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Later Kibitzing> |
Jan-06-16
 | | agb2002: Black has a rook for a bishop.
White threatens Rxh5 and Rg5-Bxc7.
The white king is very poorly defended. This suggests 37... Rxg2+ and 37... Qxf3. In the case of 37... Rxg2+ 38.Kxg2 (38.Kh3 Qh1 39.Bh2 Qxh2#) 38... Rc2+: A) 39.Kg3 Qg1+ 40.Kh3 Qg2#.
B) 39.Kh3 Qf1+ (or 39... Qxf3+ or 39... Qh1+) and 40... Qg2#. C) 39.Bd2 Qxd2+ 40.Kg3 (40.Kh3 Qg(h)2#; 40.Kg(h)1 Qg2#) 40... Qh2#. -----
In the case of 37... Qxf3:
A) 38.Rg5 Qxf4+ 39.Kh3 (39.Kg(h)1 Rc1+ 40.Re1 Rxe1#) 39... R7c3+ 40.g3 (40.Rg3 Qxg3#) 40... Qf1#. B) 38.Qb8+ Kh7 (38... Rc8 39.Qxc8+ Rxc8 40.gxf3 + - [B vs P]) 39.Rxh5+ Qxh5 (39... Kg6 40.Rg5+ Kh7 (40... Kf6 41.Qd8+ Re7 42.Be5#; 40... Kh6 41.Qh8#) 41.Rh5+ repeats moves) 40.Bxc7 Qxh4+ 41.Kg1 Rc1#. C) 38.Bd2 Rxd2 39.Qxc7 Qxg2#.
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I think I'd play 37... Rxg2+ because it looks simpler and quicker. |
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Jan-06-16
 | | Once: It's a little trickier than it looks. Not much, but just a little. The basic idea is easy enough. We have a rook reloader on c2-g2, followed by a queen check on g1 or h1 and then a queen mate on h2 or g2. All black has are two "useless" interpolations with Re2 and Bd2. But not so fast. One of those useless interpolations might give black a flight square. After 39. Bd2 Rxd2+ 40. Kg3 we get to here: 
click for larger viewNow black has f4 for a precarious flight square. It looks mightily risky to park a king on f4 with rooks and queens still on the board but black no longer has a quick mate from here. In fact, Fritzie is saying that it's mate in 21 for black from this position. A win is a win even if it's slow, but that's eating into precious pub time. Rewind. Let's look for a better way to answer 39.Bd2. <Penguincw> called it first. 39...Qxd2+ is the move. Now white doesn't have his escape route via g3 and f4 because 40.Kg3 is met with 40...Qh2# 
click for larger view... and the black queen gives checkmate with an xray control of f4. 40.Re2 Qxe2+ doesn't change the outcome. So I'd call this one a Monday for the basic idea of the rook reloader, but a Wednesday for the precision needed to find Qxd2+ and Qh2#. Neat little puzzle. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | cocker: The finish started a move earlier, with 36 ... Qd1+. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | Sularus: RxP+ should start it |
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| Jan-06-16 | | stacase: Way too easy for a Wednesday.
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| Jan-06-16 | | mel gibson: It took me 10 seconds. Easy one. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | morfishine: <37...Rxg2+> followed by the other rook 38...Rc2+ and the White King is trapped and soon mated I figured this out after spending a couple of minutes thinking it was White's turn ***** |
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| Jan-06-16 | | dfcx: Is today Monday? Forced mate in 4 with
37....Rxg2+
38. Kxg2 Rc2+
A.39.Kh3 Qf1= 40.Kg3 Qg2#
B.39.Kg3 Qg1+ 40.Kh3 Qg2# |
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| Jan-06-16 | | dfcx: White can delay the mate by one move with
39.Bd2 Qxd2+ 40.Re2 Qxe2+ 41.Kh3/g3 Qh2#
or after 41.Kf1/g1/h1 Qd1# |
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| Jan-06-16 | | wooden nickel: The Italian Befana must have been generously involved selecting this extremely easy puzzle today on Epiphany... the move 37.Qxf3 is so overwhelming that I didn't look for a better one. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | patzer2: From the position set up, I thought it was White to move on today's Wednesday (37...?) puzzle. So when I couldn't find a move that didn't lose for White, I was sure I was missing something obvious. The obvious of course is it's Black to move, and White has no defense against 37...Rxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Rc2+ with mate in two or three to follow. White's decisive mistake was 34. Bf4?, allowing 34...Rc2! - + (-2.55 @ 22 depth, Deep Fritz 15). Instead, 34. Kh1 = to  keeps White in the fight. Earlier, instead of the risky pawn grab 27. Qxa7?! allowing 27...Nc4!  , the computers indicate White can improve with 27. Bf2 = or 27. Red1 =. Instead of 28...Ra8!?, the computer choice 28...h6! gives Black's King a flight square and wins a pawn after 28...h6! 29. Qa4 Rxc7 (-1.13 @ 25 depth, Deep Fritz 15). As such, 28...h6! is objectively the most sure way to punish the pawn grab 27. Qxa7?! |
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| Jan-06-16 | | Sihlous: 35...R8xc7 was much more impressive...Nice diversion tactic. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | YetAnotherAmateur: <Once> has explained why this is a Wednesday puzzle. The first couple of moves is relatively easy (37. ... Rxg2 38. Kxg2 Rc2+), but then it gets more interesting. I think others have covered all the variations, but just in case:
A) 39. Kh3 Qh1+ 40. Kg3 Qh2#
B) 39. Kg3 Qg1+ 40. Kh3 Qg2#
C) 39. Bd2 Qxd2+ 40. Kf/g/h1 Qd1#
D) 39. Bd2 Qxd2+ 40. Kg/h3 Qh2#
In all variations, white can play Re2 either on move 39 or 40, but that won't do anything except delay things a move. It's important to note that black must check throughout. Otherwise, white can counter: e.g. 39. Kh3 Qg1?? 40. Qd8+ Kh7 41. Rxh5+ Kg6 42. Rg5+ 1-0. Or even 39. Kg3 Qh1?? 40. Qd8+ Kh7 41. Rxh5+ Kg6 42. Qg5# |
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| Jan-06-16 | | YetAnotherAmateur: Oops, obviously made an error in variation C, and this would be much better:
E) 39. Bd2 Qxd2+ 40. Kf1 Qf2#
My originally listed move, 40. ... Qd1+ allows 41. Re1 Qxf3+ 42. Kg1 Qg2#, which is still winning obviously, but longer. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | pericles of athens: Holy cow, this is a Wednesday puzzle? Either I'm not terrible anymore or this was faaaaar too easy. I'd actually say this was too easy even for a Monday. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | Chess Dad: I saw the first two moves, as played, and then the resignation, and I thought "That was too easy. What, did we have another Monday?" I didn't see the 39. Bd2 response, and I'm not certain I would have picked Qxd2 instead of Rxd2 at that moment. |
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Jan-06-16
 | | kevin86: Easy...but evidently not as easy as it looks. White can sacrifice a bishop and effect an escape if black is not careful. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | Lighthorse: I also thought this was way too easy for a Wednesday and didn't see the Bd2 response. Thanks, <Once>! |
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| Jan-06-16 | | Cheapo by the Dozen: Black has a material advantage; still, a quick mate would be nice. The main try is 37 ... Rxg2+
38 Kxg2 Rc2+
39 Kh3 Qh1+
and mate next.
White's alternative moves are mainly useless, winding up in either the Rg2/Qh1 mating pattern or one with a defended queen at g2 or h2. However, we should check what happens if White unblocks f4: 37 ... Rxg2+
38 Kxg2 Rc2+
39 Bd2 Qxd2+
and ... Qh2# quickly follows. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | thegoodanarchist: Easier than yesterday, if you ask me. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | StevieB: This was more like a Monday challenge. Super easy. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | JimNorCal: <morfishine> "I figured this out after spending a couple of minutes thinking it was White's turn" Me too, he said abashedly. |
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| Jan-06-16 | | morfishine: <Patriot> Good to see you old friend <JimNorCal> Sometimes this happens to me in the middle of the week for some reason ***** |
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| Jan-06-16 | | CHESSTTCAMPS: Black is an exchange up, with majors bearing down on a lightly defended white king. Not surprisingly, black can force mate by knocking out the primary sheltering pawn with 37... Rxg2+ 38.Kxg2 (Kh3 Qh1+) Rf2+ and now: A.39.Kh3 Qh1+ 40.Bh2 (or Kg3) Qh2#
B.39.Kg3 Qg1+ 40.Kh3 Qg2/h2#
C.39.Bd2 Qxd2+ 40.Kg3/h3 (Kf1/g1/h1 allows mate next) Qh2# |
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| Jan-06-16 | | Patriot: <morfishine> Good to see you too! |
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Kibitzing
sac: 37...Rxg2+