Chess Puzzle #19992

CHESS PUZZLE #19992

Added by:	kingdawar
Added on:	03-Jan-10
Description:	Composed by Walther Freiherr von Holzhausen, Deutsches Wochenschach 1914.
Difficulty:	online chess puzzle #19992
Attempts:	696
Solved:	48 (6%)


White to move, mate in 4

Comments: (10) » Last

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123cro
14-Mar-13, 03:16

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It doesn't occur to be easy even to determine the right way to follow, since the position of the black Bishop can be considered decisive in preventing such a choice, and, from the other side, the Rooks are at advantageous position to be of a certain interest. And after it, besides that it needs some efforts to realize that the main problem of the white is not to allow the Black Queen to check, you are to find the way how to avoid it, for it cannot be prevented in any variant except the right one; yet to sacrifice the two Rooks you are to display nerve. Very difficult, at least for me it is.

andrew_chaz
14-Mar-13, 07:24

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very diffult puzzle.

my initial thought was to simply block the path of the bishop with pawn to d5. however black could postpone this to mate in 5. Was unable to solve without use of hint

rickypr18
14-Mar-13, 08:35

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I thought the solution was the pawn to d5, but didn't see that it would take more than 4 moves to accomplish checkmate with 1. d5

jrdfld
14-Mar-13, 09:43

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I was having a lot of trouble, but as soon as I used the hint to see which piece I had to move the answer was obvious.

mtnmike
14-Mar-13, 10:23

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must be blind.

so why does 1. Rf3 not work?

kingdawar
14-Mar-13, 10:30

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1. ... Qc2+ mtnmike

mtnmike
14-Mar-13, 10:38

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thank you.

tried entering it as an alternate solution and figured it out. good puzzle.

ruser0084
14-Mar-13, 12:24

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Proposed alternate solution

Hello,

rickypr18 I do believe that pawn to d5 would result in a mate since each of the series of ensuing moves would require a retaliation on the part of the opponent lest checkmate occur.

turn 1
(White)Pawn to d5 requires a response of either queen to g7 or bishop to d5.
turn 2
If black made bishop to d5 then (white) pawn to d5 requires queen to g7 (if not taken last turn) since it is the only move which prevents mate on white's next turn. If black made queen to g7 last turn then king simply takes queen rendering the rest of black's moves ineffective in preventing or delaying mate as white may move queen to c6.
turn3
black moving bishop to d5 results in white moving pawn to d5 returning the board to the state in which white was poised to mate black.Regardless of what black does (black's bishop is pinned) black will be mated If black choose now to execute queen to g7 the situation is in the same position achieved in turn 2.
turn 4
White to c6 mates

mtnmike
14-Mar-13, 12:52

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ruser0084

black can respond 1. ... Qf6 followed by 2. ... Be4+ after white takes black queen. will take 5 moves to mate.

ruser0084
14-Mar-13, 16:44

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Thank you

Thank you for pointing out the flaw in my plan....Next time there will be no meddling queens to foil my plot ( maniacal laughter slowly fades)

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CHESS PUZZLE #19992