The Solution
In an over-the-board game, it is often just as important to anticipate good moves for your
opponent as it is to find good moves oneself. To successfully solve this study, you must firstly
find Black's brilliant defense and then go on to discover the main point of the study.
There should have been no problems with White's first move!
1 f7 Rg4+
If White Queens his Pawn, then Black faces a loss on material, but this looks like nothing more
than a spite check.
2 Ka5
Not 2 Ka3? Bd6+ and 3...Nf6, nor 2 Kb5? Nd6+ and 3...Nxf7.
2...Rg5+
3 Ka6
It is hard to see how the Rook checks have helped Black, because in addition to the promotion
threat White is also threatening immediate mate by b7.
3...Nc7+!!
An amazing idea. Black sacrifices Knight and Rook in an attempt to force stalemate. The first
offer has to be accepted.
4 bxc7 Rg8!
After 4...Rg6+ 5 Kb5 Rg5+ 6 Nc5 White Queens in safety, so this move is forced. Now White is in a
dilemma; playing fxg8Q or fxg8R delivers stalemate, but ignoring the Rook completely also doesn't
work, because Black is threatening ...Rf8.
5 fxg8=B!!
White matches Black's ingenuity. Normally the ending of Bishop and Knight against Bishop is a
dead draw, but in this special situation White can exploit the cornered Black King.
5...Bxc7
6 Nd4!
The plan is Nc6, permanently imprisoning the King, and then Be6-c8-b7 mate. All the action takes
place on light squares, so Black's dark-squared Bishop is helpless to change the course of
events. Other Knight moves are ineffective, for example after 6 Nc5? Kb8 7 Be6 Bh2 Black's King
escapes.
6...Kb8
Black must try to flee before the Knight arrives on c6, but he is mated in any case.
7 Nc6+ Kc8
8 Be6 mate.
Puzzle 0412
