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dead man walking

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White to move and force mate. There are multiple solutions (as actually played OTB, it was mate in 8 moves, but also possible in 7). White may castle either side.

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Originally posted by moonbus
[fen]rn3rk1/pbppq1pp/1p2pb2/4N2Q/4N3/3B4/PPP2PPP/R3K2R w - - 0 1[/fen]

White to move and force mate. There are multiple solutions (as actually played OTB, it was mate in 8 moves, but also possible in 7). White may castle either side.
Qxh7+ ..Kxh7 Nxf6++ ..Kh8 Ng6#

Ooh actually King can run out to h6. Probably still mate though..

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
Qxh7+ ..Kxh7 Nxf6++ ..Kh8 Ng6#

Ooh actually King can run out to h6. Probably still mate though..
Yes, after the Q sac on h7, Kh8 is a quick and elegant death with 2 Ns. See if you can find the mate(s) if the K flees via h6.

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
Ooh actually King can run out to h6. Probably still mate though..
'Probably' won't do. Work it out properly - in your head! You've just thrown your Q. Was it sound, or fantasy? 'Probably sound '? I've lost OTB games with 'probably sound' sacs. So work it out - in your head :-)

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
Qxh7+ ..Kxh7 Nxf6++ ..Kh8 Ng6#

Ooh actually King can run out to h6. Probably still mate though..
OK, guys, I'll give you a hint: If the Black K flees via h6, then Neg4+. Keep checking the Black K with Ps and whatever you can throw at him, and walk him forward, into the rotating knives.... All of Black's moves are forced, so it can be worked out in your head. If you worked it out as far as Marinkatomb did, then you've got at most five and a half more moves to calculate (and at least one variation is shorter).

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it's Ed. Lasker- Sir Thomas John

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Originally posted by robbebop
it's Ed. Lasker- Sir Thomas John
Well spotted. Ed. Lasker - Sir George Thomas, actually. London 1912. Famous game. Sir George obligingly played on to the end, handing Lasker a glorious finish: White's K uncovers discovered mate.

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I spotted the game right away, not that long ago we were talking about this game on another site.

It is 'possibly' the most famous blitz game in chess history.

(A Korchnoi - Fischer blitz game appears in some opening books on the KID.
too date that is the only other I can think of with any form of clarity.
However young Carlsen is producing some recent nice blitz wins that will
no doubt get the treatment. I'll start it off by doing I do a thread on this game.)

The history of the Ed Lasker - Thomas is quite interesting.
Disputes as to the where and when, was it a blitz game, and what was
the exact move order.

Chaos in a Miniature by Edward Winter is a smashing read.

http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/laskerthomas.html

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Now that the cat is out of the bag, I guess I don't have to present the solution. For those who have not already worked it out for themselves, see the link in GP's post above. Next time I'll dig out a more obscure puzzle. Cheers.

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A good short video of the game



You know you're in chess heaven if you can give checkmate by castling.

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Originally posted by moonbus
Now that the cat is out of the bag, I guess I don't have to present the solution. For those who have not already worked it out for themselves, see the link in GP's post above. Next time I'll dig out a more obscure puzzle. Cheers.
The classics being timeless and beautiful are great anytime.