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Daily Puzzle Analysis for Thursday 3.19.26

Daily Puzzle Analysis for Thursday 3.19.26

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BrandOfAmber
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It’s time for a Thursday Puzzle!

If anyone has any trouble with the colors below, please DM @Nacl_y_K9 or myself for instructions on how to make the analysis easier to read.

Legend:

  • Observations in Yellow

  • Strategies in Purple

  • Responses (Unforced, Anticipated or Actual) in Orange

  • Fails (Potential or Actual) in Red

  • Successes (Potential or Actual) in Green

On setting up the board, we observe:

* We are Equal on Rooks.

* We are Equal on Bishops.

* We are down a kNight.

* We both have Queens.

* We are up a Pawn.

* We have an immediate checking opportunity with Bbxf1+, but it’s a Bishop sac.

* We have an immediate checking opportunity with Rexe1+, but it’s a Rook sac.

* White’s King has one escape square, so there is definitely a King Trap.

* It is our turn to move.

* The puzzle’s title is “BlindSided”.

* It is Thursday.

The above observations inform potential strategies:

We are down a minor piece, so either we’ll need to win 2 minor pieces or a Queen, or this is a checkmate puzzle. Being that we have White’s King pretty well trapped, my instinct is that it’s the latter.

Of our two immediate checking opportunities:

Opening with Rexe1+ forces Raxe1.

-----We are now left with only Bxf2+ as our only follow up check, which forces either Kxf2, or Kh1.

-----If Kxf2, we can Qd4+, but White’s King can escape with Ke2.

----------We can follow with Qe5+, but White can escape again with Kd2, where he can defend his remaining Rook, which is now attacking our Queen.

---------------We could Rdxd5+, but this fails to either Nxd5 or Bfxd5.

We could continue checking with our Queen, but at this point we’re down to a Queen and a Bishop against a Queen, 2 Bishops, a kNight and a Rook. I’m calling this a no go.

As the Kxf2 response option fails, so does opening with Rexe1.

Opening with Bbxf2+ forces either Kxf2, or Kh1.

-----If Kxf2, we can Qd4#, but this fails to Qxd4, that’s a no go.

-----If Kxf2, we could instead Qxf3, but this allows for Kxf3. Not only have we now lost our Queen, we have no follow up. We could Ree3+, but that fails too. This is a no go.

-----If Kxf2, we could alternately Re2+, which is forcing, but which allows for multiple responses, including Kg1, Kxe2, Rexe2, Bfxe2, and Nxe2. That’s a lot of options. This also looks like a no go.

-----If Kxf2, we could Qb6+, forcing Re3.

----------We can now Qxd3#.

 

-----If Kh1, we can Qxf2+, forcing Kg1.

----------We can now Qg2#.


Gotcha.

 

Ok, it’s a plan – but how could it fail?

Today we open with a forcing move, allowing for two response options. If response 1, we deliver checkmate. If response 2, we then play a 2nd forcing move allowing only a single response. We then deliver checkmate. This plan cannot fail.

 

Ok, so is there a BETTER PLAN?

Well there is no better plan than checkmate, and this plan assures it.

Confident in my plan, I set the board aside and engage with the puzzle online.


Bbxf2+ is correct, and White chooses to Kxf2.

 

Qb6+ is correct, and White is forced to Re3.

 

Qxe3# is correct, and the PUZZLE IS SOLVED!!!


A thoughtful Thursday puzzle from a @Clomiet.

 

Have an awesome day everyone!