| May-24-23 | | jrredfield: I see a good line with 18 Nxe6 fxe6 19 Bxe6+ Rf7 20 Bd4 Qxg5+ and then perhaps 21 f4 or 21 Kb1. Looks good for White but that's as far as I got. |
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| May-24-23 | | Brenin: Taking on e6 looks obvious, but with which piece? 18 Nxe6 and Bxe6 are both tempting, but I think I find Nxe6 the more forcing, with 18 ... fxe6 19 Bxe6+ Rf7 to follow. What then? I liked 20 Rxd6, and missed the more subtle move Bd4 played, but I think it is good enough for a win. |
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| May-24-23 | | Brenin: At the end, Black can try 20 ... Qxg5+ 21 f4 Qh5, stopping the mating threats, but White can play 22 Qg2, and Black's position is hopeless. Similarly, 21 ... Qh6 22 Qxh6 Bxh6 23 Rxh6 Kf8 24 Bxf7 Kxf7 25 Rh7+ is crushing. |
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| May-24-23 | | mel gibson: The first few plies were easy.
Stockfish 15 says:
18. Nxe6
(18. Nxe6 (Nd4xe6 f7xe6 Bh3xe6+ Rf8-f7 Be3-d4 Qd8xg5+ f3-f4 Qg5-h6 Qh2xh6 Bg7xh6 Rh1xh6 Kg8-f8
Nc3-d5 Bb7xd5 e4xd5 Rf7xf4 Be6xd7 Nb6xd7 Rh6-h8+ Kf8-e7 Rh8xc8 g6-g5 Bd4-e3
Rf4-f5 Rc8-c7 Ke7-e8 Rd1-h1 Nd7-f8 Be3-d4 Rf5-f4 Bd4-b6 Rf4-e4 Rc7-c6
Ke8-d7 Bb6-a5 g5-g4 Rc6xa6 g4-g3 Ra6-a7+ Kd7-e8 Ra7-g7 Re4-e5 Rg7xg3 Re5xd5
Ba5xb4 Ke8-d7 Bb4-c3 Kd7-c6 Rg3-g1 Kc6-b5 a2-a3 Nf8-d7 b2-b3 Rd5-c5 a3-a4+
Kb5-a6) +10.65/39 281)
score for White +10.65 depth 39. |
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| May-24-23 | | Allderdice83: I don't like 18. Nxe6 -- it runs into complications with 18 ... bxc3 19. Nxd8 cxb2+ 20. Kb1 Nc4 threatening 21 ... Na3#, or 20. Kd2 Bc3+ 21. Ke2 Rfxd8. White has a queen for two minor pieces, but Black has a threatening pawn on b2, protected by the bishop, and a lot of action coming at White's king, with ideas of a5 and Ba6+ in the air. 18. Bxe6 looks pretty clear to me. It immediately threatens 19. Qh7#. After 18 ... fxe6 19. Nxe6 bxc3 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21. Qxg7+, then ... 21 ... Kxe6 22. Qxg6+ Ke5 (or 22 ... Ke7 23. Rh7+ Rf7 24. Qxf7#) 23. f4+ Rxf4 24. Bxf4+ Kxf4 25. Qf5+ Ke3 26. Rd3+ Ke2 27. Qf1#, or 21 ... Ke8 22. Qxg6+ Rf7 23. Rh8+ Nf8 24. Rxf8+ Ke7 25. Qxf7# After 18. Bxe6 Nf6, there's 19. gxf6 Re8 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Qxg7# And perhaps the prettiest line:
18. Bxe6 Re8 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Nf5 gxf5 21. g6 fxe6 22. Bh6 Bxh6+ 23. Qxh6+ Ke7 24. Qg7# or 21 ... bxc3 22. gxf7 Nf6 23. Qg8+ Nxg8 24. fxg8=Q+ Ke7 25. Qxg7+ Kxe6 26. Rh6+ Qf6 27. Rxf6+ Ke5 28. Rfxd6# If there's any defense for Black, I can't find it. |
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| May-24-23 | | sudoplatov: Stockfish finds 18.Nxe6 bxc3, 19.Bf5.
I found the first three moves Nxe6,Bxe6+, Bd4 but I didn't find more than big advantage. |
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May-24-23
 | | Breunor: It looks like either piece taking on e6 wins strongly. |
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| May-24-23 | | Allderdice83: Never mind, 18 Bxe6 Re8 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Nf5?? gxf5 21. g6 fxe6 22. Bh6 Qf6! and Black wins. Instead, maybe 20. Bxf7 Kxf7 21. Rh6 Ne5 22. Nf5 gxf5 23. Rdxd6 |
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May-24-23
 | | Check It Out: I couldd not see 20.Nd4. |
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| May-24-23 | | Brenin: <Allderdice83: I don't like 18. Nxe6 -- it runs into complications with 18 ... bxc3 19. Nxd8 cxb2+ 20. Kb1 Nc4 threatening 21 ... Na3#> I think that 21 Rd3 holds White's advantage, e.g. 21 ... Rfxd8 22 Bxd7 Rxd7 23 Qh7+ Kf8 24 Bd4, with Q for B+N. |
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| May-24-23 | | TheaN: Difficult Wednesday. After way too long, I chose <18.Bxe6!?> on the premise it is the more forcing move due to Qh7#. Black can really only play fxe6 or Re8. After 18....fxe6 White would be happy given 19.Nxe6 is just not salvageable: the issue for Black is that the bxc3 cxb2+ threat is gone, because after Nxd8 Qh7# is once again checkmate. If White really needs to, Qh7+ first with Nxd8+. After 19....Qe7, saving the queen, 20.Qh7+ Kf7 21.Qxg7+ works, 21....Kxe6 22.Qxg6+ +-. I was more worried about <18....Re8> where Black seems to avoid immediate disaster. The best move here is to retreat Nc3 straight away 19.Nce2!, I opted for the more conservative <19.Bxd7 Nxd7 20.Nce2 +->. That's about +3... not amazing but it keeps the advantage. |
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| May-24-23 | | Allderdice83: <TheaN ... The best move here is to retreat Nc3 straight away 19.Nce2!,"> I admit I didn't even think of that. Well, I guess it's like GM Ben Feingold says, "'Always' retreat." Here's one way it could go: b3 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Bxf7 Kxf7 22. Nf4 bxa2 23. Qxg6+ Kf8 24. Nfe6+ Rxe6 25. Nxe6+ Ke7 26. Qxg7+ Kxe6 27. Rh6+ Nf6 28. Rxf6+ Qxf6 29. Qxf6+ Kd7 30. Qxd6+ Ke8 31. Qe6+ Kf8 32. Bc5+ Rxc5 33. Rd8+ Kg7 34. Qf6+ Kh7 35. Rh8# |
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May-24-23
 | | chrisowen: I want baroque its sad muffle its hug joy Nxe6 its a cuff muff its had arrive its off affect pick brave its under bot beach its about give block tuck Nxe6 dim :) |
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| May-24-23 | | TheaN: <Allderdice83: <TheaN ... The best move here is to retreat Nc3 straight away 19.Nce2!,"> I admit I didn't even think of that. Well, I guess it's like GM Ben Feingold says, "'Always' retreat."> Actually, I was wrong and hope I didn't confuse anyone, it's 19.Qh7+ Kg8 20.Nce2! because <now> 20....fxe6 21.Nf4 +- is killing... which I didn't see. After 19.Nce2?! fxe6 20.Qh7+ would follow 20....Kf<7> 21.Nf4 Nf8! ± and White's better but not by much. And essentially the latter happens if 19.Bxd7 happens, because Black doesn't lose a tempo taking the bishop on e6. |
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| May-24-23 | | johnnydeep: Easiest puzzle of the week so far. |
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| May-24-23 | | jrredfield: Just to help settle the 18 Nxe6 vs. 18 Bxe6 discussions, I ran the position after 17 ... e6 in Komodo Dragon for about an hour. They're quite close, so either works. Here's the results: Knight captures:
+12.43 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bxe6+ Rf7 20.Bd4 Qxg5+ 21.f4 Qh5 22.Qg2 Qxd1+ 23.Nxd1 Nf8 24.Bxf7+ Kxf7 25.Bxb6 Rc6 26.Be3 d5 27.Nf2 d4 28.Bd2 b3 29.axb3 a5 30.Rg1 Kg8 31.f5 Rf6 32.Qg3 Rf7 33.fxg6 Rd7 34.Qh2 a4 35.bxa4 d3 36.Nxd3 Bxe4 37.Nc5 Rxd2 38.Kxd2 Bxg6 39.Qb8 Kh7 40.Qb7 Kh8 41.Rh1+ Bh7 42.Qd5 Bishop captures:
+11.53 18.Bxe6 Re8 19.Nf5 gxf5 20.Bd4 Qxg5+ 21.f4 Qf6 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Bxc8 Rxc8 24.Rdg1 Kf8 25.Rxg7 fxe4 26.Qh6 Nbd7 27.Rg8+ Ke7 28.Rxc8 Bxc8 29.Nd1 Ne8 30.Qg5+ Ndf6 31.Rh8 Kd7 32.Qf5+ Kc7 33.Qa5+ Kd7 34.Qxb4 Ke7 35.Qb8 Be6 36.Ne3 Bd7 37.f5 a5 38.Qa8 a4 39.Qa5 Bc6 40.Qa6 Bd7 41.Rh1 Kd8 42.Qa5+ Nc7 43.Rh8+ Be8 44.Qxa4 (depth: 36) |
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| May-24-23 | | agb2002: Black threatens bxc3.
The bishop on h3 blocks the action of the queen. This suggests Bxe6 and Nxe6. In the case of 18.Bxe6:
A) 18... fxe6 19.Nxe6 Qe7 (19... Qe8 20.Nxg7 is winning [20... Kxg7 21.Qh7#]) 20.Qh7+ Kf7 21.Nxg7 Rh8 22.Nf5+ Rxh7 23.Rxh7+ Kg8 (23... Ke(f)8 24.Nxe7 wins decisive material; 23... Ke6 24.Rxe7#) 24.Nxe7+ Kxh7 25.Nxc8 wins decisive material (25... bxc3 26.Nxd6; 25... Nxc8 26.Ne2). B) 18... Re8 19.Bxd7 Qxd7, unclear.
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In the case of 18.Nxe6 fxe6 (else 19.Nxg7 must be winning) 19.Bxe6+ Rf7 20.Bd4: A) 20... bxc3 21.Qh8+ Bxh8 22.Rxh8#.
B) 20... Bxd4 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Qxf7#.
C) 20... Ne5 21.Bxe5 wins (21... Bxd4 as in B; 21... dxe5 22.Rxd8+; 21... Kf8 22.Bxg7+). D) 20... Nf6 21.Bxf6 as above.
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I'd play 18.Nxe6. |
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| May-24-23 | | King.Arthur.Brazil: Many will find it too: 18. Nxe6 (Threats the ♕ and the ♖) If didn't capture: 18... Qe7 19. Nxg7 Kxg7 20. Bxd7 Rh8 21. Bd4+ f6 22. gxf6+ Kf7 23. Qxh8 Rxh8 24. Rxh8 Qxd7 25. Rh7+ Ke8 26. Rxd7 Kxd7 27. Bxb6... Therefore, the answer must be: 18... fxe6 19. Bxe6+ Rf7 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Bxf7 Kxf7 22. Rh6 Qf8 23. Qxg6+ Ke7 24. Qxd6+ (24... Kf7?? 25. Qe6#) 24... Ke8 25. Re6+ Kd8 26. Bxb6+ Rc7 27. Qxc7# or 24... Kd8 25. Bxb6+ Ke8 26. Qxd7#. In the last, it is possible too: 25... Rc7 26. Qxd7#. Black ♔ will not escape. |
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| May-24-23 | | mel gibson: < jrredfield: Just to help settle the 18 Nxe6 vs. 18 Bxe6 discussions, I ran the position after 17 ... e6 in Komodo Dragon for about an hour. They're quite close, so either works.> OK - I forced Stockfish 15 to play 18. Bxe6.
yes - it's almost as good but it chooses a different line after a few plies: 18. Bxe6
(18. Bxe6 Re8 (♖f8-e8 ♕h2-h7+ ♔g8-f8 ♘c3-e2 ♘b6-d5 e4xd5 ♗b7xd5 ♘e2-f4 ♖e8xe6 ♘d4xe6+ ♗d5xe6
♘f4xe6+ f7xe6 ♖h1-h4 ♘d7-e5 ♖h4-f4+ ♘e5-f7 ♕h7xg6 ♕d8-c7 ♗e3-b6 ♗g7-e5
♗b6xc7 ♗e5xf4+ ♔c1-b1 ♖c8xc7 ♕g6-e4 ♗f4xg5 ♕e4xb4 ♗g5-f6 a2-a4 ♖c7-e7
♖d1-g1 ♖e7-e8 c2-c3 ♗f6-d8 ♕b4-b7 a6-a5 ♕b7-c6 e6-e5 ♕c6-d5 ♗d8-c7 ♖g1-h1
♔f8-e7 ♖h1-h7 ♖e8-f8 f3-f4 e5xf4 ♕d5-e4+ ♔e7-d7 ♕e4xf4 ♗c7-b6 ♕f4-f5+
♔d7-e7 ♕f5-g4 ♔e7-d8 ♕g4-e6) -9.20/40 398)
398 = 6 minutes 38 seconds.
8 core CPU.
score for Black -9.20 depth 40. |
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| May-24-23 | | King.Arthur.Brazil: It is amazing how some people (like me, the King) can complicate what is simple... 20. Bd4! and Black resigns. Possible sequence: 20...Bxd4 21. Rxd4 Kf8 22. Bxf7 Kxf7 23. Qf4+ Ke8 24. Rh8+ Nf8 25. Qxf8+ Kd7 26. Qxd6#. What matters is that 20. Bd4 ends the story. I'm afraid that <Brenin> can find some unexpected defense for Black, on the sequence I brought before (lgs). By the way, thank you <Chris>. Your verse from today in clear English, I understood and was fun. Sometimes, you place a set of words in several languages, which for me (out-sider) is hard to capture. ;-) |
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| May-24-23 | | Brenin: <King.Arthur.Brazil>: Concerning your latest posting, after 18 Nxe6 fxe6 19 Bxe6+ Rf7 20 Bd4, the best reply to 20 ... Bxd4 is not 21 Rxd4 but 21 Qh7+ Kf8 22 Qxf7 mate. I'm afraid that there is no unexpected defence for Black in this position. |
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Kibitzing
sac: 18.Nxe6