into position.
4 … Kf8
On 4… Kh8, 5 Qh6+ Kg8, 6 Be6#.
5 Be6
White brings the Bishop to the show and draws tight the mating net and threatens an immediate Qe7#.
5 … Rc7
No better is 5 … Ke7, 6 Qf7+ Kd1, 7 Qd7#. The actual move blocks the immediate mate on e7, but at the cost of removing one of the King’s flight squares.
6 Qg8+ Ke7
7 Qf7+ Kd8
8 Qf8#
VARIATION TWO:
3 …. Ke8
Black tries to head for the safety of the Queenside, but of course White will have nothing to do with it.
4 Be6!
Other moves also work. What White needs to be wary of after removing the Bishop from h3 is that the Rook can’t be moved from its square without check, as that would allow Qf1#. As it is, White threatens mate in two with Qf7+ and Qd7#, and Black only has one defense to prevent this.
4 …. Rc7
The Rook protects the 7th rank, while giving White a chance to go wrong.
5 Qg6+
The inviting-looking 5 Rg5??? would bring the game to an abrupt end in Black’s favor with 5… Qf1#
5 …. Kd8
The game ends with the same move sequence after 5…Kf8, while 5…Ke7 abbreviates the process by a move.
6 Qg8+
If White gets careless here with 6 Qf6+, Black escapes with 6… Re7, after which White can only draw by perpetual check.
6… Ke7
7 Qf7+ Kd8
8 Qf8#
Qe6+ – Kf8
Rxf6+ – gxf6
then after taking h6 we’ll have Rg5+ and that should be enough?
qe6+ and rxf6+
han
1. Qe6+, Kf8
2. Rxf6+, gxf6
3. Qxf6+
In that position, the plan is to take off the h6 pawn with check, so getting the king back to f8 is the first point.
3. …, Kg8 (on Kf8, we just check on e6 again and the king has to go back to f8)
4. Qg6+, Kf8
5. Qxh6+, Ke8 (the King can no longer thread on the g og h line, because the rook will get into that frey)
6. Qh8+, Kf7 (Ke7 leads to mate with Qg7 followed by Rh5)
7. Qh7, Kf8
8. Rg5 and the mate on g8 is unavoidable.
6.
White a piece and two pawns down, and Black’s a-pawn is about to queen, so a draw with 1. Qe6+ Kf8 (1… Kd8 2. Qd7#) 2. Rxf6+ gxf6 3. Qxf6+ looks the best option.
Qe6+ Kf8
Rf6+ gxf6
Qxf6+ 1-0
The only logical looking move is Qe6+. Perhaps:
1. Qe6+ Kf8 (Kd8 Qd7#)
2. Rxf6+ gxf6
3. Qxf6+
and now:
a)
3 …. Ke8
4. Rf5 and blacks seems helpless, or:
b)
3 …. Kg8
4. Be6+ Kh7
5. Bf5+ Kg8
6. Qg6+ Kf8
7. Be6 and again black is helpless.
1.Qe6+! Kf8 2.Rxf6+ gxf6 3.Qxf6+
A) 3….Kg8 4.Qg6+ Kf8 (4…Kh8 5.Qxh6+ Kg8 6.Be6 mate !) 5.Be6! Rc7 6.Qg8+ Ke7 7.Qf7+ Kd8 8.Qf8 mate!
B)3….Ke8 4.Qh8+ Ke7 5.Qg7+ Ke8 6.Qd7+ Kf7 7.Be6! Rc7 8.Qxc7 and the mate is unavoidable
Excuse me, i may just bring a correction to my previous comment
1.Qe6+ Kf8 2.Rxf6+ gxf6 3.Qxf6+ Ke8
4.Qh8+ has problems working on 4…Kf7 5. Qh7+ Kf6.
But 4.Be6! threatening mate 4…Rc7 5.Qg6+!! wins since we finally get the same mate. It’s a pretty nice puzzle ! 5…Kd8 6.Qg8+ Ke7 7.Qf7+ Kd8 8.Qf8 mate or 5….Kf8 6.Qg8+ or 5…Ke7 directly 6.Qf7+
1. Qe6+
If 1. … Kd8
Then 2. Qd7+ and check-mate
If 1. … Kf8
Then
2. Rxf6+ gxf6
3. Qxf6+
and now check mate is inevitable with queen and bishop
-HH
1.Qe6+ Kf7( if Kd8 then Qd7#)
2.Rxf6 gxf6
3.Qxf6+ Ke8
4.Qe6+ Kf8
5.Qxh6+ Ke8
6.Qe6+ Kf8
7.Rh5 with un avoidable mate on H8
1.Qe6+ Kf7( if Kd8 then Qd7#)
2.Rxf6 gxf6
3.Qxf6+ Ke8
4.Qe6+ Kf8
5.Qxh6+ Ke8
6.Qe6+ Kf8
7.Rh5 with un avoidable mate on H8
1.Qe6+ Kf8 ( 1…Kd8 2.Qd7#)
2.Rxf6+ gxf6 3.Qxf6+ Ke8
(3…Kg8 4.Qg6+ Kf8 5.Qxh6+ is the same)
4.Qe6+ Kf8 5.Qxh6+ Kf7(e8)(e7)
(5…Kg8 6.Rg5+ will be mate
after 7.Rg7+ and 8.Qh8#)
6.Qe6+ Kf8 7.Rg5 and the threat of
Rg8# is not to defend.