Daily Puzzle Analysis for Wednesday 4.29.26

It’s time for a Wednesday Puzzle!

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 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 Nd7++, a fork of Black’s King and Rook, which reveals a discovered attack from our Queen on the b file.

* We have an immediate checking opportunity with Qh8+.

* We have an immediate checking opportunity with Qd8+.

* We have a pawn downfield on the d file.

* Black has a pawn downfield on the h file, ready to promote, but blocked by their Queen.

* Our kNight is under threat of capture.

* Black’s King has but 1 escape squares, and there looks to be a King Trap.

* It is our turn to move.

* The puzzle’s title is “Globetrotter”.

* It is Wednesday.

The above observations inform potential strategies:

We have multiple opening checking opportunities, let’s examine each in turn to see how they play out.

Opening with Qh8+ forces either Kb7, or Rc8, Nd8 or Nf8 to block, as our d pawn prevents Kc7 and Black’s rear a pawn occupies a7.

-----From here, we must continue with forcing moves, as we’ve left our King exposed and Black can attack, stealing tempo, and then promote, giving them a 2^nd Queen. We cannot Qc8+, as this fails to Rxc8. We could however Qa8+, which forces Kxb6.
----------We are now out of follow up checks, as Qd8+ fails to Nxd8. This looks like a no go.

Opening with Nd7++ forces either Kc8 or Ka8.

-----If Ka8, we can Qh8+, forcing Kb7.

----------We can follow with Qb8+, forcing Kc6.

---------------We can now Qc8+, forcing Nc7 to block.

--------------------We can then finish with Qxc7#.

-----If Kc8, we could Qb8+, forcing Kxc7.

----------We cannot Qb5+ as this fails to a6xb5, we cannot Qd8+ as this fails to either Kxd8 or Nxd8, we cannot Qc7+ as this fails to either Rxc7 or Nxc7, we cannot Qe8+ as this fails to Kxe8. But we can Qb7+. This however allows for Kxd6, and we’ve lost a key structural pawn and allow Black to surround himself with active defenders. That’s a no go.

----------We could alternately check with our other kNight, with Nf8+, but this can be met with Nxf8, and if we Nxf8 in return we allow Black to snatch tempo by checking us with their Queen with Qg2, forcing either Kb3, Ka1, or Kb1. If we Ka1 or Kb1, Black will h1-Q#. If we Kb3, Black will probably still h1=Q, and we’re left with a sole Queen against 2 Queens and a Rook. This is a no go.

Ok, what else can we try?

Well, we can open by moving our b kNight, but without performing double check, let’s try that.

Opening with Nba4+ reveals the discovered attack on Black’s King on the b file, and threatens Black’s Rook. This forces either Ka8, Kc8, or Rb5 to block.

-----If Ka8, we can Qh8+, forcing Kb7, or Nf8 or Rc8 to block.

----------If Nf8, we can Qxf8+, winning Black’s kNight, and forcing Kb7.

---------------We can next Nxc5+, winning Black’s Rook, and forcing Kc6 or Kb6. At this point, we’re facing a lone Queen and wielding a Queen and 2 kNights. This is a decisive material advantage, and a valid puzzle solution. Especially as we can next Qc8+, protecting our kNight.

----------If Kb7, we can Nxc5+, winning Black’s Rook, and almost certainly prompting Nxc5 losing our kNight. We are now in an even material balance, technically better than our starting position, but not emerging with an advantage. Additionally Black’s kNight is now in a position to capture our d pawn if it advances. This seems like a no go.

----------If Kb7, we could alternately press check with our Queen, with Qh7+, but this allows for the potential for draw by 3 fold repetition, or for Kc6 which leaves us without follow up checking options. We could from here play d7, threatening to promote on our next move, but this gives Black the opportunity to snatch tempo with check, and that won’t end well for us. This too looks like a no go.

-----Wait, let’s rewind and re-examine the Ka8 response option with promotion in mind. If Ka8, we can d7, threatening promotion on our next play, and we haven’t abandoned our King, so Black cannot steal tempo with check. Black’s kNight covers our promotion square, so they cannot move their kNight. Their Rook is under threat of capture, so they would want to save it, but if they Rc8, we can dxc8=Q#. And if they Rb5 threatening our Queen we can cxb5 winning the Rook. They could Ra5, turning the threat upon our kNight, or Rc7, threatening our pawn where it stands. Ahhhh – but they could also Qb7, coming to their King’s aid and threatening our Queen. I think that stops our attack.
----------If Qb7, we could Qxb7+, forcing Kxb7.

---------------Then we would Nxc5, and they would Nxc5, and we emerge with material equivalence. That’s a no go.

----------If Qb7, we could alternately Nxc5, but this just plays out to the same end in a different order.

----------If Qb7, we could Qh8+, forcing either Qb8, Rc8 orNd8 or Nf8 to block.

---------------If Qb8, we are out of viable checking options. This too is a no go.

Ok, I’ve got to be missing something simple here. I still feel that this final opener is the way to go, I must just be attacking it incorrectly. Let’s try again.

Opening with Na4+ forces either Ka8, Kc8, or Rb5 to block.

-----If Ka8, we can Nxc5, almost certainly prompting Nxc5.

----------We can now Qh8+, forcing Kb7.

---------------We can follow with Qg7+, forcing Ka8, Kb8, Kc8, Kb6, or Kc6.

--------------------If Kc6, we can Qc7#.

--------------------If Kb6, we can Qc7#.

--------------------If Ka8, we can Qf8+, forcing Kb7.

-------------------------We can now Qe7+, closing in, and forcing the same set of options.

------------------------------If Kc6, we can Qc7#.

------------------------------If Kb6, we can Qc7#.

------------------------------If Ka8, we can Qd8+, forcing Kb7.

-----------------------------------We can now Qc7+ forcing Ka8.

----------------------------------------We can then finish with Qc8#.

--------------------If Kb8, we can Qf8+, forcing Kb7.

-------------------------We can now Qe7+, closing in, and forcing the same set of options.

------------------------------If Kc6, we can Qc7#.

------------------------------If Kb6, we can Qc7#.

------------------------------If Ka8, we can Qd8+, forcing Kb7.

-----------------------------------We can now Qc7+ forcing Ka8.

----------------------------------------We can then finish with Qc8#.

--------------------If Kc8, we can Qc7#. Gotcha!

OK – that should work for the Ka8 response option, assuming Black responds to our Rook capture with Nxc5. But what if they don’t? Well if they don’t we’re now up a kNight, and have a Queen and 2 kNights vs a Queen and a single kNight. And our Queen hasn’t left our King’s side. That’s a valid material gain solution. Black has no other capture options to even out the material balance. Black has no checking options. Yep, I think we’ve solved for Ka8. But now what about Kc8 and Rb5?

Opening with Na4+ forces either Ka8, Kc8, or Rb5 to block.

-----If Kc8, we can still Nxc5, almost certainly to be met with Nxc5.

----------We can now Qh8+, forcing either Kb7 or Kd7.

---------------If Kb7, we follow the above playbook and Qg7+, either securing a quick or an inevitable longer checkmate.

---------------If Kd7, we can still Qg7+, forcing Kd8, Ke8, Kc8, Kc6, Ke6, or Kxd6. That’s a ton of options. Hmmmmm, hold on.

---------------If Kd7, we could alternately Ne5+. This narrows Black’s options to either Ke6 or Kxd6.

--------------------If Ke6, we can Qh6#.

--------------------If Kxd6, we can Qd8+, forcing Ke6.

-------------------------We can now Qd5+, forcing Kf6.

------------------------------We can now finish with Qf7#. Golden.

Ok, now…

-----If Rb5, we can cxb5, winning Black’s Rook for a pawn, and securing a material advantage.

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

Well today we open with a forcing move and threat combo that allows our opponent 3 response options. If response 1, we follow with a capture that will either win us a material advantage or provoke our preferred response (a recapture). Assuming the recapture, we then follow with a forcing move that allows only 1 response. We then follow with a forcing move that allows for 5 response options. If 1a, 1b, or 1e, we deliver checkmate. If 1c or 1d, we march on the dark diagonals to close on Black’s King until checkmate is delivered (or checkmate more quickly if he does not continue to retreat to the back rank).

If response 2, we follow with the same capture that will either win us a material advantage or provoke our preferred response. Assuming the recapture, we then follow with the same forcing move that now allows for 2 response options. If 2a, we follow the above playbook securing either quick or inevitable checkmate. If 2b, we follow with another forcing move (this time using our kNight instead of our Queen to check), allowing for 2 response options. If 2b1, we deliver checkmate. If 2b2, we play another forcing move allowing for only 1 response, then we play another forcing move allowing for only one response. Then we deliver checkmate.

If response 3, we capture, securing a material advantage. Unless I’m missing a response option to our capture, this plan cannot fail.

Ok, so is there a BETTER PLAN?

Wait. Hold on, I think I’m seeing a better plan?

Opening with Qh8+ forces either Kb7, or Rc8, Nd8 or Nf8 to block.

-----If Kb7, we can Qh7+, forcing either Kb8 or Kxb6. I didn’t see this attack vector in my first look at this opening line.

----------If Kxb6 however, we’re still out of follow up checks and we’re even further down on material. Yep ok that’s a no go.

-----Ok alternately if Kb7, we’ve already examined that Qa8+ forces Kxb6. Oh but wait, I see it now, Qa8+ wasn’t just check, it was a skewer of Black’s King against their Queen. Meaning after Kxb6 is forced, we can Qxh1, winning Black’s Queen! Very nice.

Ok, but is this a better plan? Yes. Although there were several paths to checkmate when opening with Na4+, there were also several paths that led to material gain instead, and that material gain was certainly less than winning a Queen for free. And it’s also possible that I missed a response option to our Rook capture in that line that would have led to Black either checkmating us or merely maintaining material equivalence. It’s also possible I missed a response option to the opening play that would have stymied the plan. This plan however is a sure thing. Or is it?

Let’s just be sure, as Opening with Qh8+ allows for 4 response options, and we’ve only looked at the first, where I thought that opening failed initially.

-----If Rc8, we Qxc8#.

-----If Nd8, we Qxd8+ forcing Rc8 to block.

----------We then Qxc8#.

-----If Nf8, we Qxf8+ forcing Rc8 to block.

----------We then Qxc8#.

Yep, we’ve got either a Queen or checkmate with this opening. Qh8+ is the winner.

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

Qh8+ is correct, and Black chooses to Kb7, as was a calculated possibility.

Qb8+ is correct, and Black is forced to Kxb6.

Qxh1 is correct, and the PUZZLE IS SOLVED!!!

A wild Wednesday puzzle from a mystery puzzler. My method saved me on this one today, but I’m counting this as a loss/fail even though I puzzled it out in the end. My failure to recognize that Qa8+ was a skewer is a loss in my book. So I’m 2/1 so far this week. Wednesday was my fail point. I was so narrowly focused on achieving checkmate that I did not see the clear Queen capture right in front of my face. All good. This is why we practice. Next time hopefully I will see this tactic straight away and be able to confidently call that day’s solve a win.

Just to fully understand what I missed in the Na4+ opening, I check Stockfish – ahhh of course! Qb7. I’d seen it in analyzing another line, but missed it in analyzing this one. And even worse, it’s a Queen move along the long light diagonal. This was definitely my blind spot today.

Have an awesome day everyone!