White to move. How should White proceed? No computer lines please.
r5k1/4Qp2/4p1p1/3pP1Bp/6qP/3B2P1/p5PK/8 w – – 0 2
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First move I think of is Bxg6!
I am still analyzing the rest though.
The first thing to notice is that black needs three moves to win. 1 to make a queen, 1 to line up the queens, and then deliver mate.
White can play Bh6 Qf6 Qg7# in that time.
But even faster is Bxg6 fxg6 forced (a1=q Qxf7+ Kh8 Qh7#) Bf6 and next move is Qg7#. Just two actually tempi since one move is forced.
If black could move Qxg5 would maybe leave a slight edge after axg5 a1=q with white not mating any time soon.
But after Bxg6 it looks like Rf8 is the only defense. But then Bh6 looks like curtains.
Or am I missing something?
On first look, black is threatening a1(Q) followed by Qh3+ and Qh1#. Whatever white is going to do, it had better be quick-he either needs to mate, or he needs to engineer a draw via repetition or stalemate.
Let’s look at trying a line for mate first. There are two obvious ways to try:
Option 1:
1. Qf6 a1(Q) (Qg5 2.Bg6 fg6 3.Qg6)
2. Bh6 Qh3
3. Kh3 Qh1#
Trying to exchange the first two moves doesn’t look any different to me.
Option 2 (the complicated one):
1. Bg6 fg6 [a1(Q)2.Qf7 Kh8 3.Qh7#]
2. Bf6 and only delaying moves like Ra7 and Qg3 are possible- white will mate with Qg7. So, at move 1, black must reply differently.
Variation 1 with 1. ….Rf8:
1. Bg6 Rf8 (protects f7)
2. Bh7! Kh7 (see others below)
3. Qf8 Kg6 (Qf5 4.Bf6 Qf6 5.ef6)
4. Qg8 Kf5
5. Qf7 Ke4
6. Qh7 Kd4 (Qf5 7.Qa7 wins a-pawn)
7. Qa7 Ke5
8. Bf4 Kf5 (Kf6, Ke4 no better)
9. Qa2 and white should win. At move 3 in this line,
3. …..a1(Q)
4. Qf8 Kh8
5. Bf6 Qg7
6. Qg7 is mate. In this variation, black does worse with Kg7 or Kh8:
2. …..Kh8
3. Qf8 Kh7
4. Qf7 Kh8
5. Bf6 with mate in 1 more move. Or
2. …..Kg7
3. Qf6 Kh7
4. Qh6 Kg8
5. Bf6 and Qh8# can only be delayed, not stopped.
So, variation 1 fails to hold for black.
Variation 2 with 1. ….Ra7:
1. Bg6 Ra7
2. Qa7 fg6 (what else?)
3. Bh6 and mate can only be delayed.
Variation 3 with 1. ….Qf5
I know it looks silly, but white must still play the right moves, or he will throw it away
1. Bg6 Qf5
2. Bf5 ef5
3. Qf6! and the threat of Bh6 followed by Qg7 has no adequate defense.
So, all in all, 1.Bg6 is a winner. Now, the question I have is just how difficult is it to bring in the win from the main line in Variation 1. Black does have connected passed pawns. I am too lazy tonight to do an analysis on that position.
Well, aside from queening, black has not immediate threats: I would play 1. Bxg6 fxg6 (what else?) 2. Bh6 with mate to come on next move. I must probably be missing something.
Df6 followed by Bh6. If Qxg5 then take the queen and then take with bishop on g6 after a1=Q. White has a least a draw.
1.Bxg6! if 1…fxg6 2.Bf6 and unavoidable mate on g7 so 1….Rf8 2.Bh7+
A)2..Kxh7 3.Qxf8 Qf5 4.Qh6+ Kg8 5.Bf6 Qh7 6.Qc1 Qb1 7.Qc8+ Kh7 8.Qh8+ Kg6 9.Qg8+ Kf5 10.Qh7+ Kg4 11.Qh6! Kf5 12.Qf4+ Kg6 13.Qg5+ Kh7 14.Qg7 mate!
B)2…Kg7 3.Qf6+ Kxh7 4.Qh6+ Kg8 5.Bf6 and mate on the next move !
Bishop sacrifice is required here.
1) Bh6 …. 2) Qf6
One line I forgot to include that doesn’t work for white-
1. Bg6 Rf8
2. Bh6??Qg6 holds the advantage
3. Qf8 Kh7
4. Qa8 Qh6 (Qb1 5.Qf8=)
And I think the queen pawn endgame should be a won for black.
Bxg6 !
g7 is key square for white. But for checkmate white need two moves. 1.Bh6 can be stopped by 1…Kh7 and after 1.Qf6 Black King can escape with 1…Kf8.
Another problem for White is a2 pawn (waiting for promotion) So Black can exchange Queen for a piece to stop White attack.
Hence Bh6 is only promising move but before that White should play 1.Bxg6 opening 7th rank for Queen.
Now if 1…fxg6 2.Bh6 and Black cant stop checkmate Qg7#.
if Black don’t take bishop e.g. 1…a8=Q 2.Qxf7+ Kh8 3.Qh7#
Hence only move for Black i think is 1…Rf8
Now 2.Bh7+
if 2…Kxh7 3.Qxf8 (planning Bf6 and Qh8)
3…a8=Q (Now 4.Bf6 is not good since 4…Qg8) 4.Qh6+ Kg8 5.Bf6 and mate follow with Qh8. So Kepping Queen on g file is no good for Black.
so 3…Qf5 but now 4.Bf6 and 5.Qh8# to follow. Black can’t stop it even with 4…Qxf6 5.exf6 Kg6 6.Qg7+ Kf5 7.Qg5+ Ke4 8.Qf4+ Kd3 9.Qf1+ Kc2 10.Qa1 and White has stopeed queening of a pawn. white King will come into play and eat all Black pawns.
Hence 2…Kxh7 is not good for Black 2…Kg7 3.Bf6+ Kxh7 4.Qxf8 Qg8 5.Qa3! and now Black ‘a’ pawn is gone.
OMG very difficult problem
Akshay,
Too slow.
1. Bh6 a1(Q)
2. Qf6 Qh3!!
Dear Akshay,
1. Bh6 a1Q
2. Qf6 Qh3+!!
3. gxh3 Ra2 is mating.
I think white can try something with
1. Bxg6! But I have to calculate the lines before deciding on it.
On 1) Bh6, a1Q 2)Qf6 white seems to have mate, but black comes first with the stunning Qh3!! after which black mates (either Qh1# after kings recapture or mate on the second rank with rook after pawn capture). So white has to play more forcefully. Only way I can see is Bxg6 which seems to be winning after Rf8 and Bh7+.
Bxg6 is a foce mate in 1,2, or three moves depending on Blacks reaction! This is without question the best move! Please respond! Daniel
1.Bxg6 Rf8 (only move)
2.Bh7+ Kxh7
(2…Kg7 3.Bf6+ Kxh7 4.Qxf8 a1=Q 5.Bg5+ etc.)
3. Qxf8 Kg6 4. Qg8+ Kf5 5. Qxf7+ Kxe5 6. Qc7+ Ke4 7. Qc2+ etc.
winning
Bxg6 looks good to me.
if
1)Bxg6, fxg6
2)Bh6 !! and i don’t see how black can prevent the Qg7 mate.
if
1) Bxg6, Rf1 (what else is best for black to prevent Qf7 followed by Bf6?)
2)Bxf7 looks good to win.
overall Bxg6 looks good. Am wondering if I’m missing something since the title says “Serious calculation ” 🙂
Only try for a win appears to be Bxg6.
This was obvious. I just hope that I would play it in a game without hesitation.
1. Bxg6 fxg6
2. Bf6 is the easy part.
If 1… Rf8
2. Bh7+ Kxh7
{ 2… Kg7 3. Qf6+ Kxh7
4. Qh6+ Kg8 5. Bf6 }
3. Qxf8 Kg6
4. Qg8+ Kf5
5. Qxf7+ Kxe5
6. Qc7+ Kf5
7. Qc2+ Ke5
8. Qxa2
Then it gets really hard!
I’ve already killed my Saturday
evening and have to get up early
for church in the morning, so:
Good (K)night!!
Lucymarie
1.Bxg6 should do!!!
1. Bxg6 Rf8
2. Bh7+ Kxh7 (2.. Kg7, 3. Qf6
Kxh7,4. Qh6 Kg8,
5.Bf6)
3. Qxf8 Qf5
4. Bf6 Qg4
5. Qxf7+ Kh6
6. Bg5+ 1-0
Hi,
My elo rating is not verry high,only 1569.
Bxg6 and if black dont defence he go check mate in 2.
Than white play Bh6!!.
Best Regards Marc
B#g6…..the above ideas are all correct…but the point is that white needs to push it through quickly…. B#g6 sets up the dark squared mate quite easily. If say f#g6 then of course bh6 kills black…if not then black just has no time to defend.
By the way..Qh3 check for Black is a nice idea.
Well now I see 1. Bg6 is bit more complicated after 1. …Rf8.
After for instance 2. Bh6 Qxg6 3. Qxf8+ Kh7 white must be losing.
However, 1. Bg6 Rf8 2. Bh7+ Kxh7 3. Qxf8 looks good, but after for instance 3. …Qxg5 4. hxg5 a1=Q white looks to have only perpetual check. However, checking with a board, I notice that there is a pawn on g5, so 5. Qxf7+ Kh8 6. g6 and there is no way to stop Qh7#.
The question will be whether after 1. Bg6 Rf8 2. Bh7+ Kxh7 3. Qxf8 there is a move for black. Well one must consider other moves that stop Qxf7 and Bf6 with mate, namely 3… Qf5 and 3. …Kg6.
3. …Qf5 4. Bf6 Qg4 (Qg6 5. Qh8#) 5. Qxf7+ Kh6 6. Bg5+ Qxg5 7. hxg5+ Kxg5 8. Qa7 is simply winning.
3. … Kg6 Oh I am not getting anywhere with white on this one. Furthermore, there is 2. … Kg7 to consider. Must take a pause:)
Oh well, I nevertheless looked at the variation 1. Bxg6 Rf8 2. Bh7+ Kxh7 3. Qxf8 Kg6 4. Qg8+ Kf5 5. Qxf7+ Ke4 (Kxe5 is surely worse, opening the bishop to a1 and allowing the possibility of a queen trade) 6. Qb7 Qe2 7. Qa4+ Qc3 (Ke5 Qf4#; Kd3 Qa6+ wins the queen) 8. Qa3 threatening Qf3 but I cannot see further, white might be able to exchange queens at some point.
1. Bxg6 fxg6
2. Bf6 mate to follow
rmd
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,White wins the game,my moves will be as given below[ Variations exist but still White wins the game ]
1.B*g6 f*g6
2.Bf6 a1(Q)
3.Qg7++ Mate.
White wins the game : 1 – 0
By
Venky[Chennai – India]
I do not see any quick check mate (that is five or less moves) for White, but I am thinking of something in line of 1.Bxg6. After this I see a series of forced moves starting with 2…Rf8 (otherwise Black cannot avoid check mate on either g7 or h7) and so forth. I have no idea, though, if it is correct at all.
Two comments by Lucymarie resonate with me.
“This was obvious. I just hope that I would play it in a game without hesitation.”
Yes, Bg6 was obvious, and like you, I wonder if I have the over- the-board ability to play it. I actually did all the analysis on this one in my head, but it took me about 20 minutes to do it exhaustively, and a lot of these I can’t do in my head at all- I have to bring out the chessboard to keep track of what is where (especially the endgame analyses).
And this comment:
“Then it gets really hard”.
I had the exact same feeling when I had shown that white wins the a-pawn but is left having to bring in the win with black holding the connected passers and the queens still on the board. I think it is possible to force the exchange the queens fairly rapidly, and this should make the win easier for white.
I found this very difficult. Eventually, I decided that 1. B:g6 Rf8 2. Bh7+ K:h7 3. Q:f8 Kg6 4. Qg8+ Kf5 5. Q:f7+ Ke4 6. Qa7 Qe2 was best play for both sides.
It’s really hard to find something decisive for white here, 7. Qa4+ Qc4 could be disastrous. Eventually, I decided that 7. Bf4 was best, and now black has his own problems finding a move.
CraigB,
I didn’t include it in my analysis, but your line is more difficult for white after your suggested sixth move, but your suggestion of 7.Bf4 in that line is solid, I think, and I didn’t see it when I looked at it myself. However, I rejected your sixth move altogether since 6.Qh7+ liquidates the a-pawn immediately no matter how black replies (Kd4 or Qf5)- the point being that white either gets a double attack on a2, or the black queen is out of position to guard it.
I still think your line is winning for white, but that a-pawn is a thorn that is better removed sooner rather than later.