There must be a mate in there somewhere! But where?

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Avatar of john4000

I'm posting this game because it swung so violently from one direction to another. I thought I was done for pretty quickly, but somehow I managed to grab a knight and gain the advantage. But I'm also posting for ideas about how to get a quick mate - it looks like a simple task, king backed into a corner, two rooks and a queen on the attack, but those pesky pawns can shield the king for a good few moves! Can anyone see a quick way to end it? My opponent resigned anyway, so I didn't have to solve it at the time. The pawn configuration around the king makes it a tough nut to crack. Any slip up and the game swings back in black's favour.

 

Anyone see anything that I can't? Maybe even a better move than my Qb3+ if there's one there?

 

Avatar of Nijp64

on move 29, Qxa7 is mate is it not? for the first variation of the end game that is after the queen check on f7

Avatar of Casual_Joe

Maybe start by playing your Queen to g3, then to g5, then Rf7+ followed by Qh6 should seal it.  Not sure what Black can really do in the meantime.

Avatar of john4000

Nijp64 wrote:

on move 29, Qxa7 is mate is it not? for the first variation of the end game that is after the queen check on f7

You're right! Thanks. But if he doesn't play 28. ...Kh5........

Avatar of aggressivesociopath

27. Qf7+ Kh6 28. Qf6 with the basic plan of Rg1-g4-h4 mate. 28...Rd6 and 28...e4 both simplify the process. (a) 28...Rd6 29. Qf8+ Kg5 (29...Kh5 winds up transposing) 30. Rf5+ gxf5 31. Rxf5+ Kg6 (31...Kh4 32. Qe7+) 32. Qf7+  Kh6 33. Rh5# (b) 28...e4 29. Qh4+ Kg7 30. Rf7+ Kg8 31. Qxh7#.

Avatar of Nijp64

all the moves of the first variation up to Kh5 are the best moves for white and forced moves for black, the best move for black on move 28 in my mind is to offer a queen exchange by Qd7, im still working on what to do from there as white, The queen exchange offer is the best move because  black has no hope for a quick mate with the current position, blacks best bet is to eventuall get a pawn push going hoping to promote, since black is up 2 pawns.

Avatar of aggressivesociopath

Also please be awear that 7. Nxe5 does not win a pawn in view of 7...Nxe4 8. Nxe4 Qd4.

Avatar of aggressivesociopath
I checked with a computer. I don't know why, everything is just winning, but here is what I found.
Avatar of john4000

Thanks a lot all - I'll never cease to be amazed at how many complications can arise from positions like this. Glad I didn't have to play it out, because I'm not sure I would have avoided shooting myself in the foot (time was ticking....)

Avatar of john4000
aggressivesociopath wrote:

Also please be awear that 7. Nxe5 does not win a pawn in view of 7...Nxe4 8. Nxe4 Qd4.

Thanks for pointing that out - I was sure there was something wrong with that move. Pawns don't usually come for free....