White to move. How should white proceed? Can you find the correct solution in 10 seconds or less?
This is another puzzle from the 2013 SPWO Puzzle Solving Championship.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Are you quicker than a 3rd grader?
Qxb7+ Qxb7 Nb6+ axb6 Ra1+ Ba4 Rxa4#
10 seconds no. I can’t even see what’s on the board in 10 seconds.
I started with Nb6+ though, and seeing that it did not work switched to preparing it with Qxb7+
1. Qxb7+ Qxb7
2. Nb6+ a7xb6
3. Ra1++
This took me longer than 10 seconds, possibly 30 seconds.
1. ♕xb7+ ♛xb7
2. ♘b6+ axb6
3. ♖a1#
Maybe not 10 seconds …
1. Qb7+ Qb7
2. Nb6+ axb6
3. Ra1+ Ba4
4. Ra4#
1. Nb6+ axb6 2. Qxb6 Qxb6 (3. … Qa4 4. Qxb7#) 3. Ra1+ Qa6 4. Rxa6#
Very easy Susan! 1. Q:b7+ Q:b7 2.Nb6+
ab 3. Ra1+ and mate
I would say about 20-30 seconds for me.
I think it is
1.Qxb7+ Qxb7
2.Nb6+ axb6
3.Ra1#
Maybe I have missed something.
1) Qxb7+ Qxb7 2) Nb6+, axB6 3) Ra1+ Ba4 4) Rxa4#
1st move took about 2 seconds, but remaining took much longer!
1. Qxb7+ Qxb7
2. Nb6+ axb6
3. Ra1+ Ba4
4. Rxa4+#
queen sacrifice paves the way
How about Nb6+? If axb then Qxb6 and black’s queen is en pris. If Qxb6, then Ra1+ mates as Qa6 is met by Rxa6#.
If, after, Qxb6 the black queen moves white mates on b7 unless the queen moves to a7 when Ra1 wins.
Are you quicker than a 3rd grader? — No. But if you stick your finger in my mouth, I can still bite down hard.
1. Qxb7+ Qxb7 2. Nb6+ axb6 3. Ra1+ Ba4 4. Rxa4#
!.Qxb7+
Not 10 seconds for completion, but less than 30- took me time to realize the queen is pinned after the 1st move. Of course, Qxb7 was my very first thought in the first second, but that was more instinct that we were looking for a queen sacrifice than any real calculation. Mate in 4:
1. Qb7 Qb7
2. Nb6 ab6
3. Ra1 with mate to follow.
Queen takes, knight checks, rook mates.
1.Qxb7+ Qxb7
2.Nb6+ axb6
3.Ra1+ Ba4
4.Rxa4#
Qxb7+..qxb7 force move
Nb6+..axb6 force move
Ra1 checkmate
1. Qxb7+
2. Nb6+
3. Ra1++
More than 10 secs for sure!
Qxb7ch, Qxb7, Nb6ch, axb6, Ra1 checkmate
Hi everyone.
I think is:
1.- Qxb7+, Qxb7
2.- Nb6+, axb6
3.- Ra1 #