White to Play and Mate

Pete Tamburro on Jul 15, 2008

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We have talked a great deal about looking for moves that force your opponent to certain squares, thus limiting the mobility of the king, for example, when you're trying to mate his highness. We've also talked a great deal about the value of a check. I hope you'll take all this to heart in solving this spectacular finish to a real game won by Hartlaub in 1930.

Solution:

The main line given is the one chosen by Testa, Hartlaub's opponent, and we should thank him for it as it is the prettiest one. The alternatives are fascinating as well. This is an exceptionally instructive mating attack and shows what happens when the Black castled position has no defenders in front of the pawns and White has open lines to hammer away at the pawns. This is really worth playing through a couple of times in your head.

1.Rxg7+ Kxg7 [1...Kh8 2.Rxh7+ Kxh7 3.Qh4+ Kg6 4.Rg1+ Ng4 5.Rxg4+ Qxg4 6.Qxg4+ Kh6 7.Qg7+ Kh5 8.Be2+ Kh4 9.Qg4#] 2.Rg1+ Kh8 [2...Kh6 3.Qh4#; 2...Kf6 3.Qh4+ Kf5 4.Qf2+ Ke4 5.Re1#] 3.Qxe5+ dxe5 4.Bxe5+ f6 5.Bxf6+ Rxf6 [5...Qg7 6.Bxg7#] 6.Rg8#

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.