King Hunt

Following the recent mate in 9 thread Thread 90174, here's another chance to find a forced mate ...

Black to play and force mate...




It's pretty tough - I failed to solve it anyway. The answer - and a clue/easier version of the puzzle - can be found here:-

http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.com/2008/03/king-hunt.html


btw: the position comes from Hoffman-Petroff, Warsaw 1844 and I found it in Nunn/Cozens' book "The King Hunt"

Originally posted by JonathanB of London
Following the recent mate in 9 thread Thread 90174, here's another chance to find a forced mate ...

[b]Black to play and force mate...

[fen]r1bN1rk1/pppp2pp/8/2bnP3/8/6K1/PB4PP/RN1Q3R[/fen]


It's pretty tough - I failed to solve it anyway. The answer - and a clue/easier version of the puzzle - can be found here:-

h ...[text shortened]... comes from Hoffman-Petroff, Warsaw 1844 and I found it in Nunn/Cozens' book "The King Hunt"[/b]

I must be missing something...

1... Bf2+
2 Kg4 d6+
if
3 Kh5 Nf4+
4 Kg5 h6#
if
3 Kg5 h6+
4 Kg6 (or Kh5) Nf4#

1... Bf2+
2 Kh3 d6+
3 Qg4 Nf4#

1... Bf2+
2 Kh3 d6+
3 g4 Nf4#

Originally posted by Green Paladin
1... Bf2+
2 Kh3 d6+
3 g4 Nf4#

OK,
1. ... Bf2+
2. Kh3 d6+

is correct but what about

3. e6

Originally posted by Green Paladin
I must be missing something...

yep - see my post above.

Doh! All right, let me give this a bit more thought.

How about this?

1... Bf2+
2 Kh3 d6+
3 e6 Nf4+
4 Kg4 Nxe6
5 Nxe6 Bxe6+
6 Kg5 h6+
7 Kh5 Rf5+
8 Kg4 Rf6+
9 Kh5 g6+
10 Kxh6 Be3#

6... h6+
7 Kg6 Bf5+
8 Kh5 g6+
9 Kxh6 Be3#

6 Kh5 g6+
7 Kh6 Be3#

Originally posted by Green Paladin
How about this?

1... Bf2+
2 Kh3 d6+
3 e6 Nf4+
4 Kg4 Nxe6
5 Nxe6 Bxe6+
6 Kg5 h6+
7 Kh5 Rf5+
8 Kg4 Rf6+
9 Kh5 g6+
10 Kxh6 Be3#

nice one. :-)

Petroff mated two moves faster if you want to keep looking but obviously your way is good enough!

btw:
Hoffman-Petroff reached your positoin after the 5th move (via a different move order). Seem to remember reading Black could have improved and held out a couple of moves longer but can't remember how. I wont have access to the book for a couple of days. I'll post the solution when I can.

7... Rf5+
8 Kg6 Rg5#



Whew! Thanks. 🙂

Originally posted by Green Paladin
7... Rf5+
8 Kg6 Rg5#



Whew! Thanks. 🙂

but if 8. Kg4 it goes on a bit longer...

I told you it was tough :-)

Originally posted by JonathanB of London
but if 8. Kg4 it goes on a bit longer...

I told you it was tough :-)

My first solution gives 8 Kg4. This is just a variation.

Edit: The variation below wasn't in response to your post... we posted at the same time then I edited mine. Sorry for the confusion.

7... Rf5+
8 Kg6 Rg5#