Cordingley puzzle 247 #chess

December 4, 2013

White to play and win

Solution

An interesting one today. After an initial examination, noting that white only has two pieces in the game, and noting that the Qb5 is tied to the defence of the Bc6, I quickly decided on 1 e4!, the move played in the game.

In fact, Houdini also likes 1 Rc1! which is I think based on zugzwang: eventually the Bc6 must move, and the c5 pawn permitted to advance, or white gets his rook into action on either the a or b files. But 1 e4! Is more forcing, and leads to the position below after 1..de 2 Rg3 Kf8.

Here, in my visualisation, I stumbled. I thought white's best line would be 3 Rg7?! Rg7 4 Qh6 which does indeed pick up the Bc6 when the overloaded queen comes to defend the Rg7, but after 4…Qc5+ 5 Kh2 Qe7 6 Bg7+ Qg7 7 Qc6 the queen and pawn ending might not be won.

I am not sure whether even in a game I would find the stronger 4 Bg7+! Of course, I would see it, but I wouldn't be able to see that after 4…Rg7[] 5 Qf6+ Rf7[] it is forced mate on the black squares. I think the mates- for there are two-are hard for me to see, I am ashamed to say. But they are pretty- at least the one starting 6 Qd8+ is- and worth seeing.