White to move. How should white proceed?
r5k1/1pR5/3p2B1/2nP1N2/2p3P1/8/p5K1/4b3 w – – 0 2
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White to move. How should white proceed?
r5k1/1pR5/3p2B1/2nP1N2/2p3P1/8/p5K1/4b3 w – – 0 2
Hey, why is there always a black pawn on the a2 square?
1. Rf7 (threatening Nh6+ and Rh7 mate)
Can’t see how black would stop it.. eg:
1 … Kh8
2. Nh6 a1= Q
3. Rh7#
1.Rf7! anymove
2.Nh6+ or Ne7+ Kh8
3.Rh7++
white plays Rf7 (taking control of the f8 square) with the plan of Nh6+ (or Ne7+).
1) Rf7, Bd2 (if 1)…,Bh4, 2)Nh6+ )
2) Ne7+, Kh8
3) Rh7++
1. Nh6+ Kf8
(1. … Kh8
2. Rh7++)
2. Rf7+ Ke8
3. Rh7+ Kf8
4. Rh8+ Kg7
5. Rxa8
winning the exchange and preventing pawn from queening.
Am I missing a mating attach here?
Rf7 followed by either Nh6+ or Ne7+ then Rh7++
Rf7 followed by either Ne7+ or Nh6+.. then, Rh7++ mate
Rf7 followed by either Ne7+ or Nh6+.. then, Rh7++ mate
Anup, what about 5. …Na6?
After some hasty looks at Nh6+ and Rg7+, I figured out that 1.Rf7! was threatening both 2.Nh6+ and 3.Ne7+
i.e. a bishop sacrifice like …. Bh4 does not work nor does …Bd2.
So 1….Kh8 2.Ne7 or Nh6 and the mate cannot be prevented either.
Anup, I believe you are rather missing 5….Na6!, it seems 🙂
LOL, for a mate in three, this one was tough for me! I tried hard to make both Rg7 and Nh6 work. I could find a draw with the second one, I think. 1.Rg7 looked promising to my eye, but, at best, white might draw (or might not). Fortunately, I think, I stumbled onto the right solution while trying to make Rg7 work in the line where black replies with Kh8 (a mistake for black). So, eliminate two pointless moves from that line and you get:
1. Rf7!
A quiet move to start are always difficult to find in these positions where you are dropped right into the key position. Of course, white is now threatening Nh6 followed by Rh7#, but this works because white is also threatening Ne7 with a similar mate. There is no defense against both threats.
1. Rf7 a8=Q 2. Ne7+ Kh8 3. Rh7 checkmate.
Nh6 or Ne7 wins and black can not stop them both.
Best wishes from Michael,
What about
1. Rf7 threatening Nh6+ or Ne7+
if 1. … Bh4
2. Nh6+ Kh8
3. Rh7 mate
if 1. … Bd2
2. Ne7+ Kh8
3. Rh7 mate
1.Rf7
I don’t see any defense for the dual threats 2.Nh6+ or 2.Ne7+ with a mate to follow on the next move with 3.Rh7
I found this move after wasting my time over 1.Nh6+ and 1.Rg7+ both of which seem to be achieving nothing more than a draw for white.
A simple but elegant puzzle.
1.Rf7 and black cannot stop both Ne7+ and Nh6+ with Rh7 mate to follow.
The key moves is 1. Rf7!
1. Rf7!! (restraining the king’s movement)
1… Kg8
2. Ne7+ or Nh6+ (the knight lands on square where it’s not controlled by Black)
2… Kh8
3 Rh7#
1 Rf7! a1=Q; 2 Nh6+ Kh8; 3 Rh7#
Gabriele
@Anon
“Hey, why is there always a black pawn on the a2 square?”
eheh!
However.
Nice checkmate without giving check. 🙂
1. Rf7 Kh8
2. Nh6 (any move)
3. Rh7#
Stef
There is no threat to white king. So I go for a quiet move 1 Rf7 threatening 2Nh6+ or Ne7+ followed by 3Rh7#. Obviously black B can not control both h6 and e7 squares.Even if black king moves 1…. Kh8 to avoid N check 2 Nh6 or 2 Ne7 holds good.