White to move. How should white proceed?
2k1r3/6R1/3p4/4n3/N5b1/B4pP1/4rP1p/1R3K2 w – – 0 1
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That h-pawn leaves white few options. Either a rook to the h-file to protect against h1(Q)#, or white needs a mate or perpetual check on the black king- so, you look for checks here. There are two checks to look at, in my opinion- Nb6 and Rb8, but I don’t even need a chessboard to know that Rb8 is mate in 4:
1. Rb8 Kb8
2. Bd6 Kc8 (Ka8 3.Nb6#)
3. Nb6 Kd8
4. Bc7#
The other check doesn’t work:
1. Nb6?? Kd8 (Kb8 2.Bd6#)
And, suddenly, white is out of useful checks and must play the rook to h7, but this won’t stop mate for black:
2. Rh7 Nd3!
With the unstoppable double threats of Rf2# and Re1+ followed by Re1#.
1.Rb8+, Kxb8(only)
2.Bxe5+ +-
Because, if 2…,Kc8 3.Nb6+,Kd8 4.Bc7++ or if 2…,Ka8 3.Nb6++
Rb8+
(1) Rb8+ Kxb8
(2) Bxd6+
If (2)…. Ka8
(3) Nb6++
If (2)…. Kc8
(3)Nb6+ Kd8
(4) Bc7++
Rb8+ with mate to follow
1. Rb8+ Kxb8
2. Bxd6+ Kc8
3. Nb6+ Kd8
4. Bc7#
2. … Ka8
3. Nb6#
the position seemed familiar. was this puzzle already posted or maybe a very similar one?
greets, jan
Black threatens mate by h1=Q or Bh3. White can block these moves with 1.Rh7, however, after Nd3 nothing can be done about Rxf2#. So, White must mate himself giving checks with every move.
Which checks do we have? After Rc1+ and Nb6+ the black king goes to d8 and nothing goes. That leaves Rc7+, which after Kxc7 leads to nothing, and
1. Rb8+! Kxb8
2. Bcd6+
Now that the bishop can join the attack it is soon over:
2. … Kc8
2. … Ka8 3. Nb6#
3. Nb6+ Kd8
4. Bc7#
1. Rb8+!!
and mate in three.
1. Rb8+ Kxb8
2. Bxd6+ Kc8
3. Nb6+ Kd8
4. Bc7#
With so strong threat from black and little options for white, it almost becomes too easy:-)
It’s quite clear that if Rh7 was the right move, this wouldn’t be a puzzle. So it has to be a check:
1. Nb6 Kd8
2. Rd7#
or
1. … Kb8
2. Bxd6#
Elementary mating tecnique this is.
Remarkable is that whites Rb1 could be missing without making a difference.
1.Rb8 Kb8 2.Bd6 Kc8 3.Nb6 Kd8 4.Bc7#
Rb8+ – and the rest is easy.
1rook ch
2 bishop ch
3knight ch
4mate
1rook ch
2 bishop ch
3knight ch
4mate
I think that White should checkmate Black!
Here’s how:
1. Rb8+ .. Kxb8
2. Bxd6+ .. Kc8 (2 .. Ka8 3.Nb6#)
3. Nb6+ .. Kd8
4. Bc7#
Rb8+ Kxb8
Bxd6+ Kc8
Nb6+ Kd8
Bc7 mate
All of black’s moves after white 1st move are nearly forced.
Will the rook sac work? 1. Rb8+ Kxb8 2. Bxd6+ Kc8 (or a8) 3. Nb6#
I guess it does!
1.Rb8!!+ Kxb8 2.Bxd6
if 2..Ka8 3.Nb6#
if 2..Kc8 3.Nb6+ Kd8 4.Bc7#
1.Rb8+, 2.Bd6+, 3.Nb6+, and if necessary 4.Bc7#.
1.Rb8+ gains time to bring the bishop into play
1….Kxb8 2.Bxd6+ Ka8 3. Nb6 mate
1….Kxb8 2.Bxd6+ Kc8 3.Nb6+ Kd8 4.Bc7 mate
Kamalakanta
All the black threats indicate what white has to do. The immediate Bxd6 ends in a quick mate and the immediate Nb6+ stalls after Kd8 then Rd7+ Nxd7 Rb8+ Nxb8. So that leaves getting the king into the line of both minor pieces with check
Rb8+ Kxb8 Bxd6+ Kc8 Nb6+ Kd8 Bc7#
Rb8+ Kxb8 Bxd6+ Ka8 Nb6#
1.Rb8+ Kxb8
2.Bxd6+ Ka8
3.Nb6#
If 2. …Kc8
3.Nb6+ Kd8
4.Bc7#
Black has mate on the move (… Bh3 or … h1(Q/R)), so White has to check all the way to mate. 1. Rb8+ Kxb8 2. Bxd6+ Kc8 (2. … Ka8 3. Nb6#) 3. Nb6+ Kd8 4. Bc7#. If this came from a real game, I would assume Black’s last move was … h2, when Black could have preserved the advantage instead with … Nc4.
All checks all the time. The key move is 1.Rb8+ leading to mate after 2.Bxd6+. Phil
This seems to be an easy one:
1. Rb8+ Kxb8;
2. Bxd6+, Kc8;
3. Nb6+, Kd8;
4. Bc7#
Ciao
Luigi