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Puzzle 0117

This problem was composed by Leon-Martin in 1930. White to play and mate in three.

The Solution 1 Rh8! If White promotes a pawn immediately by 1. e8Q or 1. g8Q, then Black replies 1...Bb8, and White cannot take the bishop because of stalemate, so there is no mate in two. The correct plan is to arrange for the rook to be on the other side of the queen, so that ...Bb8 is no longer an effective defense. However, 1. Rg8? (1. Rf8? is also met by 1...Bd6) fails to 1...Bd6 2 e8Q Bf8, blocking the back rank. The rook must go to the very end, so as to give White a choice of promotions. White doesn't threaten anything, because 2. e8Q and 2. g8Q would be met by ...Bd8, but Black's bishop cannot stay on c7. After 1...Bd6 White plays 2. g8Q, intending Qa8 mate, while if the bishop moves to any other square on the b8-h2 diagonal, White forces mate by 2 e8Q. 1...Bd8. The best defense. 2 e8Q? and 2 g8Q? are met by 2...Kb8, while 2 exd8Q? is stalemate. 2 exd8B! White avoids stalemate by underpromoting. Once again there is no threat, but Black's king is forced to move onto the dangerous back rank. 2...Kb8 3. Bxb6 mate.

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