Havel 1925
White to move. How can white save this game? How should white proceed?
4K3/p5p1/8/2k5/5p2/8/p2Q4/qB6 w – – 0 1
Daily Chess Improvement: Brain teaser
Havel 1925
White to move. How can white save this game? How should white proceed?
4K3/p5p1/8/2k5/5p2/8/p2Q4/qB6 w – – 0 1
I remember this puzzle well-very difficult. Susan seems to have posted August of 2010 according to my notes.
I would initially have guessed that it shall be a draw and played:
1. Qc1+
and give as many checks as possible from 1st rank, keeping black king constantly on black fields for his queen’s health.
I notice that whenever giving Qg1+, K will not be on c5 and can not put Q between on d4. This seems important.
If black dreams about a win, he must now chose between b8 or f6 to steer towards, to force white queen away from first rank.
But f6 can immediately be excluded because of Qe7#!
This means that if he wants to win, black must try this:
1. Qc1+ Kb6
2. Qg1+ Kc7
3. Qc1+ Kb8
4. Qxf4+ Kb7
5. Qb4+!
Better than Be4+ I think. This seems to spin a mate net.
I therefore find it proven that black can’t win, since he must avoid both b8 and f6.
If it is a draw, it can’t be really difficult then.
Is it a win for white then?
If so, that would be really difficult….
It is a win for white, pht.
This is a very beautiful study. Oddly, it appears that the best first move for White is 1. Qa5+ even though it is obvious that checks should be given from the first rank. Black has four choices here.
1… Kc6 leads to a forced mate after 2. Be4+ Kd6 3. Qd5+ Kc7 4. Qc6+ Kb8 5. Qb7#
1…Kd6 2. Qb4+ and black is again in a mating net. 2…Ke6 3. Be4 Qf6 4. Qc6+ Ke5 5. Qd5#, 2…Ke5 3. Qc5+ Ke6 4. Be4 Qe5 5. Qe7#, 2…Kc7 3. Qc5+ Kb7 4. Be4+ Kb8 5. Qd6+ Kc8 6. Qd8#, and 2…Kc6 3. Be4+ Kc7 4. Qc5+ Kb8 5. Qd6+ Kc8 6. Qd8# are typical variations.
1…Kc4 2. B:a2+ Kd4 (2…Kd3 3. Bc4+) 3. Q:a7+ and White wins the Q next move with either Q:g7+ or a B check from the a2-g8 diagonal.
So Black must play 1…Kd4. Now 2. Qb4+ puts Black in the same sort of predicament. 2… Ke5 transposes to a previous position after 3. Qc5+, and 2… Kd5 3. Be4+ Ke5 4. Qe7+ Kd4 5. Q:g7+ wins the Q. So Black must play 2…Ke3, but now 3. Qe1+ is devastating. 3…Kf3 4. Be4+ wins the Q, and 3…Kd4 4. Qg1+ gives black the choice of losing his Q to Q:g7+, Bd3+, or Be4+.
Starts with Qa5.
Complete source:
Havel,M, 28 Rijen, #194, 23.5.1925