Chess/Puzzles/Endgame/Puzzle 2/Solution

1.Nd4+ Ke1

1...Kd1 leads to 2.Qb1#

2.Qh2! Kd1!

2...Qf2 3.Nc2+ Ke2 (3...Kf1 4.Qh1+, 3...Kd1 4.Qh1+) 4.Qh5+ transposes to 4...Qf2

2...Qa6 leads to 3.Nc2+ Kd1 4.Nxe3+ Ke1 (4...Kc1 5.Qc2#) 5.Qd2#

Other moves lose the queen or allow 3.Qe2#

3.Qh7! Ke1!

''White's threat is 4.Qb1#. 3...Kc1 leads to 4.Qc2#''

3...Qe1+ leads to 4.Kb3 transposing to 6.Kb3 in the 4...Kd1 line

4.Qh4+

''4.Qe4? leads to 4... Kf2 5.Qf3+ Kg1 6.Ne2+ Kh2 7.Qxf1 (stalemate!!)''

The problem now branches into two main possibilities

a)4...Kd1

5.Qe4! Qe1+

6.Kb3 Qf2

6...Qd2 leads to 7.Qh1+ Qe1 8.Qh5+ e2 (8...Kd2 9.Nf3+; 8...Kc1 9.Qc5+ followed by Qc2# or winning the Black queen) 9.Nf3 and Black must loses his queen or allow 10.Qd5+ Kc1 11.Qd2+ Kb1 12.Qb2#

Other Queen moves lose the queen or allow 7.Qc2+ Ke1 8.Qe2#

7.Qb1+ Kd2

8.Qc2+ Ke1

9.Qc1#

b)4...Qf2

5.Nc2+ Ke2

5...Kf1 leads to 6.Qh1+ transposing to 7.Qh1+

5...Kd1 leads to 6.Qh1+ Qg1 (6...Ke2 7.Nd4#) 7.Qxg1+ Ke2 8.Nd4#

6.Qh5+ Kf1

6...Qf3 leads to 7.Nd4+ forking king and queen

7.Qh1+ Qg1

7...Ke2 leads to 8.Nd4#

8.Qf3+ Qf2

9.Nxe3+ Kg1

9...Ke1 leads to 10.Qd1#

10.Qd1+ Kh2

11.Ng4+, and white has a queen and king v. king situation.

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