My 1st Puzzle Creation

Please don't use an engine to solve; of course I can't stop you but it would defeat the purpose. Post what you believe would be in your mind to be the best continuation for White.

https://www.chess.com/blog/Innominata Please visit my Blog and let me know what you think.

I have started a Blog with the intention of helping New, relatively New, and Intermediate Players. I'm not sure if it's successful in it's goal but if you view my Blog, you could let me know it I hit the mark or missed completely. I am hoping to create more Blogs in the similar style that could hopefully help those that I see continually ask for help in the Forums but get no "real" help beyond someone telling them to train their "tactics".

There are two possible continuation.

First, pawn captures on h8 with check followed by Qh6.

Second, Qh6 with a follow up pawn capture on h8.

Both ideas should work.

This is a bit of a hard puzzle to solve

I'm a little surprised to hear that from a 2600 with a peak of 2850 in puzzles.

I understand that the position is a bit complicated due to all the activity but break it down into parts and it would make it easier. Your King is not under real threat of being checkmated or come to any serious attack. Knowing that, you can then focus on your own attack. You can then search for the most forceful continuation. 

What are we supposed to do in that position? We can play the obvious and ugly 1. gxh8=Q+ Kxh8 and then everything wins (white is up a ton of material plus mating black).

Are you sure this is the position you wanted to post?

From someone with a peak 3491 Puzzle Rating but can't get more than 39 in Puzzle Rush, it's not about finding just one move but visualizing the actual finish all the way through. Yes I am sure.

If it is too easy for you, move on. 600 is where you will find the largest number of people doing puzzles. That should tell you how badly people need puzzles that challenges their visualization to the end, not just one move at a time.

Good first move. Now what is the follow up, the idea behind the move and how do you finish your opponent?

The problem is not if the puzzle is easy or hard. It's that the puzzle is wrong. A good puzzle only has one and only one solution (that's why it's called "the" solution). If multiple moves win (like here), the puzzle is bad.

In this case you probably have a solution in mind, but most solvers are not clairvoyant.

Show your solutionS, I'll show you THE solution and explain it to you.

1. gxh8=Q+ wins, 1. Qh6 wins, 1. bxc4 wins. Certainly lots of other moves win too. It's difficult to find a move that doesn't win for white.

While there may be "moves that win for white" the correct continuation is the on that solves the puzzle in the least number of moves meaning the most forceful. There are many puzzles like this where a side is winning and there may be two or three options that win but you still need to get there in the most precise way possible.

Thus the most forceful is pxh8=Q+

Kxh8, FORCED

Qh6, followed by Nf6 ending the game.

Black could sac the Queen to extend the game another move with Qg1+ but it matters not because it doesn't prevent Nf6 checkmate.

In your self righteous reply you missed the intent of the puzzle to TEACH this check mate pattern with the QUEEN on h6 and KNIGHT on f6. A position that is not normally seen on many puzzles.

You are simply wrong about this. Your move is mate in 4, sure.

But 1. Qh6 is also mate in 4, leading to the exact same mate pattern. I bet that you didn't even bother to check any of this with an engine. Why? Overconfidence? Laziness?

The only way to figure out which one is your "solution" is to use magic to read your mind.

Additionally, gxh8 is a horribly ugly and obvious move, but that is way beyond the point.

I absolutely knew Qh6 also works. The first reply already mentioned it. You are the one absolutely wrong because despite it also working, it is not the most forceful.

Obvious to whom? That might be the first move but do you think everyone will know the proper continuation? You must think everyone here is a master puzzle solver like yourself. If it is so obvious why do you claim Qh6 is the same pattern? Because it is not.

While Qh6 also leads to mate, it is not the same pattern, you are absolutely wrong because now Black can respond in another way which makes it a LESS FORCEFUL continuation. Maybe it's you who should use an engine to check it out. I don't need an engine to see it is not the same. Btw, don't project your overconfidence and laziness on other people.

You lose that bet.