|TYEARDROPZ |PUZZLE |TYEARDROPZ PICTURES|

Puzzle 0214

This problem was composed by Kraemer in 1948. White to play and mate in four.

The Solution Solving this problem is like peeling the layers off an onion. Attempting to bring the queen into the attack doesn't mate in four, for example 1 Qg3? Rg1! or 1 Qh4? Rh1! 2 Qd8 Rh7!, so White's main idea is to play his knight to c7. There are three possible routes, 1 Nd8, intending Ne6-c7, 1 Ne7, intending Nd5-c7 and 1 Nb4, intending Nd5-c7. At this stage it isn't clear why these three moves aren't equally good. This is the first layer. 1 Nb4! Later on we will see why only this move works. Whichever knight move White chooses, Black has only one possible defense. 1...c2 If Black promotes with the check, then White's mating plans will be completely disrupted, so White must do something extraordinary to prevent 2...c1=Q+. 2 Qc1! This spectacular move is the second layer. White simply blocks the c-pawn, preventing the check. Now it seems that Black's resources are at an end because neither 2...bxc1Q nor 2...b1Q stops White's knight tour to c7. 2...b1=B! The third layer. This imaginative defense incarcerates Black's rook and sets up a stalemate. If White had chosen one of the other first moves, his knight would now be on either d8 or e7. In neither case would it be possible to mate in two, but with the knight on b4 there is one final layer 3 Nd3! 3...exd3 4 Qh1 mate.

Discuss the game of chess at The65thSquare You will be assured of finding a friend who will understand your obsession with chess.
Contact the committee	Wednesday, 01 January, 1997
Tell us what you think!	© 2000, the65thsquare