White to move and checkmate in 9. No computer please.
rq6/1b2Q2p/3P2k1/r4p2/3n2pP/1P6/1PP5/1KR2R2 w – – 0 1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Checkmate tactic
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White to move and checkmate in 9. No computer please.
rq6/1b2Q2p/3P2k1/r4p2/3n2pP/1P6/1PP5/1KR2R2 w – – 0 1
1.h5+ Kxh5 2.Qxh7+ Kg5 3.Qg7+ Kh4 4.Qh6+ Kg3 5.Qf4+ Kh3 6.Rh1+ Bxh1 7.Rxh1+ Kg2 8.Rh2+ Kg1 9.Qf2
From SaschaBenny
1.h5+ Kxh5 2.Qxh7+ Kg5 3.Qg7+ Kh4 4.Qh6+ Kg3 5.Qf4+ Kh3 6.Rh1+ Bxh1 7.Rxh1+ Kg2 8.Rh2+ Kg1 9.Qf2
1.h5+ Kxh5 2.Qxh7+ Kg5 3.Qg7+ Kh4 4.Qh6+ Kg3 5.Qf4+ Kh3 6.Rh1+ Bxh1 7.Rxh1+ Kg2 8.Rh2+ Kg1 9.Qf2
1.h5+ Kxh5 2.Qxh7+ Kg5 3.Qg7+ Kh4 4.Qh6+ Kg3 5.Qf4+ Kh3 6.Rh1+ Bxh1 7.Rxh1+ Kg2 8.Rh2+ Kg1 9.Qf2
1.h5+ Kxh5 2.Qxh7+ Kg5 3.Qg7+ Kh4 4.Qh6+ Kg3 5.Qf4+ Kh3 6.Rh1+ Bxh1 7.Rxh1+ Kg2 8.Rh2+ Kg1 9.Qf2
1.h5+ Kxh5
2.Qxh7+ Kg5
3.Qg7+ Kh4
4.Qh6+ Kg3
5.Qf4+ Kh3
6.Rh1+ BxR
7.RxB+ Kg2
8.Rh2+ Kg1
9.Qf2#
1 h5+. K*h5
2 Qh7+ Kg5
3 Qg7+ Kh4
4 Qh6+ Kg3
5 Qf4+ Kh3
6 Rh1+ B*h1
7 R*h1+ Kg2
8 Rh2+ Kg1
9 Qf2++
@gregsalterjhb
1.h5+ Kxh5 2.Rh1+ Kg6 3.Qxh7+ Kf6 4.e5+ Ke6 5.Rh6+ Kd5 6.Qf7+ Kc5 7.b4+ Kxb4 8.c3+ Ka4 9.Qc4#
I have not looked at other variations but can you please confirm this.
Thanks.
For a mate in 9, not terribly difficult. Realistically, there are only two possible starts- h5+ and Qg5+, but Qg5 is pretty clearly bad since the king escapes to f7 and the e-file can be plugged up by Be5. White really must check on every move because black is threatening an immediate mate of his own:
1. h5 Kh5 (Kh6 2.Qf6 Kh5 3.Rh1)
2. Qh7
It seems to be this or 2.Rh1, but I don’t see a way to corral the king after black takes the first rook and then plays the king to g6 on the second rook’s check. The best I can find for white in that line is a draw by repetition enforced by checks from e7 with the queen. Continuing:
2. …..Kg5
3. Qg7 Kh4 (Kh5 4.Rh1 Bh1 5.Rh1#)
4. Qh6
Here, 4.Rh1 is still premature- white’s queen gets left out of the action for a move if white moves the rook too soon, and probably loses. I think white can also mate with 4.Qe7, but I am not 100% sure of that, and it is going to be longer than 9 moves total if black retreats the king to h5 forcing white to repeat some moves to transpose into the line that follows:
4. …..Kg3
5. Qf4 Kh3
Of course, Kh4 is met by 6.Rh1 followed by 7.Rh1#. Also, Kg2 is met 6.Rg1 and 7.Qg3#. Continuing:
6. Rh1 Bh1 (Kg2 7.Rcg1#)
7. Rh1 Kg2
8. Rh2!
The only mate in this position, I think. If white is careless and plays 8.Qh2+, the black king will escape through the hole on the e-file. In any case, 8.Rh2 is an easy move to find:
8. …..Kg1
9.Qf2#
1.h5+Kh5 2.Qf7+Kg5 3.Qg7+Kh4 4.Qh6Kg3 5.Qf4Kh3 6.Rh1Bh1 7.Rh1Kg2 8.Rh2Kg1 9Qf1 mate
A nice pull combination. Took some time to figure it out.
Why are you doing this to me, Susan? i gave up chess many years ago. LOL.
OK i’ll try this.
Looks like black is threatening mate on a1 so all white’s moves seemingly must be forced.
1. h5+ Kxh5 (if 1. … Kh6 2. Qf6 and Rh1 does it.)
At first i thought 2. Rh1 but with the R on f1 Qxh7 looks more forcing.
2. Qxh7+ Kg5
3. Qg7+ Kh4 (if 3. …Kxh5 4. Rh1)
4. Qh6+ Kg3
5. Qf4+ Kh3 (if 5. … Kg2 6. Rf2 and mate on h2; or 5. … Kh4 6. Rh1)
6. Rh1+ Bxh1
7. Rxh1+ Kg2
8. Rh2+ Kg1
9. Qf2
Did i win?
h5+ wins in 5…doesnt it?
h5+ K*h5
Q*h7+ Kg5
Qg7+ Kh5
Rh1+ B*h1
R*h1#
1) h5+ Kxh5 2)Qxh7+ Kg5 3)Qg7+, Kh4 4)Qh6+, Kg3 5)Qf4+, Kh3 6)Rh1+, Bxh1 7) Rxh1+, Kg2 8)Rh2+ Kg1 9)Qf2#