White to Play
Pete Tamburro
on
Published in Chess Puzzles
Solution:
White squirms out with: 1.Qb8+ Kb6 [Embarrassing is 1...Kxb8 2.Bd6#] 2.Qa7+ Kc7 [Equally embarrassing is 2...Kb5 3.Qc5+ Ka6 4.Bc1#] 3.Qb8+ with a perpetual check. That was cute. In taking a closer look it’s worth pointing out that 1.hxg3 Bh3! wins for Black because the bishop vacates the c8 square disallowing the perpetual. White could also draw with the unexpected 1.h4 gxf2+ [1...Bh3 2.Bc5! Bxf1 3.Qb6+ Kd7 4.Qxb7+ Ke6 5.Qxc6+ Kf5 6.Qd7+ Kg6 7.Rxf1 Qf3 8.Qh3; 1...Qf3 2.Qb8+] 2.Rxf2 Rg8+ 3.Kh1 Qxf2 4.Qb8+ and we’re back to the queen perpetual.
Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.