White to move. How should white proceed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Quickie chess tactic
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White to move. How should white proceed?
Qxf8 Kxf8 , Bh6+ Kg8, Re8+ Qf8, Rxf8#
1. Qxf8+!!.Kxf8
2.Bh6+.
A-2…….Bg7.3.Re8#
B-2…….Kg8.3.Re8+.Qf8.4.Rxf8#
Harry
1. Qxf8+ Kxf8
2. Bh6+ and mate to come
1. Qxf8+ Kxf8
2. Bh6+ Kg8 or Bg7
3. Re8++
In this diagram I instantly feel there “could be something with a rook on e8″. Obviously it would have to be check in every move”, but any line starting with Qxf8+? fails.
My next thought is: “It has something to do with a bishop on e7”, but any such idea also seems to fail (e.g. to Bg7).
So back to the initial idea.
Instead of Qxf8+? there is one other way to remove Rf8, a deflection sack gaining tempo:
1. Rxf7 Rxf7 (otherwise Qxh7#)
2. Re8+ Rf8 (alternative below)
So it was a combination of the two first ideas then, because now we get:
3. Be7+ Qxe7
4. Rxe7
So far up with Q vs. R+B, but Bd3 hangs? No, there is now still the threat Qxh8, as after first move!
4. … Rf7 (only)
5. Rxf7 Kxf7
6. Qxh7+
With Bxg6 to follow, and white is up with Q+2P vs. R+B, and wins easily.
But the correct defense from black seems to be:
1. Rxf7 Rxf7
2. Re8+ Qf8!!
3. Rxf8 Rxf8
4. Be2 (what else?)
This is Q vs. 2R and looks completely equal to me.
Crystal clear! No ambiguity.
1.Qxf8+ Kxf8
2.Bh6+ Bg7
(2…. Kg8
3.Re8+ Qf8
4.Rxf8# )
3.Re8#
QxRf8+ KxQf8
Bh6+
if Bg7 Re8#
if Kg8 Re8+ Qf8 RxQf8#
My first solution has to be wrong because of:
1. Rxf7? Rxf7
2. Re8+ Rf8
3. Be7 Rxe8!
4. Bxd6 cxd3
And white is down with a piece, to have taken the queen helps little here.
The solution is of course much simpler:
1. Qxf8!! Kxf8
2. Bh6+! Kg8 (Bg7? Re8# was the point that I missed)
3. Re8+ Qf8
4. Rxf8#
I “saw” Bg7 as good defense for black, as it would be with king on g8, but with king on f8 it’s not! This is the point with the initial Q sack.
1. Qxf8+ Kxf8
2. Bh6+
If 2….Bg7
3. Re8 mate
If 2….Kg8
3. Re8 Qf8
4. Rxf8 mate
Qxf8 then Bh6 and Re8, Rxf8 Phil Innes
Got this in 5 seconds:
1. Qf8! Kf8
2. Bh6 Kg8 (Bg7 3.Re8#)
3. Re8 Qf8
4. Rf8#