White to move. How should white proceed?
q7/4R2p/6pk/p1QR4/1p3r2/n1p4P/Pr4P1/7K w – – 0 1
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Only thing I saw instantly was
1. Rh5+ forcing gxh
2. Qd6+ Kg4
3. Qe5+ Rf5
4. Qg3+ Kf6
5. Qg7++
White win with few moves: 1.Rh5+ gxh5 2.Qd6+ Kg5 3.Qe5+ Rf5 4.Qg3+ Kh6 5.Qg7#
1.Rh5+ gxh5
2.Qd6+ Kg5
3.Rg7+ Kf5
4.Rf7+ Ke4
5.Rxf4+ Ke3
6.Qd4+ Ke2
7.Rf2+ Ke1
8.Qe3+ Kd1
9.Qd3+ Rd2
10.Rf1#
1.Rh5+!.gxh5 forced
2.Qd6+.Kg5 forced else Qxf6#
3.Rg7+.Kf5 forced else Qxf4#
4.Rf7+.Ke4 forced only move
5.Rxf4+.Ke3 forced only move
6.Qd4+.Ke2 forced only move
7.Rrf2+.Ke1 forced only move
8.Qe3+.Kd1. Forced else Qxe2#
9.Rf1+.Kc2 forced only move
10.Rc1#
Harry
Rh5! gxxh5
Qd6+ Kg5
Qe5+ Rf5
Qg3+ Kh6
Qg7#
It took me a while in order to see the forced checkmate. At first I wanted to make the Rh5+ work, and then I moved to Rxh7+. Then I moved back to Rh5+, knowing there must be something. But I’m afraid I would just miss everything on the board!
1. Rxh5+ .. gxh5
2. Q d6+ .. K g5
3. R h7+ .. K f5, .. K h4 4. Qxf4#
4. R f7+ .. K e4, .. K g5 5. Qxf4+ followed by 6. Q f5+ and 7. Q f6#
5. Rxf4+ .. K e3
6. Q d4+ .. K e2
7. Q f2+ .. K d1, .. K d3 8. R d4#
8. R d4+ .. K c1
9. Q e1+ followed by 10. Q d1#
It doesn’t take much fantasy to spot the initial rook sack. But it takes good nerves to play it, since it gives black the threat Qxg2# and white needs check in every move in the continuation.
1. Rh5+ gxh5
2. Qd6+
With the idea to drive black K against white pawns or against own rook (also threatening the rook). The alternative Re6+ Kg7 was hopeless.
2. … Kg5 (Rf6 Qxf6#)
3. Rg7+
The alternative Qe5+ Rf5 didn’t work now.
3. … Kf5 (Kh4 Qxf4#)
4. Rf7+
Getting rook to f7 with the idea to capture black rook!
A)
4. … Kg5
5. Qe5+
Now it was time for this move!
A1)
5. … Kg6 (Kh4 Qxf4#)
6. Rg7+ Kh6
7. Qg5#
A2)
5. … Kh6
6. Qxf4+ Kg6
7. Qf6#
A3)
5. … Rf5
6. Qxf5+ Kh6 (Kh4 Qf4#)
7. Rxh7#/Qf6#
B)
4. … Ke4
5. Re7+ Kf5
6. Re5# (nice mate)
So I conclude it’s enforced mate in 7 moves.
Oh I missed the mate in 5 after 3. Qe5+ (the move I claimed didn’t work). Of course it works after 4. Qg3+ and 5. Qg7#.
Or:
3. … Kg6 (Kh6 Qf7#. Kh4 Qxf4+)
4. Rg7+ Kh6
5. Qg5#
Or:
4. Qg7+ Kf5
5. Re5#
To Prof.S.G.Bhat and Harry:
I notice that you both could make your line 4 moves shorter if you on move #5 instead of greedily taking the rook used it to squeeze king against!
I think that’s very nice use of opponent’s rook!
It goes:
5. Re7+! Kf5
6. Re5#
Amazing mate, isn’t it?
Yes, pht,
You are right! Good looking mate with 5.Re5.
It is precise.
Thanks and regards.
Harry
Dear pht,
Thank you for your suggestion.It was not greed but lack of vision.I think I missed the solution by kibitzer also which was most economical.When my solution worked I did not look for alternatives.