White to Play and Mate

Pete Tamburro on Jun 29, 2008

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This position is quite a challenge ... it's a "king hunt" of classic proportions by the extraordinarily talented late world champion, Alexander Alekhine. It does teach the very important lesson of getting the opponent's king out in the open to snare him in your mating net. This is another one for your chessboard, and don't hesitate to move the pieces around the first time through. We feel compelled to add, though, that Alekhine was playing 19 other games at the same time when he announced the whole mating line from this position!

Solution:

1.Qh5+ Nxh5 2.fxe6+ Kg6 3.Bc2+ Kg5 4.Rf5+ Kg6 [4...Kg4 5.h3+ Kg3 (5...Kh4 6.Re4+ Kg3 (6...Nf4 7.Rexf4+ Kg3 8.Rg4#) 7.Rg4#) 6.Rxh5 Bxe6 7.Re3+ Kf4 8.Rf3#] 5.Rf6+ Kg5 6.Rg6+ Kh4 7.Re4+ Nf4 8.Rxf4+ [8.g3+ Kh5 9.Rxf4 Bxe6 10.Rh4#] 8...Kh5 9.g3 Bxe6 10.Rh4#

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.