Cordingley puzzle 68

White to play and win

Solution

I enjoyed solving this puzzle, which, for a change, leads to a decisive result. My first try was 1 Nd7+ Kf7 2 fg+ when I think either 2…Kg8 or even 2…Kg6 (3 Qd3+ Be4) are sufficient, at least for the game to go on, because of black's threat of mate on g2. So I had to find something better.

Next try was 1 Ng6+ hg 2 Rh8+ Kf7 3 fg+ but this is spoilt by 1…Kf7 2 fg Kg6 (or Kg8) when black squeaks out, and ends up a piece up.

So, then what? Almost following a process, I looked at the third and final check (I also glanced at line-clearing/interference 1 Bd5, but it too is insufficient, and loses) 1 Qc5+ and saw that this was the solution. After the forced 1…Re7, 2 Ng6+ Kf7 ( 2….hg is mated in the same way, 3 Rh8+ Kf7 4 fg+ and mates) 3 fg+ Kg6 4 Qf5mate, revealing a second point about 1 Qc5+; or 3….Kg8, 4 Qc4+ and mates.

Nothing more to say, really: a nice puzzle, of reasonable difficulty.

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