White to Play and Mate
Published in Chess Puzzles
Here's a position from a game just seven moves old! Black hasn't made any efficient effort to castle, so his king is stuck in the center. Most experienced chess players will look for a mate here before seeing if they can just win material. The position just has that sort of feel to it. See if you can find it. Remember, they have to be forcing moves. Don't give Black a choice unless it's mate!
Solution:
The game started this way-- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 exd4 6.Qxd4 Bd7 7.Ng5 Nc6
And now the final mating attack unfolds:
8.Bf7+ Ke7 9.Qxf6+ Kxf6 [9...gxf6 10.Nd5#] 10.Nd5+ Ke5 11.Nf3+ Kxe4 12.Nc3#
The final position is quite picturesque! Based on a game by J.H. Blake in the 1930s.
Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.
Comments