Bulldog Chess with Witch, Quarter-Final game (Junebug444 - Critica7)

b6

Conditional move: if Qj7+, Kh8. If Qj7+ Kh8 Qj8+, Wi8.

Qh5

30.Qf3...b6
31.Qh5

Where is Critica7?

I'm here. My response didn't post for some reason.

Re4

Qj5

31.Qh5...Re4
32.Qj5

Wh8

Qj7# I think that’s mate?

Yup. Gg.

Black had to move the king, prepare for the witch to block. Or h5, giving the king room to flee, but that might not work out too well.

gg both

32.Qj5...Wh8
33.Qj7#

Whoa... that was a good game! But I'm surprised Critica's 32...Wh8 was somewhat inaccurate. He played much better when he won against me. Or maybe I'm just worse than I thought.

Black could have also avoided mate with 32...Wj6. It leaves the g5 pawn hanging, but at least it isn't losing.

Medals for @Junebug444 and @Critica7:

I'll update the tournament bracket tomorrow.

I've been busy, and I was a bit distracted when I made that move. Kh8 would have held on.

Gg

To be fair, it's pretty hard for white to fail to win, even if black plays perfectly. White is going to need to make a blunder, which of course is possible, but it was a losing position for black anyway. I wouldn't lose any sleep over this.