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Susan Polgar

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  1. Anonymous Reply

    1.Rf8+!.

    >A-1……N/Bxf8.2.Qf7#

    >B-1….Ke7.2.Qxg5+!

    >>B1-2…Kxf8.3.Qxd8#
    >>B2-2….Kd6.3.Ne4+.Kc7.4.Qxd8#
    >>B3-2….Bf6.3.Nf5+.Kxf8.4.Qg8#
    >>B4-2….Nf6.3.Nf5+!.Kxf8.4.Qxg7+.Ke8.5.Qf7#

    Key was how to activate the pinned N? Remove the pin by capturing the R while maintaining the mating attack!
    There is a variation in line B4 which I will post shortly.

    Harry

  2. Anonymous Reply

    Continuing from my previous post I note that in my B4 line
    >>B4 line is not correct solution due to
    1.Rf8+.Ke7.2.Qxg5+.Nf6.3.Nf5+.Kd7! When mate will be longer and unsure. (Instead of 3….Kxf8.4.Qxg7+.Ke8. 5.Qf7#).
    The correct B4 line that results in mate in 5 is as follows:-
    >>B4-1.Rf8+.Ke7.2.Qxg5+.Nf6.3.Rf7+!! Preventing the king from escaping! Now
    >>>B41-3…Ke8.4.Qe5+.Qe7.5.Qxe7#
    >>>B42-3…Kd6.4.Qf4#!!! The beauty of this last line is that all white pieces are back where they started from ( in this puzzle) while in the meantime black has lost his rook while advancing his N to f6 and his king has reached d6 to be mated!

    Harry

  3. PROF.S.G.BHAT (and not BATH) Reply

    1.Rf8+ Ke7
    (1… N(or)Bxf8 Qf7#)
    2.Qxg5+ options are
    (a)2… Bf6
    3.Nf5+ Kxf8
    4.Qg8#
    (b)2…. Nf6
    3.Rf7+ Ke8
    (3…. Kd6 4.Qf4#)
    4.Qe5+ Qe7
    5.Qxe7#
    (c)2… Kxf8 3.Qxd8#
    (d)2…. Kd6
    3.Ne4+ Kc7
    4.Qxd8#

  4. pht Reply

    I first notice that this would be mate in 1 if not white had a rook too many.
    So I instinctively play:
    1. Rf8 Ke7 (Nxf8/Bxf8? Qf7#)
    2. Qxg5+ Kxf8
    3. Qxd8#

    So I guess:
    2. … Kd5 (enforced)
    3. Rxd8
    without knowing if this is the fastest, but for me it is right know, I have no more time today…

  5. GL Reply

    1.Rf8+ Ke7 (1.-Nxf8 or 1.-Bxf8 2.Qf7++)

    2.Qxg5+ Nf6
    (2.-Kxf8 3.Qxd8++)
    (2.-Kd6 3.Nf5+ Kc7 4.Qxd8++)
    (2.-Bf6 3.Nf5+ Kxf8 4.Qg8++)

    3.Rf7+ Ke8 (3.-Kd6 4.Qf4++)

    4.Qe5+ Qe7 5.Qxe7++

  6. Anonymous Reply

    1.Rf8+
    If Kf8, then Qf7+ mate
    1. … Ke7, so no mate in 2 moves
    2. Qg5+
    If Kf8, then Qd8+ mate
    2. …. Bf6
    3. Kf5+ Kf8
    4. Qg8+ mate in 4

    2. …. Kf6
    3. Qg7+ Kd6
    4. Rd8+ Kd7
    5. Rd7+ mate

    2. ……. Kd6
    3. Nf5+ Kc7
    4. Qd8+ mate

  7. Yancey Ward Reply

    Rf8 jumps out immediately as a way to clear the f7 square for the queen:

    1. Rf8 Ke7 (Nf8/Bf8 allows Qf7#)

    And now it was a question of whether to play Qf7 or Qxg5. One leads to mate, the other leads to a decisive material edge (and force mate probably, but I couldn’t make it work in 5 moves total, so stopped looking). Continuing:

    2. Qg5 Nf6 (alternatives follow)
    3. Rf7 Ke8 (Kd6 4.Qf4#)
    4. Qe5 Qe7
    5. Qe7#

    Finally, the alternatives at move 2 for black are all shorter mates:

    2. …..Bf6 (Kf8 3.Qd8#)
    3. Nf5! Kf8
    4. Qg8#

    Or…

    2. …..Kd6
    3. Nf5 Kc7 (Ke5 4.Qe3#)
    4. Qd8# is a pretty mate.

  8. Rf8 Reply

    1.Rf8+ Ke7 2.Qxg5 Nf6 3.Rf7+…(3…Ke8 4.Qe5+ Qe7 5.Qxe7# ) 3…Kd6 4.Ne4+ Nxe4 5.Qf4#

  9. Anonymous Reply

    A) Rf8! Ke7
    Qg5 Kd6
    Ne4 Kc7
    Qd8 check mate.
    B) Rf8 Ke7
    Qg5 Nf6
    Qg7 Kd6
    Ne4 check mate.
    C) Rf8 Ke7
    Qg5 Bf6
    Nf5 Kf8
    Qg8 check mate!

  10. Anonymous Reply

    1 Rf8+ Bf8 or Nf8
    2 Qf7#

    1 Rf8+ Kf8
    2 Qd8#

    1 Rf8+ Ke7
    2 Qg5+ Kf8
    3 Qd8#

    1 Rf8+ Ke7
    2 Qg5+ Bf6
    3 Nf5+ Kf8
    4 Qg8#

    1 Rf8+ Ke7
    2 Qg5+ Nf6
    3 Rf7+ Kd6
    4 Qf4#

    1 Rf8+ Ke7
    2 Qg5+ Kd6
    3 Ne4+ Kc7
    4 Qd8#

    1 Rf8+ Ke7
    2 Qg5+ Nf6
    3 Rf7+ Ke8
    4 Qe5+ Qe7
    5 Qe7#

  11. Anonymous Reply

    Is there a mate in 2?

    1. Rf8+ Bxf8
    2.Qf7++

    or

    1.Rf8+ Nxf8
    2.Qf7++

    Or am I missing something obvious?

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