White to move and checkmate in 5.
8/BB6/8/8/6p1/6Kb/6p1/7k w – – 0 1
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This solution is easy to find but there are some duals:
1. Kf2, Kh2 (g3? 2. Kxg3 (Zugzwang), B~ 3. Bxg2#) 2. Bb8+ and now
2. -, Kh1 3. almost any waiting move, g3 4. Bxg3 (Zugzwang again), B~ 5. Bxg2# or
2. -, g3 3. Bxg3+, Kh1 4. almost any waiting move (Zugzwang once more), B~ 5. Bxg2#
(“almost any waiting move” can in both cases be replaced by Ba8 for example)
Here’s a typical line:
1. Kf2 Kh2
2. Bb8+ g3+
3. Bxg3+ Kh1
4. Bf4 Bg4
5. Bxg2# 1-0
I find it kind of suspicious that Anonymous often jumps in and makes a skeptical comment right after one of Susan’s puzzles is posted. I wonder if it’s planted to encourage responses 😉
How is it possible? Isn’t 2 bishops vs 1 bishop endgame a draw?
1.Kf2 Kh2 [if 1. … g3+ 2.Kxg3+ Bishop moves 3.Bxg2#] 2.Bb8+ g3+ 3.Bxg3+ Kh1 4.Bf3! Bishop moves 5.Bxg2#
1.Kf2 Kh2 (1…g3+ 2.Kxg3 Be6 3.Bxg2#) 2.Bb8+ Kh1 (2…g3 3.Bxg3+ Kh1 4.Bb8 Be6 5.Bxg2#) 3.Bc7 g3 4.Bxg3 Be6 5.Bxg2#
1. Kh4! +-
1.Kf2 Kh2
(1…g3+ 2.Kxg3 Bc8 3.Bxg2++)
2.Bb8+ Kh1
(2…g3 3.Bxg3+ Kh1 4.Ba8 Bg4 5.Bxg2++)
3.Ba8 g3+ 4.Bxg3 Bg4 5.Bxg2++
I don’t see how white makes progress adfter 1. Kh4 Kh2
1. Kf2 Kh2
2. Bb8+ g3+
3. Bxg3+ Kh1
4. Bf4 B moves
5. Bxg2++
1. Kf2 Kh2
2. Bb8+ Kh1
3. Bf4 g3+
4. Bxg3 B moves
5. Bxg2++
I found it!
1. Kf2 Kh2
2. Bb8+ Kh1
3. Bf4 g3
4. Bg3 B moves
5. Bg2#
or
1. Kf2 Kh2
2. Bb8+ g3
3. Bg3+ Kh1
4. Ba8 B moves
5. Bg2 #
and if
1. Kf2 g3
2. Kg3 B moves
3. Bg2#
Be3 g5
Bd4 g6
Bg7 B any
Bxg2+ Kg1
Bd4#
Yep I agree…well done Anon…Kh4 is the only move that makes sense…after that..the only move black has is g3 tand the house collapses. Well done.
Kh4 doesn’t work – the black king will escape via g1 when white moves his dark squared bishop. I think the key move is 1. Kf2! – see:
1. Kf2 Kh2 (1. … g3+ 2. Kxg3 B~ 3. Bxg2#)
2. Bb8+
Now I can see two variations:
2. … g3+
3. Bxg3+ Kh1
4. Bf3 B~
5. Bxg2#
Or:
2. … Kh1
3. Bf4 g3+
4. Bxg3 B~
5. Bxg2#
1. Kf2 appears to work. If 1…g3, then 2. Kxg3 followed by 3. Bxg2#. If 1…Kh2, then 2. Bb8+, 3. Bxg3, 4. some waiting move, and 5. Bxg2#.
I think Kf2 works. Kh4 can be responded to with Kh2, and black cannot check with his black bishop because then the king can escape to g1. The lines I found…
1. Kf2 g3
2. Kxg3 (Bishop move)
3. Bxg2#
1. Kf2 Kh2
2. Bb8+ Kh1
3. Bf4 g3
4. Bxg3 (Bishop move)
5. Bxg2#
1. Kf2 Kh2
2. Bb8 g3
3. Bxg3+ Kh1
4. Bf3 (Bishop move)
5. Bxg2#
hey susan where is my comment 😉
1.Kf2 Kh2
2.Bb8+ Kh1
3.Ba8 g3+
4.Bxg3 Bg4
5.Bg2++
Kf2 Kh2
BB8 Kh1
Bc7 g3
Bg3 B any
Bg2 mate
Kh4 does not work; Black replies Kh2
if 1.Kh4?? then Kf2=draw
1.Kf2 Kh2 2.Bb8+ etc is #5