01 Apr '12 08:51>
I just finished a blitz game, and this was the final position. I was black.
I actually was forced to resign the game here, because my opponent was a guest and was lagging badly ( He had flagged plus a minute more negative time , and I couldn't abort or adjourn).
I had been planning to meet 1.Qb4 with a nice move, and it's a shame I didn't get to play it.
Here I planned the dynamic 1. ... Ba6!
This being a blitz game, I only really analyzed one move for white-the promoting threat 2.b7. (It's not best.)
White is in a forced mating net! (In 8 !!!)
Stop right here and try to find the mate before you scroll down!
I am (intentionally) inserting a blank diagram to give the solution a little space.
Honestly, I hadn't worked all of this out from here, but I did see a fascinating variation for black (which follows).
2. ... Re2+!
3.Kf1
3. ... Qxd1+
4.Kg2
Here it looks like black is in a lot of trouble. The queen is under attack, and the threat of b8 is also very strong. Black, however, lands a nice shot.
Next is the last move that I saw in my calculations. I just assumed that black would have at least a draw or at best a beautiful mating combinations. It's a real shame that none of this actually got played.
4. ... Rxf2+!
5.Kxf2 (*5.Kg3 see later)
Here, there are two paths to choose. In my post game analysis, my first choice was 5. ... Qe2+ 6.Kg3 (6.Kg1 Qf1+ 7.Kh2 Qf2 mate) 6. ... Qf3+ 7.Kh4 (7.Kh2 Qf2 mate again).
Unfortunately, here black does not have an immediate mate, but there are some fun variations.
7. ... Qf2+ 8.Kh5 (8.Kg5 Qf6+ 9.Kh5 Qh6 mate) 9. ... g6+
10.Kh6 (not 10.Kg5 h6 mate)
Black is still won, but the mate has slipped away!
The correct response to 5.Kxf2 is much simpler.
5. ...Qf3+ !! is the way to go.
6.Kg1 (6.Ke1 Qe2 mate)
6. ... Qg3 mate
*
The rook sacrifice (and acceptance) was the fascinating part for me, but there is one more variation to be complete. I didn not even consider ...
5.Kg3
Black mates here too, but it takes longer.
5. ... Qf3+
6.Kh4
And here 6. ... Qf6+ sets up another pretty variation.
7.g5 (7.Kh5 Qh6 mate) and 7.Kg3 are left.
First 7.g5
7. ... Rf4+! ( another superb rook sac ! )
8.Kh5 Be2 mate / 8.exf4 Qxf4+ 9.Kh5 Be2 mate / 8.Kg3
8. ... Qxg5+ 9.Kh2 Rf2 mate
Now, White's other 7th move ...
7.Kg3
What analysis would be complete without yet another rook sacrifice ?!!!
7. ... Rg2+!
8.Kxg2
8. ... Qf3+
9.Kg1 (9.Kh2 Qf2 mate)
9. ... Qg3 mate
It is amazing to me that so many variations can all lead to the same or a very similar final mating position (with just two black pieces!). White's king is really just too loose and completely ripped open after 4. ...Rxf2+!! .
I hope you enjoy this fascinating tactical sequence as much as I did, when I discovered it.
I actually was forced to resign the game here, because my opponent was a guest and was lagging badly ( He had flagged plus a minute more negative time , and I couldn't abort or adjourn).
I had been planning to meet 1.Qb4 with a nice move, and it's a shame I didn't get to play it.
Here I planned the dynamic 1. ... Ba6!
This being a blitz game, I only really analyzed one move for white-the promoting threat 2.b7. (It's not best.)
White is in a forced mating net! (In 8 !!!)
Stop right here and try to find the mate before you scroll down!
I am (intentionally) inserting a blank diagram to give the solution a little space.
Honestly, I hadn't worked all of this out from here, but I did see a fascinating variation for black (which follows).
2. ... Re2+!
3.Kf1
3. ... Qxd1+
4.Kg2
Here it looks like black is in a lot of trouble. The queen is under attack, and the threat of b8 is also very strong. Black, however, lands a nice shot.
Next is the last move that I saw in my calculations. I just assumed that black would have at least a draw or at best a beautiful mating combinations. It's a real shame that none of this actually got played.
4. ... Rxf2+!
5.Kxf2 (*5.Kg3 see later)
Here, there are two paths to choose. In my post game analysis, my first choice was 5. ... Qe2+ 6.Kg3 (6.Kg1 Qf1+ 7.Kh2 Qf2 mate) 6. ... Qf3+ 7.Kh4 (7.Kh2 Qf2 mate again).
Unfortunately, here black does not have an immediate mate, but there are some fun variations.
7. ... Qf2+ 8.Kh5 (8.Kg5 Qf6+ 9.Kh5 Qh6 mate) 9. ... g6+
10.Kh6 (not 10.Kg5 h6 mate)
Black is still won, but the mate has slipped away!
The correct response to 5.Kxf2 is much simpler.
5. ...Qf3+ !! is the way to go.
6.Kg1 (6.Ke1 Qe2 mate)
6. ... Qg3 mate
*
The rook sacrifice (and acceptance) was the fascinating part for me, but there is one more variation to be complete. I didn not even consider ...
5.Kg3
Black mates here too, but it takes longer.
5. ... Qf3+
6.Kh4
And here 6. ... Qf6+ sets up another pretty variation.
7.g5 (7.Kh5 Qh6 mate) and 7.Kg3 are left.
First 7.g5
7. ... Rf4+! ( another superb rook sac ! )
8.Kh5 Be2 mate / 8.exf4 Qxf4+ 9.Kh5 Be2 mate / 8.Kg3
8. ... Qxg5+ 9.Kh2 Rf2 mate
Now, White's other 7th move ...
7.Kg3
What analysis would be complete without yet another rook sacrifice ?!!!
7. ... Rg2+!
8.Kxg2
8. ... Qf3+
9.Kg1 (9.Kh2 Qf2 mate)
9. ... Qg3 mate
It is amazing to me that so many variations can all lead to the same or a very similar final mating position (with just two black pieces!). White's king is really just too loose and completely ripped open after 4. ...Rxf2+!! .
I hope you enjoy this fascinating tactical sequence as much as I did, when I discovered it.