White to move. Can White save this game? No computer analysis please.
7k/5Bpp/1p3b2/7Q/7P/6P1/pq3PK1/8 w – – 0 1
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1 bg8 h6
(2 kg8 Qe8 ++)
2 Qe8 g6/g5
3 Bg6+ Kg7
4 Qf7+ Kh8
5 Qh7++
mk
1. Bc4 g6
2. Qd5 and Qg8++
white plays bg6 then be4
Bg8 wins
1.Bg6 h6
2.Bd3 Qe5
3.Qf7 Qd5+
4.Qxd5 a1 = Q
5.Bc4
Bg8 looks interesting. The bishop cannot be taken, and mate is threatened, and black has no check.
1. Bg8 h6 2. Qe8 (Qg6 Qb1 is no improvement for white) a1=Q 3. Bf7+ Kh7 4. Qg8#
However, black has 1. Bg8 Qb1, covering the crucial diagonal. There White follows 2. Qe8, and since mate is again threatened, black has two options:
1. Bg8 Qb1 2. Qe8 g6 (or g5) 3. Bf7+ Kg7 4. Qg8+ Kh6 5. Qxh7#
1. Bg8 Qb1 2. Qe8 h6. 3. Bf7+ Kh7 4. Qg8#.
So does black have a relevant alternative to 1…. Qb1? I do not see one.
Bg8 h6, qe8 puts white in control of the outcome
1. Bxa2 Qe5 (what else?)
2. QxQ draws
not sure if 2. Qf7 is possible:
2. Qf7 Qb8
3. Bb1 keeps the pressure, but could also lose.
Oops,
1. Bxa2 ? Qxa2
2. Qe8+ Qg8 loses for white.
pls ignore my earlier comment.
maybe bxa2? followed by queen takes bishop
1. Bg8 h3
2. Bc4
Black must now give up at least a pawn (e.g. …Qe5) to prevent mate.
Bg8 h6
Qe8 then black has Qb5
Bg8 h6
Qe8 Qb5 doesnt seem to solve anything
Qxb5 a1Q
Qe8 what then?
Black has a better try (although still unsuccessful) at move 2.
1. Bg8 h6
2. Qe8 Qe5!!
3. Be6+ Kh7
and now White has an amusing mate because Black’s king is confined to White squares (the Black Queen and Bishop and h6 pawn block some black squares, and the White pawns on g3 and h4 prevent the Black King from moving to others):
4. Qg8+ Kg6
5. Bf7+ Kf5
6. Qh7+ Kg4
or 6. … g6 7. Qxg6 mate
7. f3 mate
Very cute. 🙂
Black can also try Qc2 on move 2 when white wins with:
1.Bg8 Qc2
2.Qe8 g6 (2…g5 3.Bb3+ Kg7 4.Qg8+ Kh6 5.Bxc2 gxh4 6.Qxh7+ Kg5 7.Qxh4#)
3.Bd5+! Kg7
4. Qg8+ Kh6
5. Qf8+ Kh5 (5…Bg7 Qf4+ mates)
6. Qxf6
White threatens both Qg5# and Bf3#.
6… Kh6 Qf8+
7. Kh5 Bf3#