it is 6 moves, most people, me included, go for 5 moves.
There are many different routes. Witness these six move from a1-h8.
The Ricker - goldenwoof RHP 2017
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. dxc5 Qa5+ 4. c3 Qxc5 5. Be3 {Tempting the Black Queen to chase the b-pawn.} 5... Qb5 6. Nd4 Qxb2 {Black has taken the dreaded b-pawn with the Queen. Is this doom?} 7. Nb3 {Now Black can possibly get the Queen out with 7...Bf5. It was certainly better than...} 7... a5 {...missing the threat.} 8. Bc1 {The Queen is trapped, she elopes with a Rook.} 8... Qxa1 9. Nxa1 {That is the Knight on a1 - which if you recall is why we are here.} 9... e5 10. Qxd5 f6 11. e4 Ne7 12. Bb5+ Nbc6 13. Qd3 Be6 14. c4 f5 15. Nb3 {The Knight heads off for h8.} 15... Rd8 16. Qc3 fxe4 17. Nxa5 {The 2nd move.} 17... Bd7 18. Nxb7 {Three moves in and it has not got off the a or b-files, will it make it in six moves.} 18... Ra8 19. Nd6+ {The 4th move.} 19... Kd8 20. Nf7+ {The 5th Move. Nearly there.} 20... Kc7 21. Nxh8 {a1 to h8 in six moves. White went onto win.}
Basically it’s because they are good.(if the duck was here, he would call
me ‘Einstein’ but he cannot speak because I’ve made him wear a mask.)
A few, a very few, have been born gifted and they have run with it from there.
Usually it’s takes experience, something that cannot be taught, and learning
from those experiences. Their ability to quickly read the board and see what
is going on or smell a trap and know what to do about it is experienced based.
Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian, India Rapid game 2019
Carlsen (to move) spent a wee while here. 1.a1=Q just wins. (see the first few moves)
but Carlsen sensed something. (maybe it was because Aronian had not yet resigned.)
Then he saw it (a clever drawing trap by Aronian) Carlsen defused the trap and won.
FEN
8/P4pkp/2Rp2p1/8/8/7P/1r3rP1/R5K1 w - - 0 34
[FEN "8/P4pkp/2Rp2p1/8/8/7P/1r3rP1/R5K1 w - - 0 34"] 34. a8=Q Rxg2+ 35. Kf1 Rbf2+ 36. Ke1 Re2+ 37. Kd1 Rd2+ 38. Kc1 {And there is no RC2+ A White win, but if we go back a few moves} 38... Rde2 39. Kd1 {Instead of checking d2 with a Rook how about...} 39... Ref2 {Threatening checkmate. White has to play Ke1 and allow the draw. Or try...} 40. Qa5 {White can block the check with Qe1 and come out of it a Rook up.} 40... Rf1+ {Correct but it is not White who comes out of this with a won Rook ending.} 41. Qe1 Rxe1+ 42. Kxe1 Rg1+ {And Rxa1 when Black has the win.} *
So what did happen back here: (White to move)
Remember this was a rapid game Aronian had seen the trick shot. Will Carlsen?
Here Carlsen remembered one of my blog war cries. ‘Pause Before Promoting,’
Shut up you! and put that mask back on.
Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian, India Rapid game 2019 (part 2)
FEN
8/P4pkp/2Rp2p1/8/8/7P/1r3rP1/R5K1 w - - 0 34
[FEN "8/P4pkp/2Rp2p1/8/8/7P/1r3rP1/R5K1 w - - 0 34"] 34. Rc2 {Carlsen played this because after.} 34... Rbxc2 35. a8=Q {The Queen covers g2. White will gladly give up the Queen for both Rooks.} 35... h5 36. Qe4 {Threat Qd4+ and Qxf2.} 36... Rce2 37. Qd4+ Rf6 {Else Qxf2.} 38. Rf1 Re5 39. Rxf6 Kxf6 40. Qxd6+ {Carlsen went onto win.}
So that’s it. The good guys are good because they look before leaping.
We now typically wrap up with some RHP games and Rooks on the 7th.
Dr. Brain - bohemia51 RHP 2020
FEN
6k1/5pp1/4p2p/P2p1n2/3P1P2/1N1R1Q1P/r1r3P1/1R4K1 w - - 0 39
[FEN "6k1/5pp1/4p2p/P2p1n2/3P1P2/1N1R1Q1P/r1r3P1/1R4K1 w - - 0 39"] 39. g4 Nh4 {Now play Qg3 which stops and the checks and run the a-pawn home.} 40. Qd1 {This allows Black to draw.} 40... Rg2+ 41. Kf1 {Black here played Raf2+ and went onto to lose.} 41... Rgf2+ {Checking with this Rook draws.} 42. Kg1 Rg2+ 43. Kf1 Rgf2+ 44. Kg1 Rg2+ 45. Kf1 Rgf2+ {Hang on I hear you say, why not play Ke1. When either Re2+ meets Qxe2 and wins} 46. Ke1 {O.O. We look at Ke1.} 46... Ng2 {Checkmate.}
Continuing with the Rooks on the 7th theme.
Epax - randr RHP 2019
FEN
2r5/p3Pk2/1p5p/3pRpp1/8/5PP1/r6P/3R2K1 w - - 0 33
[FEN "2r5/p3Pk2/1p5p/3pRpp1/8/5PP1/r6P/3R2K1 w - - 0 33"] 33. Rde1 Ke8 {White should play Rxf5 with the threat of Rf8+} 34. Re6 Rcc2 35. Rd6 {Black trusts White and takes the perpetual that Rooks on the 7th often bring about.} 35... Rg2+ 36. Kh1 Rxh2+ 37. Kg1 Rag2+ 38. Kf1 Rf2+ 39. Kg1 Rhg2+ {And the draw was agreed. But...} 40. Kh1 {Re2 wins as does...} 40... Rh2+ 41. Kg1 Rfg2+ 42. Kf1 Rh1+ 43. Kxg2 Rxe1 {A trick often missed. The good guys don't miss them.}
And finally a look at those who did not ‘Pause Before Promoting.’
In these next two examples White has dozens of way to win, all they need do is avoid
a checkmate in one move. But the thought of having an extra Queen was overpowering.
stitchley - Zachary Bales RHP 2020 (White to play)
White can even play 1.Qxg7+ and no matter how Black takes back 2.b1=Q wins.
(Check All Checks!) White promoted and you can guess what happened next.
tetjana - steve peach RHP 2020 (White to play)
Again White can pseudo sac their Queen to promote with a check and then
mate in a few moves. 1.Qh6+ etc. White promoted and was mated next move.
The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 189033 I have decided to leave the comments off as I have no way other than keep coming
back here to see if any have been made. Any corrections etc just use the above link.
