03 Jan 08
2 edits
Originally posted by Chesswick1.Qf6+!! Nxf6 2.Be7# I think
[fen]2rk2n1/3p1pNp/3B3b/pp1NP3/q6p/P2P1Q1R/KP2n3/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]
White to move.
If/when you solve it, please specify what it was in the position that you recognized.
I just stared at it for a while, took me between 30 seconds and a minute to see the serious mate threat and the black kings very limited escape squares (0), after that the queen sac was easy to find. I think it was just a matter of finding what kind of tactic it was (mating) and then using the combinational skills that I have...
I'm really not sure.
BTW: It took me between one and two minutes to solve.
03 Jan 08
Originally posted by cmsMasterCorrect. The only other line, 1. Qf6+ Ne7 2. Qxe7# is pretty silly.
1.Qf6+!! Nxf6 2.Be7# I think
I just stared at it for a while, took me between 30 seconds and a minute to see the serious mate threat and the black kings very limited escape squares (0), after that the queen sac was easy to find. I think it was just a matter of finding what kind of tactic it was (mating) and then using the combinational skills that I have...
I'm really not sure.
There's a little more to the position that I was wondering if people noticed. I'll let a few more reply before I point it out. What prompted me to post this position was that I noticed the position itself before the actual tactical possibility.
03 Jan 08
1 edit
Originally posted by ChesswickHm, the only other thing I noticed is that white has a couple of pretty good options...although I didn't really analyze them, so they might just appear to be good.
Correct. The only other line, 1. Qf6+ Ne7 2. Qxe7# is pretty silly.
There's a little more to the position that I was wondering if people noticed. I'll let a few more reply before I point it out. What prompted me to post this position was that I noticed the position itself before the actual tactical possibility.
03 Jan 08
Originally posted by Chesswickprobably it's the knight fork you're talking about. then it seems black can save the day with ...Nc3+. if white takes, black mates using both the rook and the queen before the knight may capture one of them, (I may be wrong) and if the king escapes to a1, black can save his material by ...Qc2 perhaps?
Correct. The only other line, 1. Qf6+ Ne7 2. Qxe7# is pretty silly.
There's a little more to the position that I was wondering if people noticed. I'll let a few more reply before I point it out. What prompted me to post this position was that I noticed the position itself before the actual tactical possibility.
03 Jan 08
2 edits
Originally posted by diskamylI don't see a strong continuation for black after Ka1.
probably it's the knight fork you're talking about. then it seems black can save the day with ...Nc3+. if white takes, black mates using both the rook and the queen before the knight may capture one of them, (I may be wrong) and if the king escapes to a1, black can save his material by ...Qc2 perhaps?
03 Jan 08
Ok, well, I'm quite sure this will be anticlimactic to many of you, but schakuhr already hinted at it, so...
I too had seen almost this exact position (at least the same arrangement of mating material, king position, etc.). It's from Anderssen - Kieseritzky, London 1851, the so-called "Immortal Game." The actual position isn't of course, but as I said, the mate is nearly so.
I was just surprised that the memory of the actual game took precedence over the position itself.
04 Jan 08
Originally posted by ChesswickQ6+ Nxf6 Be7#
[fen]2rk2n1/3p1pNp/3B3b/pp1NP3/q6p/P2P1Q1R/KP2n3/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]
White to move.
If/when you solve it, please specify what it was in the position that you recognized.
5 secs, and it took so long only because I thought it would be a hard one. these kind of elementary mates should be recognized instantly. the king is boxed, and just waiting for the final blow.
04 Jan 08
Originally posted by ChesswickTime: 15 seconds. This position illustrates the concept of the overworked piece. The solution is: 1. Qf6+ Nxf6 2. Be7#. When examining the position, one notices that the two Knights and the Bishop could mate if the Bishop could go to e7 -- except the Black Knight guards that square. Since the Black Knight is also responsible for guarding the f6 square to prevent the White Queen from delivering mate at f6, it is overworked. The Queen checks at f6 forcing Black to recapture with the Knight that was responsible for defending against the mate on e7.
[fen]2rk2n1/3p1pNp/3B3b/pp1NP3/q6p/P2P1Q1R/KP2n3/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]
White to move.
If/when you solve it, please specify what it was in the position that you recognized.
04 Jan 08
Originally posted by wormwoodSorry to disappoint. 🙂 I agree it's simple, but I was curious whether or not people identified with the position from the Immortal Game or not.
Q6+ Nxf6 Be7#
5 secs, and it took so long only because I thought it would be a hard one. these kind of elementary mates should be recognized instantly. the king is boxed, and just waiting for the final blow.