White to Play and Mate

Pete Tamburro on Jun 16, 2008

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A delightful king chase all across the board leads to this position, from Spielmann-Walter, 1928, which is a mate in five!

Solution:

This game is worth playing over just for learning the tactical tricks.

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qe2 Nxc3 6.dxc3 b6 7.Nd4 c5 8.e6 fxe6 [8...cxd4 9.Qb5+ Bd7 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.Qxd5+ e6 12.Qxa8] 9.Qh5+ Kd7 [9...g6 10.Qe5 cxd4 11.Qxh8] 10.Nf3 Kc7 11.Ne5 Bd7 12.Nf7 Qe8 13.Qe5+ Kb7 14.Bf4 c4 15.Qc7+ Ka6 16.Nd8 Nc6

And now our solution ...

17.Qb7+ Kb5 18.a4+ Kc5 [The game went a shorter way. The best defense lasted one more move: 18...Ka5 19.Nxc6+ Bxc6 20.b4+ cxb3 21.Qa6# The queen is protected!] 19.Qxc6+ Bxc6 20.Nxe6#

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.