Kasparian 1934, presented by Andreas
White to move. Which side is better? How should White continue?
8/2B3p1/7b/7p/7k/2q4P/Q5P1/7K w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
A really tough one
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Bd8ch
1.Bd8 doesn’t work do to 1…Kg3
perhaps
1.Qf7
then?
Qf7 is agood move
1.Qf7 Qe1 ch
2.Kh2 black in zugzwang
he can’t stop mate at f4 and if he tries
2….Qe3 then
3.Bd8 ch g5 leads to
4.Qc4ch Qf4
5.g3#
and 3….Bg5 leads to
4.Qc4ch Qf4
5.g3#
hell good move Qf7
That mate (5.g3#) is thoroughly charming 🙂
How does White win after 1…Be3?
They each have that pointy headed thing with the plus sign, and also that thing with the prongs on top. Looks equal.
1.Qf7!
[1.Bd8+ Kg3 (1…g5 2.Qf2+ Qg3 3.Qd4+ Qg4 4.Kh2 Bg7 5.g3#) ]
1…Be3
[1…Kg5 2.Bf4+ Kh4 3.Kh2 Qb2 (3…Qe1 4.g3+ Qxg3+ 5.Bxg3+ Kg5 6.Kg1 g6 7.Qf4#) 4.Qe7+ g5 5.Bg3#]
2.Qe7+ g5
[2…Bg5? 3.Qe4+ Bf4 4.Qxf4#]
3.Kh2! Bg1+ [3…Bf2 4.Qe4+ g4 5.Bd8+ Qf6 6.Bxf6#]
4.Kxg1 Qd4+ 5.Qe3!
[5.Kh2? Qg1+ 6.Kxg1 stalemate.; 5.Kf1 Qf2+ 6.Kxf2 stalemate.]
5…Qxe3+ 6.Kh2 Qf2
[6…Qf4+ 7.g3+ Qxg3+ 8.Bxg3#]
7.Bd6 Qg1+ [7…Qe1 8.g3+ Qxg3+ 9.Bxg3#]
8.Kxg1 g4 9.Be7+ Kg3 10.hxg4 hxg4 11.Bd6+ Kh4 12.Kf2+-
Pharaoh
After 1.Qf7 Be3 2.Qe7+ g5 3.Kh2 Bg1+ 4.Kxg1, Black has another possibility (besides 4…Qd4+) which loses in similarly spectacular fashion: 4…Qc1+ 5.Qe1+! Qxe1+ 6.Kh2.
I’ve seen most of the last several puzzles in a recently published book. I’m not going to spoil anyone’s fun by identifying the book, but I will say that the book is a must buy, and I hope at some point Susan will identify it for you.