White to move. Can you find the best continuation for White?
q1b2rk1/2pn1p1p/1p1p1Pp1/3N4/2PBP2Q/1P1P4/r2b2BP/5R1K w – – 0 1
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knight e7, king h 8, knight g6, fxg6,f7 check mate
I’m thinking:
Ne7+ Kh8
Nxg6+!
Obviously White has a simple mate threat if he can get the Queen to h6 safely where he then threatens mate with the pawn and Queen on g7. So I started looking at ways of blocking the dark-colored Bishop’s guarding of the h6 square. It appears to be a dead end with either 1) Nf4 or Rf4? Rf4 can lead to annoying checks on the back rank with …Ra1+. In either case, the exchanges may help Black but above all else, Black has the simple maneuver of moving the King over to allow his Rook to protect the g7 square: …Kh8 followed by …Rg8
So is there something that takes immediate advantage of the King being on g8? On 1) Ne7+ Kh8, 2) Nxg6+ a couple tactical elements are obvious. A) Black can’t recapture with the h-pawn because of the pin, B) if Black captures with the f-pawn, f6-f7 is discovered check and it looks deadly because the pawn controls the g8 flight square, so C) we’ll have to examine what happens if Black doesn’t capture but simply moves the King,hoping to shuffle back and forth.
1. Ne7+ Kh8
2. Nxg6+ … variation [A] recapturing …hxg6 is impossible [pin] so
Variation [B]
2. … fxg6
3. f7+ Ne5 no flight squares available but the Knight can interpose, but it allows
4. Qf6 mate Simple but elegant. The knight turns out to be overworked in this variation, unable to both effectively interpose on the Bishop check and cover f6 and keep the Queen from checking there
Variation [C]
2 …. Kg8 declining the sac
3. Ne7+ Kh8
4. Qg4 … threatening the mate on g7. What can Black do? Try to remove the supporting pawn: 4… Nxf6, 5. Bxf6# — Move the Rook to guard the square but White’s Knight covers the g8 square and exposes the weakness in Black’s back rank: 4… Rg8, 5. Qxg8# Which leaves the thematic Bishop retreat to guard the g7 square
4. … Bh6
5. Qg7+ … Anyway!
5. … Bxg7
6. fxg7 mate The White Bishop’s command of the diagonal makes itself felt.
– Craigaroo
Go after the black bishop with Rd1 or bc3
You have two patterns here, but one of them is foiled by black’s bishop at d2. This leaves….
1. Ne7 Kh8
2. Ng6! Kg8
Mate quickly follows if black takes the knight starting with 3.f7. Continuing:
3. Ne7 Kh8
4. Qg4 Bh6 (what better?)
5. Qg7! with mate on the next move.
White is down with rook and must find a mating attack. Clearly the knight can do something here:
1. Ne7+ Kh8
2. Nxg6+ fxg6 (alternative below)
3. f7+ (discovered) Ne5 (only move)
4. Qf6#
The variation where the knight is not taken:
1. Ne7+ Kh8
2. Nxg6+ Kh7
3. Ne7+ Kh8
4. Qg3! (threat Qg7#) Rg8
5. Qxg8#
4. … Nxf6
5. Bxf6#
4. … Bg5 (delay)
5. Qxg5
and one of the 2 above mates to follow.
Mate in 6 moves and rather simple.
N e7+ .. K h8
N g6+ .. K g8 (fxg6 –> f7+ followed by Bxf6#)
N e7+ ..K h8
Q g3 and mate
1.White has an embarrassing choice of ways to win! best I believe is as follows:-
1.Ne7+.Kh8.2.Nxg6+.
>A-2…fxg6.3.f7+.Ne5/f6.4.Qf6#
>B-2…Kg8.3.Ne7+.Kh8.4.Qg3/4!..
>B1-4..Bh6.5.Qg7+!.Bxg7.6.fxg7#!
>B2-4..Nxf6.5.Bxf6#
>B3-4..Ne5..5.Qg7#
>B4-4..Rg8..5.Qxg8#
>B5-4..Bg5..5.Qxg5.Rg8.6.Qxg8#
>B6-4..any other move.5.Qg7#
Oops, sorry!
I had forgotten to added my signature to my post with solution.
Harry
1.White has an embarrassing choice of ways to win! best I believe is as follows:-
1.Ne7+.Kh8.2.Nxg6+.
>A-2…fxg6.3.f7+.Ne5/f6.4.Qf6#
>B-2…Kg8.3.Ne7+.Kh8.4.Qg3/4!..
>B1-4..Bh6.5.Qg7+!.Bxg7.6.fxg7#!
>B2-4..Nxf6.5.Bxf6#
>B3-4..Ne5..5.Qg7#
>B4-4..Rg8..5.Qxg8#
>B5-4..Bg5..5.Qxg5.Rg8.6.Qxg8#
>B6-4..any other move.5.Qg7#
Harry
What to do with white pawn on f6?
1.Ne7+ Kh8
2.Nxg6+ Kg8
3.Ne7+ Kh8
4.Qg3 As this move is without check one has to carefully examine the possible replies,but there is no saving of black K.
4…. Bg5
What else? 4…. Bh6 5.Qg7+ as in main line
5.Qxg5 Rxg2
6.Qg7+ Rxg7
7.fxg7 #Pawn mate.Highly disgraceful.
Bc3
1knight ch & AGAIN KNIGHT CH WINS
1.Ne7+ Kh8
2.Nxg6+ Kg8
3.Ne7+ Kh8
4.Qg3 Bh6
5.Qg7+ Bxg7
6.fxg7#
Mate in four, starting with 1.Ne7+ Kh8 2.Nxg6+ fxg6 3.f7+
It seems that Prof.S.G.Bath found the longest lasting line. Mate in 7 it is (all we others saw mate in 6).
Dear pht,
It is too much.Please don’t give me a bath.