Rook And Queen Choreography Dream"

https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/images_users/tiny_mce/EnPassantFork/phpmfF81g.png

White to move.

White is down a piece but has a passed e pawn that also controls the potentially important f6.

The d Rook controls the 6th rank and the h Rook contests the h file [although it's also en prise].

1. Rxh8 Kxh8  2. Qh6+ Kg8  3. Rd8+ Rf8  4. Rxf8#

Could it be that simple?  There was a recent puzzle with a similar Rook sac on h8 but it was the wrong idea due to the Black dark-squared Bishop that blocked our Qh5+ with Bh6.  Is there a better defense for Black?

1. ... Ng8 [to prevent 2. Qh6+; now 2. ... Kxh8 is a threat]  2. Rd8 Rf8 [if 2. ... Kxh8  3. Qh6#, as the Knight is pinned]  3. Rxf8 Kxf8  4. Qh6+ [again, the Knight is pinned so the Queen is safe] and White will skewer the King.

.

1. ... g5  2. Qxg5 Kxh8  3. Rd8+ Kh7  4. Qg8+ Kh6 - no, g8 is guarded by the Knight.

1. ... g5  2. Qxg5 Kxh8  3. Rh6+ Rh7  4. Qf6+ Kg8 and that fails also.

1. ... g5  2. Qxg5 Kxh8  3. Qh6+ Rh7 [note that, now that the g pawn is gone, ... Rg7 pinning the Queen is an option for Black]  4. Rd8+ Ng8 but now 5. Qf6+ allows 5. ... Qg7.

White does not want to allow Black to play ... Ng8 because that opens up the Black Queen to defend the 7th rank.

Could White  push e6 and then fork the K&Q on the 7th?

I couldn't see a better White move so I played 1. Rxh8 and was surprised when the response was 1. ... Kxh8 because I thought that 1. ... Ng8 and 1. ... g5 were more robust defenses [note:  I was wrong].

But now what?  2. Qh4+, Qh6+, and e6 look promising.

2. Qh6+ is the first reaction, since we are moving forward.  But after 2. ... Rh7  3. Qf8+ Ng8 and now the Black Queen is free
2. Qh4+ Kg7  3. Rd8, threatening 4. Qh8#, but 3. ... Rf8 holds
2. Qd4, threatening 3. e5^ attacking the Rook, is bad due to 2. ... Nc6
2. e6 forces Black to decide where to put his Rook2. ... Rf6  3. Qh6+ Kg8  4. Rd8+ Rf8  5. Rxf8#
2. ... Rf8  3. Rd7 and Black can't both save the Queen and defend the Knight; 3. ... Qb8  4. Qh6+  5.Rxe7
2. ... Rg7  3.
2. ... Rh7  3. Qe5+
I can't find winning lines with Qh4+ or Qh6+ but I can with e6 so that probably is it [unless I've missed something with the other options].

OK, 2. e6 was correct.  Black played 2. ... Rg7.

3. Qh4+ Rh7 [if 3. ... Kg8  4. Rd8#]  4. Qf6+ [access to f6 is why White played 3. Qh4+ and not 3. Qh6+] Rg7  5. Rd7.

White will not only win the Knight but threaten checkmate due to the pinned Rook.  Black can prevent checkmate with 5. ... Qg8 but 6. Rxg7 Qxg7  7. Qd8+ Qg8  8. e7! and Black can only stop promotion by saccing his Queen.

I was wrong.  The puzzle solution will achieve checkmate much more quickly than mine.

However, I still saw the major themes and did the required visualizations so I'm satisfied with that.

I expect a lot of unhappy campers, though.

Wouter Bik đấu với OTB Game Variation
 
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