White to move. How should White proceed?
6k1/6bR/6P1/3rq1P1/1pQ5/2n1PB2/3p1PK1/q7 w – – 0 1
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White to move. How should White proceed?
6k1/6bR/6P1/3rq1P1/1pQ5/2n1PB2/3p1PK1/q7 w – – 0 1
1.Rh8+ ~
2.Qc8+ ~
3.Qx#
A wonderful position Susan.
Immense joy in solving.
1. Qc8+ Bf8
2. Rh8+!! Kg7
If 2…. Qxh8
3. Qe6+ Kg7
4. Qf7#
3. Qxf8+ Kg6
4. Qh6+! Kf7
5. Rh7+ Ke8
6. Bh5+ Kd8
7. Qb6+ Kc8
8. Bg4+ Qf5
9. Qc7#
Hope this is right.
LOL!!!!
Well, with two queens on the board for black (and one more being threatened, one thinks only mate for the win, or possibly some sort of perpetual for the draw. One would look at the queen check on the back rank first, I think, simply because black’s replies forced on even a short examination:
1. Qc8 Bf8 (only reasonable move)
Here, again, white has, really, only one reasonable looking continuation:
2. Rh8
Sure, the queen covers h8, but she is also needed to cover e6. Continuing:
2. …..Qh8
Here, black is mated on both Kh8 and Kg7: [Kh8 3.Qf8#], or [Kg7 3.Qf8 Kg6 4.Rg8 Kh7 (Qg7 5.Rg7#) 5.g6#]. Continuing:
3. Qe6 Kg7 (only move)
4. Qf7#
Of course, black can lengthen this for one additional move by sacrificing the rook at d8 who plays no other role in defense.
1 Qc8+ Bf8
2 Rh8+ Now
(a) 2… Kh8 3 Qxf8#
(b) 2… Qxh8 3Qe6+
followed by Qf7#
(c) 2… Kg7 3 Qxf8+ Kxg6
4 Rg8+ Qg7 5 Qf6+ Kh7 6 Qxg7 #
However if 1 Qc8+ Rd8
2 Qxd8+ Bf8
3 Rh8+ Qxh8
4Bd5+ kg7
5 Qf6#
1. Q:c8+ B:f8 2. R:h8+ Q:h8 3. Q:e6+ K:g7 4. Q:f7 mate
If 1 …. R:d8 2. Q:d8+ B:f8 3. R:h8+ Q:h8 4 B:d5+ leads to mate
1.Qc8+ Bf8
2.Rh8+ Kg7
3.Qxf8+ Kxg6
4.Rh6+ Kxg5
5.Qh5#
– High skill from MR KO (Malaysian)
1. Qc8+ Bf8
2. Rh8+ Qh8
3. Qe6+ Kg7
4. Qf7#
White is down a lot of material. A fast win needs to be found. Most players will find this over the board, mainly because each move is logical.
1 Qd8+
This is the only reasonable check White has. Fortunately, it’s also the best move.
Black has three pieces to interpose here:
ONE
1 … Qe8
2 Qxe8+ Bf8
3 Qf7#
TWO
1 … Bf8
2 Rh8+! Kg7
On 2 … Kh8, 3 Qxf8#. Or 2 … Qxh8, 3 Qe6+ Kg7, 4 Qf7#
3 Qxf8+ Kxg6
4 Rg8+ Kh7
Or 4 … Qg7, 5 Rxg7#
5 g6#
THREE
1 … Rd8
Black tries to draw the Queen away from access to e6 later.
2 Qxd8+ Bf8
On the silly 2 … Qe8, 3 Qxe8+ Bf8, 4 Qf7#
3 Rh8+ Qxh8
Of course, 3 … Kxh8 is answered by 4 Qxf8#. And 3 … Kg7 leads to mate as in line two by 4 Qxf8+ Kxg6, 5 Rg8+ Kh7 (5 … Qg7, 6 Rxg7#), 6 g6#.
With the given move, Black seems safe enough, as White can no longer move the Queen to e6. Unfortunately for Black the Queen can now support the Bishop at d5.
4 Bd5+ Nxd5
Or 4 … Kg7, 5 Qf6#.
5 Qxd5+ Kg7
White now uses the last piece that she owns to deliver the mate.
6 Qf7#
1.Qc8 Bf8
2.Rh8
1.Qc8+…Bf8
2.Rh8+…Qxh8(if Kxh8 3.Qxf8 mate)
3.Qe6+ followed by Qf7 mate
The solution should be
1. Dc8+ Lf8
2. Th8+ and winning e.g.
2. … Dh8
3. De6+ Kg7
4. Df7 checkmate
1. Bxd5+ Nxd5 2. Qc8+ Bf8 3. g7 then mate next.
Qc8+ Rd8
Qxd8+ Bf8
Rh8+ Qxh8
Bd5+ Nxd5
Qxd5+ Kg7
Qf7++
1.Qc8 the only move is 1… Bf8
2.Rh8+ Kxh8
3.Qxf8 mate #
Qc8+, Bf8, Rh8, Qh8, Qe6, Kg7, Qf7#
I would say: Qc8+ – Bf8, Rh8+ and now: a) Kxh8, Qxf8++, b) Qxh8, Qe6+ – Kg7, Qf7++ or c) Kg7, Qxf8+ – Kxg6, Qh6+ – Kf5, Rf8+ – Qf6, Qxf6++
Does this work?
1. Qc8+ Bf8
2. Rh8+ Qxh8
3. Qe6+ Kg7
4. Qf7 mate
2. … If Kxh8
3. Qxf8 mate
1.Qc8+ Bf8 is straightforward. let’s have a look at the Rook sacrifice…
2.Rh8+ and if Qxh8 (2…Kxh8 3.Qxf8# is out of question)
3.Qe6+ Kg7
4.Qf6+ Kg8
5.Qf7# (Nice staircase)
But if
1.Qc8+ Bf8 2.Rh8+ Kg7?
then
3,Qxf8+ Kxg6
4.Rg8+ Kh7 (4…Qg7 5.Rxg7#)
5.Qf7+ Qg7
6.Qxg7#
1.Qc8ch Bf8 2. Rh8ch Qxh8(if Kxh8 Qf8 mate) 3.Qe6ch Kg7 4.Qf7 mate
1.Rh8+ Kh8(1…Ah8 2.Dc8 and checkmate in two moves)2.Dc8+ and checkmate in three moves.
1. Rh8 Bh8 (Kh8???)
2. Qc8 Kg7
3. Qb7 Kg6 and what now for white other than a mate for black that is probably easy to find with two queens on the board and another coming as needed?
1. Bd5 Qd5 with check exchanges white’s one queen.
1. Qc8+ Bf8
2. Rh8+ Kxh8
3. Qxf8#
2. … Qxh8
3. Qe6+ K8
4. Qg7#
2. … Kg7
3. Qxf8+ Kxg6
4. Rg8+ Kh7
5. Qf7+ Qg7
6. Qxg7#
greets, jan
1. Qc8+ Bf8
2. Rh8+ Qxh8 (2. … Kxh8 3. Qxf8#)
3. Qd6+ Kg7
4. Qf7#
1. Qc8+ Bf8
2. Rh8+ Qxh8 (if Kxh8 Qxf8#, if Kh7 then Qxf8+, Kxf6, Rg8+)
3. Qe6+ Kf7
4. Qf7#
Or:
1. Qc8+ Rd8
2. Qxd8+ Bf8
3. Rh8+ Qxh8 (same as 2nd above)
4. Bd5+ Nxd5
5. Qxd5+ Kg7
6. Qf7#
1. c4-c8+, g7-f8
2. h7-h8+, e5xh8
3. c8-e6+, g8-g7
4. e6-f7++
OR, after 2. …g8xH8
3. c8xf8++
1. Qc8+ Bf8
2. Rh8+ Qxh8 (Kxh8? 3. Qxf8#)
3. Qe6+ Kg7
4. Qf7#
1. c4-c8+, g7-f8
2. h7-h8+, e5xh8
3. c8-e6+, g8-g7
4. e6-f7++
OR, after 2. …g8xH8
3. c8xf8++
1.Qc8+ Bf8 2.Rh8+!!
1.Qc8+
I)1….Bf8 2.Rh8+
a)2…..Qxh8 3.Qe6+ Kg7 4.Qf7 mate !
b)2…..Kxh8 3.Qxf8 mate !
c)2…..Kg7 3.Qxf8+ Kg6 4.Rg8+ Kh7 5.Qf7+
II)1…Rd8 2.Qxd8+ Bf8 3.Rh8+
d)3…..Kxh8
e)3…..Qxh8 4.Bd5+ i)4…Kg7 5.Qf6 mate ii)4…..Nxd5 5.Qxd5+ Kg7 6.Qf7 mate
f)3…..Kg7 4.Qxf8+ Kxg6 5.Rg8+
I don’t agree with the blog owner’s policy of only posting the incorrect solutions for several hours, then posting all of the correct ones at once. I spend time solving and annotating my solutions, and to have them lost in the shuffle isn’t very gratifying.
Regarding “Tom Barrister’s comment” I think blog owner does not want to publish the first correct solution received since it spoils all the fun for others. Also the first correct entry does not mean lowest time used since all people do not see the problem at the same time.
@TB: I think it is a good policy to not post the right solutions immediately. I find your criticism unwarranted.