Daily Puzzle Analysis for Wednesday 4.1.26
It’s Time for a Wednesday puzzle!
Legend: (Color Version)
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Observations in Yellow
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Strategies in Purple
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Responses (Unforced, Anticipated or Actual) in Orange
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Fails (Potential or Actual) in Red
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Successes (Potential or Actual) in Green
On setting up the board, we observe:
* We are down a Rook.
* There are no Bishops.
* We are up a kNight.
* We both have Queens.
* We are equal on Pawns.
* We have an immediate checking opportunity with Qg8+, but it’s a Queen sac.
* We have an immediate checking opportunity with Nf7+.
* With no escape squares, there is definitely a King Trap.
* It is our turn to move.
* The puzzle’s title is “Not a Smothered Mate”
* It is Wednesday.
* It is April Fool’s Day.
The above observations inform potential strategies:
Of our two immediate checking opportunities:
Opening with Qg8+ forces either Rxg8, Nxg8 or Kxg8.
-----If Rxg8, we can Nf7#.
-----If Nxg8, we can Nf7#.
-----If Kxg8 however, we’ve have no follow up check, so that makes opening with Qg8+ a no go.
Opening with Nf7+ forces Kg8, as a kNight check cannot be blocked, and Black has no option to capture our attacker.
-----We could follow with Nd6+, forcing either Kh8 , Kf8, or Nd5 in response.
----------In all of these scenarios we could then Nxc8, winning Black’s Rook, and material advantage. That’s certainly a material gain solution. We’ve gone from down 2 points of material to up 3 points of material. It is certainly possible that from here we could win the game. But I’m not convinced that it’s the best plan. I see a better follow up check to our opening play. Let’s explore how that plays out...
Opening with Nf7+ forces Kg8.
-----We can alternately follow with Ng6++, a double check from both our kNight and Queen, this forces either Kh8 or Kf8.
----------If Kh8, we can now Qg8+, forcing either Rxg8 or Nxg8, as Kxg8 is prevented by our kNight’s protection.
---------------In either scenario, we can now deliver a smothered mate with Nf7#, excellent.
----------If Kf8, we can Qf7#, golden.
Ok, it’s a plan – but how could it fail?
Well, today we open with a forcing move, allowing for only one response option. Then we play a 2nd forcing move, allowing for two response options. If response 1, we play a 3rd forcing move allowing for 2 response options. In either response option 1a or 1b, we deliver checkmate. If response 2, we deliver checkmate. This plan can’t fail.
Ok, but is there a BETTER PLAN?
There is no better plan than checkmate, certainly not material gain.
Confident in my plan, I set the board aside and engage with the puzzle online.
Nf7+ is correct, and Black is forced to Kg8.
Nh6++ is incorrect, the puzzle notes there’s a better move. I’m confused. What have I missed here? Our double check cannot be blocked, nor can both attackers be captured, so this forces a King move. Black’s King has only 2 options, Kh8, and Kf8.
-----If Kf8, we Qf7#, that’s a certainty.
-----If Kh8, we can Qg8+. Since our kNight covers the g8 square, Black’s King cannot capture. And with no escape options, Black must capture with either their Rook or their kNight. Oh darn it, now I’m seeing it. If Nxg8, our Nf7# fails to Qxf7. HA! Got me, and on April Fool’s Day no less. Material gain solution it is then.
Nd6+ is correct, and Black chooses to Kh8.
Nxc8 is correct, and the PUZZLE IS SOLVED!
A Wily Wednesday puzzle from a mystery puzzler.
Have a great day everyone. 
