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Mate in 8!

Mate in 8!

Posers and Puzzles

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Originally posted by schakuhr
yeah but how did the black light-squared bishop get out of his normal spot?
It escaped after bxa6 and before c7-c6.

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Originally posted by phgao
I can find Mate in 9.



1. Qf7+ Kd8
2. Ne6+ Kc8
3. Nc5 Rd8
4. Bd3 Bf1
5. Bxf1 Rb8
6. Bxa6+ Rb7
7. Qb3 Re8
8. Qxb7+ Kd8
9. Qxd7#
I haven't checked for other possible solutions, but yours works if you tweak the finale.

2 edits
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Originally posted by craigy
I haven't checked for other possible solutions, but yours works if you tweak the finale.
How would you tweak the finale?
We need mate in 8.

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Originally posted by phgao
How would you tweak the finale?
We need mate in 8.
With 7. Bxb7+ followed by mate.

2 edits
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Originally posted by craigy
With 7. Bxb7+ followed by mate.
Please write the line, I don't seem to follow you.

We get:

7. Bxb7+ Kb8
8. Qb3 a6
9. Bxa6+ Ka7
10. Qb7#

Were you thinking of 8. Na6+? But Kxb6...

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Originally posted by phgao
Please write the line, I don't seem to follow you.

We get:

7. Bxb7+ Kb8
8. Qb3 a6
9. Bxa6+ Ka7
10. Qb7#

Were you thinking of 8. Na6+? But Kxb6...
8. Qxd8#

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Originally posted by phgao
Please write the line, I don't seem to follow you.

We get:

7. Bxb7+ Kb8
8. Qb3 a6
9. Bxa6+ Ka7
10. Qb7#

Were you thinking of 8. Na6+? But Kxb6...
Doh! my mistake, I mixed up some lines in my analysis.

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THUDandBLUNDER is right.
1.Qb7! Rd8 2.Qb3 Ra8 3.Bd3 Rh1+ 4.Bb1 Rh8 5.Qc3 and the rest is pretty much obvious.

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Originally posted by ilywrin
THUDandBLUNDER is right.
1.Qb7! Rd8 2.Qb3 Ra8 3.Bd3 Rh1+ 4.Bb1 Rh8 5.Qc3 and the rest is pretty much obvious.
4...Rh8 leads to the third repetition of position!

Rumor has it that this problem forced FIDE to change the definition of the threefold repetition to include castling rights. If castling rights are not included, the game would be declared a draw even though white has a forced mate.

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1.Bd3 seems to cover the kings escape. If i had a board handy i'd work it out properly...

1 edit
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Originally posted by marinakatomb
1.Bd3 seems to cover the kings escape. If i had a board handy i'd work it out properly...
1. Bd3 Rh1+
2. Bb1 O-O-O (or 2.......RxB 3. O-O-O) and a quick mate looks highly unlikely.

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Nh7 might work. Not sure if it leads to forced mate but it looks pretty promising.

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Originally posted by GalaxyShield
Nh7 might work. Not sure if it leads to forced mate but it looks pretty promising.
1.Nh7? has already been tried - look at page 1 of this thread.

The solution to the problem has also been posted in the thread.