White to move and checkmate in 3. Can you solve it in less than 30 seconds?
7q/1Pp5/K1k5/8/2BPN3/8/7p/n6n w – – 0 2
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Checkmate in 3
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We’ll not 30 seconds, but 1 minute!
1.Be6!!! Covering the critical squares d5 and d7 and Threatening mate by b8=N! And d5.
>A-1….Qxd4 liquidating the deadly pawn does not stop 2.b8=N#!
>B-1….Q move away from 8th rank also allows 2.b8=N#
>C-1….Qa8+.2.bxa8=Q#
>D-1….Qb8/c8/e8/f8/g8.2.d5#
>E-1…..Qd8.
2.d5+.Qxd5.3.B8=N# or 2.b8=N+.Qxb8.3.d5#
>F-1….any N move.2.d5#
Harry
1. Be6 Qd8
2. d5+ Qxd5
3. b8=N#
Took me 30 minutes…at least got the 30 part right!
Neat problem but took me a lot longer than 30 seconds.
1.Be6 Qd8 2.d5+ (2.b8=N+ Qxb8 3.d5++) Qxd5 3.b8=N++
Yes i can.
Be6 with two threats for mate (b8N and d5). Black has to play Qd8 but will be mated on move 3 by playing both threats.
I notice black has 1 escape square d7.Block it by B. c5 is covered twice:by dP and N.So P can be used to deliver mate.Another mate comes from b8=N which is currently covered by black Q.
1.Be6 Qd8
(1…. Qa8+ bxa8=B#)
(1…. Qxd4 2.b8=N#)
(A) 2.d5+ Qxd5 3.b8=N#
(B) 2.b8=N+ Qxb8 3.d5#
This study is technically defective since white must have only one correct move at a point and can not have alternatives.
I notice black has 1 escape square d7.Block it by B. c5 is covered twice:by dP and N.So P can be used to deliver mate.Another mate comes from b8=N which is currently covered by black Q.
1.Be6 Qd8
(1…. Qa8+ bxa8=B#)
(1…. Qxd4 2.b8=N#)
(A) 2.d5+ Qxd5 3.b8=N#
(B) 2.b8=N+ Qxb8 3.d5#
This study is technically defective since white must have only one correct move at a point and can not have alternatives.
I couldn’t solve it in 30 seconds on the previous posting, and couldn’t do it today either (I didn’t remember this puzzle, but found it in my notes after solving it today).
I had the exact same problem I had the last time, I look for an active move (a check in this case) instead of a quiet move.
I applaud anyone that can get this in 30 seconds.
Got it in under 10 seconds. But, surely it’s not a good problem. What difference does it make, having the knights on or the pawn, or one might put a bishop on c1, or what else?!