White to move. How should white proceed?
r1r5/1p6/1nn2Q2/8/4B3/p1P3k1/2P5/2K5 w – – 0 1
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White can force the black king to the first row, where he is mated:
1. Qg5+ Kh3
Other moves:
A
1. … Kh2 2. Qg2#
B
1. … Kf2
2. Qg2+ Ke1 (Ke3 3.Qf3#)
3. Bd3 and nothing helps against the double threat of Qg1# and Qd2#
2. Bf5+ Kh2
3. Qh4+ Kg2
3. … Kg1
4. Qg3+ Kf1/h1
5. Bd3#/Be4#
4. Be4+ Kf1
4. … Kg1
5. Qg3+ Kf1
6. Bd3#
5. Qf4+ Ke1
Again: Kg1 6. Qg3+ and mate next move.
5. … Ke2
6. Bd3+ Ke1
7. Qf1#
6. Bd3! And again there is the unstoppable double threat of Qd2# and Qf1#
1.Qg5+ Kh3 (1..Kf2 fails quickly to 2.Qg2+ Ke1 (Ke3, Qf3#), 3.Qg3+, 4.Bd3#)
2.Bf4+ Kh2
3.Qh4+ Kg2 (3..Kg1, 4.Qg3+ Kf1 5.Bd3#)
4.Be4+ Kf1 (Kg1)
5.Qh1+ Kf2
6.Qg2+ Ke1 (Ke3, Qf3#)
7.Bf3 followed by either 8.Qg1# or 8.Qe2#
1. Qg5+, Kh3 or h2 or f2
1. .., Kf2
2. Qg2+, Ke1
3. Qg3+, Ke2 or f1
4. Bd3#
1. .., Kh2
2. Qg2#
1. .., Kh3
2. Bf5+, Kh2
3. Qh4+, Kg2 (or g1)
3. Qh3+, Kf2
4. Qh2+, Kf3 and eventually Black loses as none of his other troops can come to his rescue
1. Qg5+ Kh3
1. … Kf2 2. Qg2+ Ke1(2… Ke3 3Qf3#) 3. Bd3 Re8 4. Qd2#
2. Bf5+ Kh2
3. Qh4+ Kg2
3…. Kg1 4. Qg3+ Kh1(4… Kf1 5. Bd3#) 5. Be4#
4. Be4+ Kf1
5. Qf4+ Ke2
6. Bd3+ Ke1
7. Qe3#
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,neat and simple puzzle.
White wins the game[ Variations exist]
Example
=======
1.Qg5+ Kh3
2.Bf5+ Kh2
3.Qf4+ Kg1
4.Qg3+ Kf1
5.Bd3++ Mate
White wins the game in ease – slight variations exist but still White wins the game in ease.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
1. Qg5+
1. … Kh2
2. Qg2#
1. … Kf2
2. Qg2+
2. … Ke3
3. Qf3#
2. … Ke1
3. Bd3 with double threat
4. Qe2# and Qf1#
1. … Kh3
2. Bf5+ Kh2
3. Qh4+
3. … Kg2
4. Be4+ Kg1 or Kf1
5. Qh1+ Kf2 or Ke2
6. Qg2+ Ke3 or Ke1
7. Qe3# or Bb3 as above.
3. … Kg1
4. Qg3+ Kh1 (resp. Kf1)
5. Be4# (resp. Bd3#)
I pity anyone who gets caught up in 1.Qf3+. I looked at it for a few minutes, and it is a true fun house maze. If I have time later tonight, I may try to demonstrate a winning line there, but for now, will just post the winning mating line:
1. Qg5
Takes advantage of the cover on f3 to push the black king to either the h-file, and/or back to the second rank. From here, the mates are easy to see, even for a patzer like me (especially since I have played games with them about a 100 times over the last 10 years online-both sides of them!):
1. …..Kh3
Of course, 1. …Kh2 leads to 2.Qg2#, and Kf2 leads to: [1. …Kf2 2.Qg2 Ke1 (or 2. …Ke3 3.Qf3#) 3.Bd3 and black can’t stop both mating moves of Qf1 and Qe2.] Now, however, the black king is hopelessly ensnared. Continuing:
2. Bf5 Kh2
3. Qh4 Kg2
If black plays to g1, Qg3+ is followed by either Bd3 or Be4#. Continuing:
4. Be4 Kf1 (Kg1 5.Qg3 Kf1 6.Bd3#)
5. Qf4 Ke1 (Ke2 6.Bd3 Ke1 7.Qe3#)
6. Qg3 Ke2 (Kf1 7.Bd3# again)
7. Bd3#
The main problem I found with 1.Qf3+ is that after black replies with 1. …Kh4, it seemed it was no longer possible to push him back towards the corner and the 1st rank without giving him a free move to bring a rook to the f or g file for defense, or bring a rook to a5 to provide defense there.
Looking through the notes I made on this problem, I never did find a way to force a win with 1.Qf3. A nice, composition-like problem!