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1. Qd2!!
1. … Q-d2
2. R-c1 Bxc2+
3. Rxc2 R-e1++
…Qd2
1…..Qd2
2Tc1….Te8
Qd2!
Very nice problem.
A combination of two pretty moves ensures a win for Black – Re6 and Qf2 (order not important). For instance:
1. … Re6!
2. Qg5 (to support the h4 rook)
2. … Qf2!
3. Bd3 Bxd3
4. Ka1 (cxd3 allows Qxb2 checkmate)
0-1
OR
1. … Qf2!
2. Bd3 Bxd3
3. cxd3 Re6
4. Qc3 Qxh4
0-1
Re6!
c5
c5
Qd2!
I am pretty sure Re6 will win, too, but I think Qd2 is the more direct path to victory:
1. …..Qd2
The queen is immune due the threat on white’s back rank. Now, what are white’s options? Black is threatening the c-pawn, too. Let’s just run through the options one at a time:
2. a3 Bc2
3. Ka1
Or 3.Ka2 Bb3 with Qxd1# to follow. Continuing:
3. …..Qd1
4. Ka2 Bb3#
Or, at move 2:
2. Rc1 Qc2 (Bc2 one move longer)
3. Rc2 Re1#
Or, at move 2:
2. Qd4 Qd4 wins easily, too, since white still cannot move the rook off of the first rank.
Or, at move 2:
2. Be2 Bc2 (Rxe2 ok, too)
3. Ka1 Re2
4. Rhh1 Bd1
5. Qc3 Qc3 wins easy, too.
Finally, other than the delaying checks from f7 or h8, I think white’s last option is
2. b3 Qc2
3. Ka1 Qd1
4. Kb2 Qf1
5. h6
There are probably longer defenses, but white is absolutely lost especially if he gives up his own mating attack threat:
5. …..Re2
6. Ka3 Qc1
7. Ka4 Ra2#
Analyzing with Fritz 13 the lines most everyone submitted, the following appeared to be the strongest:
1… Qd2
2. b3 Bxc2+
3. Kb2 Bxd1+
4. Ka3 Qc1+
5. Qb2 Qc5+
6. b4 Re3+
7. Bd3 Rxd3+
8. Qb3 Qc1+
9. Ka4 Bxb3+
10. axb3 Qa1#
An alternative to 2… Bxc2+ is Qxd1+, which leads to a slightly longer game:
2… Qxd1+
3. Kb2 Qxc2+
4. Ka3 Qc1+
5. Qb2 Qc5+
6. b4 Re3+
7. Bd3 Rxd3+
8. Qb3 Rxb3+
9. axb3 Qxb4+
10. Kb2 Qxb3+
11. Kc1 Qc2#
Yancey’s last variation presents the alternative 2… Qxc2, which also leads to quite a straightforward win for black:
2… Qxc2+
3. Ka1 Qxd1+
4. Kb2 Qxf1
At this point, Yancey would have white play h6, which is not bad but Rh1 probably is better:
5. Rh1 Qf2+
6. Ka3
(6. Ka1 Re2 7. Qxf7+ Kxf7 8. hxg6+ Kxg6 9. Rh6+ Kxh6 10. g4 Rxa2#)
6… Rxb3+
7. axb3 Qc5+
8. b4 Re3+
9. Ka2 Qc2+
10. Qb2 Qa4+
11. Qa3 Qxa3#
Continuing Yancey’s last variation:
5. h6 Re2+
6. Ka3 Qc1+
7. Ka4 Rxa2#
White can hold out slightly longer playing 7. Qb2 rather Ka4:
7. Qb2 Qxb2+
8. Ka4 Qxa2#