2025/10/11 DPA:  "Tactics Flow From A Superior Position"

2025/10/11 DPA: "Tactics Flow From A Superior Position"

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White to move:

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This was one of my submissions [a Rated Puzzle that I received] so I can't do a real-time thought process.

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The keys were recognizing the Black King's immobility, how White could control the g file, and the dual checkmate threats of g4 and Rh4 meant Black could not counter both.

1. Rg7+:  the Knight and g pawn prevent escape to the f file.  Black could go to h6 and attack the Rook but that allows 2. Nf5 to come with check, whereas moving to h5 does not.

2. Nf5:  a quiet move that seals the mating net and immobilizes Black's King.  White threatens 3. g4#.  To counter that, Black moves 2. ... Bf3.

3. Re4:  White pursues plan B:  4. Rh4#.  To prevent that, Black plays 3. ... Bxe4.

4. g4#:  An now the original plan can be realized.

Note that 3. ... Bg4 holds out for one move longer but was not chosen because there were multiple checkmates.

Some [most notably Matteout] claim this choice of sub-optimal move means the puzzle is flawed but that's based on the definition of blunder being "any sub-optimal move", whereas chess.com uses a different definition, that being a particular type of sub-optimal move that alters the outcome of the game.

That obviously doesn't apply here because Black was lost no matter what he did.  No different choice could have altered the outcome so no blunder occurred.

Additionally, note that this was a chess.com Rated puzzle, not one concocted by a mere user, so if the claim of "blunder" is to believed, that means chess.com doesn't know how to create puzzles either; how likely is that?

Note:  the puzzle title is a quote from Bobby Fischer.