Mate in 4.

It's not too often that puzzles like these come up in a game.

Black to move. Mate in 4.



No PMs please. See if you can figure it out, then check the solution: Game 4083693

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
It's not too often that puzzles like these come up in a game.

Black to move. Mate in 4.

[fen]r1b2rk1/5pbp/1q1p2p1/p2P4/1pN1PPn1/1N1Q4/1P4PP/R1B1R2K b - - 5 18[/fen]

No PMs please. See if you can figure it out, then check the solution: Game 4083693

Philidors Legacy.

... and its quite common!

Originally posted by wolfgang59
Philidors Legacy.

... and its quite common!

Sure, its a famous mating pattern, but how often has it occured in your games?

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
Sure, its a famous mating pattern, but how often has it occured in your games?

Not my game, but even Thread 91337 shows the pattern in a blitz game between fairly low-rated players. [And someone linked a game with much higher-rated players at the end.]

Originally posted by SwissGambit
Not my game, but even Thread 91337 shows the pattern in a blitz game between fairly low-rated players. [And someone linked a game with much higher-rated players at the end.]

Sorry. I didn't read that thread. Looks like your typical RHP squabble/flame war. I'm sure in the universe of chess games, there are many, many examples of smothered mate. But even Dragon Fire's link in that thread is to a game on another site. Anyone know of (non-blitz) examples at RHP?

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
Sorry. I didn't read that thread. Looks like your typical RHP squabble/flame war. I'm sure in the universe of chess games, there are many, many examples of smothered mate. But even Dragon Fire's link in that thread is to a game on another site. Anyone know of (non-blitz) examples at RHP?

I wasn't asking you to read the thread; I specifically pointed out where the games were in the thread to try and save you that trouble.

Of course the mate will be more rare in non-blitz situations. Most corr. players will see the threat easily and either defend it, or resign if there is no good defense.

Originally posted by Gatecrasher
Sure, its a famous mating pattern, but how often has it occured in your games?

Didnt mean to dis you! Actually getting the mate is rare but the threat of it is quite common.

I've actually had the mate twice; once years ago OTB and once against my old Kasparov Galileo.

Nice game btw!