Interestingly, in the Redmike-richardcjennings game, Black could have won it a few moves earlier, and much more simply than he probably believed. White moved out of check to the wrong square, and then...
[SetUp "1"] [FEN "4Q3/2PR4/2r5/8/1k1K4/8/p7/8 b - - 0 1"]
1... a1=Q+ 2. Kd5 Rc5+ 3. Kd6 Qd4+ 4. Ke7 Qh4+ 5. Kf8 {Wrong square. Back to e7 should (ignoring Black's blunder later on) have kept him alive longer, and who knows, might even have resulted in a 3-repeat draw.} Qh8+ {"Check all checks" is the Greenpawn motto. Black, here, only checked one and, in the game itself, gave check on h6 instead..} 6. Kf7 Rf5+ 7. Kg6 {If the king goes to the e-line, it's mate on f6. But now...} 7... Rf6+ {...now we have an SMP.} 8. Kg5 Qh6+ 9. Kg4 Rf4+ 10. Kg3 Qh4+ {Note that the success of this pattern, in this situation, relies on the white queen being on the wrong colour to stop the cascade. It's almost go rather than chess, this.} 11. Kg2 Rf2+ 12. Kg1 Qh2# 0-1
(Edit: Would I have spotted this if it had been my game and my move? Fat chance...)
Had an inkling Black may have a mate in there if he went to wrong square.
Was more interested in what ghosts he was seeing.
He appears to have become fixated with that c-pawn and not looking any further.
Though you are right, sniffing it out OTB would have been a toughie.
The Queen and Rook Tango with the King is good.
(Before anyone asks. SMP = Standard Mating Pattern).
Chess and ESP + Pawn Races
14 Aug '11 01:22
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