White to move

  
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White to move


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Thibault de Vassal    (2007-10-28 03:32:30)
White to move

A very nice problem : How do you make white win ? ..

Please don't use computers. Then, how much time ? :)

ChessPosition (see diagram)

L. Silaev (1983)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h




Philip Roe    (2007-11-07 03:38:14)
Latest Problem

Thibault,

Since nobody else is rising to your bait, let me try!

If it were Black to move, he would win with 1..Rf8+ 2.Qxf8+ Kg6+ 3.Kg8 Rh8+ 4.Kxh8 Qh2+ 5.Kg8 Qh7++.

1.Qg8 is no good because of 1..Rf8! transposing.

1.Rb7 threatens mate and defends h7. Black then has the diabolical defence 1..Qa7!!?, after which 2.Rxa7 Rf8+ 3.Qxf8+ Kg6+, and Black hopes for 4.Kg8 Rh8+ 5.Kxh8 stalemate.

But White plays instead the even more diabolical 4.Qh6+!!!, after which 4..Kxh6 loses the rook to 5.Rh7+ and 4..Rxh6+ leaves Black threatened with mate after 5.Kg8. The only move to stop this (apart from resigning) is 5..Kf6, losing the rook again to 6.Ra6+

The (somewhat) game-like setting and repeated cross-checks make this very attractive.

No, I did not use a computer, but it took me about an hour. I saw Rb7 Qa7 fairly quickly but the final twist eluded me. Anyway, thank you, it was great fun.


Thibault de Vassal    (2007-11-09 03:37:31)
Good job !

Well done, Philip :) .. you completely solved it, with a clear explanation. A nice problem !