White to Play
Published in Chess Puzzles
Here’s another “how did they get there” position, so, again, you get to see the whole game. White has several ways to mate here. Pick the most spectacular!
From a game won by von Gottschall: 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. d4 g4 5. Ne5 Qh4+ 6. g3 fxg3 7. Qxg4 g2+ 8.Qxh4 gxh1=Q 9. Be3 Be7 10. Qf4 Nf6 11. Nc3 d6 12. O-O-O dxe5 13. dxe5 Nfd7 (Black's first mistake. Better was 13... Nh5 14. Qf2 Nc6 15. Be2 Qxd1+ 16. Bxd1 Ng7) 14. Bc4 (Objectively better was 14. Nd5 Bd8 15. Bc4 Qxd1+ 16. Kxd1 Rf8 17.Be2)14... Qg2 (Black should have parted with the queen to defend better: 14...Qxd1+ 15. Kxd1 Rf8) 15. Bxf7+ (Quicker was 15. Qxf7+ Kd8 16. Nd5 Nc6 17. Nf4)15... Kd8 16. e6 Bd6 17. e5 (Missing a decisive shot: 17. Rxd6 cxd6 18. Nd5 although what's played works, too.) 17... Be7 18. Nd5 Nc6 19. Nxe7 Nxe7 20.Qf6 Rf8 SEE DIAGRAM 21. Qxe7+ (Equally good are 21. Rxd7+ and 21. Bc5 but sacrificing a queen is always fun!) 21... Kxe7 22. Rxd7+ Bxd7 23. Bc5+ Kd8 24. e7+ and Black Resigned because of Kc8 25. exf8=Q+ Be8 26. Qxe8#
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