Hello puzzlers, 2. -Qxf7 This is invalid. The black queen at d6 can reach e7 and f8 only. If black makes Qf8 white checkmates with Qxf8. Edward In a message dated 7/26/2012 10:59:14 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rrdinger@xxxxxxxxxx writes: Hello Dr. Z, After your proposed: 1. Qxf6 Nxc4 2. Qf7 White threatens Rxh7++ or Rg8++ / Qg8++. So black can reply: 2. ... Qxf7, and another key piece in the threat comes off the board. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: _Eddyz69@xxxxxxxx (mailto:Eddyz69@xxxxxxx) To: _blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2012 6:55 AM Subject: [blind-chess] Re: Maybe not ... Re: Spoiler Alert Problem BWTC428 Hello puzzlers, 1. Qxf6 (Queen takes knight.) Nxc4 (Knight takes bishop.) 2. Qf7 White threatens Rxh7++ or Rg8++ / Qg8++. 2. -Be6 (protects g8) 3. Rxh7++ 2. -Qd7 3. Rg8++ / Qg8++ Black has only one move to prolong the game. It's Qxh2+. Then, white replies with Kxh2. Edward In a message dated 7/25/2012 10:48:07 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rrdinger@ olypen.com writes: Hello Dr. Z, Since white's vital c4 Bishop is loose, Black's first move after Qxf6 should be: 1. ... Nxc4, now black has traded a knight for white's key bishop blunting the mate threat. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: _Eddyz69@xxxxxxxx (mailto:Eddyz69@xxxxxxx) To: _blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 7:54 PM Subject: [blind-chess] Spoiler Alert Problem BWTC428 Hello puzzlers, Doctor Z is ready to operate. My solution is more direct. I suggest taking the knight protecting the black king. 1. Qxf6 (Queen takes Knight.) 1. -Qxf6 (Black queen takes white queen.) 2. Rg8++ 1. -Be6 (Black bishop blocks white bishop at Bc4.) 2. Rg8++ 1. -h5 (creating escape square) 2. Rg8+ Kh7 (only escape square) 3. Qg7++ / Qh8++ (checkmate) Note how Rg8+ employs the double check. The queen at f6 and rook at g8 check the black king at the same time. The black king must move because of the inability to block check. Edward In a message dated 7/23/2012 11:42:02 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rrdinger@xxxxxxxxxx writes: Good Morning Puzzlers, Another checkmate problem. This problem is from Mario Lang's puzzle web page at: _http://delysid.org/chess/epd.cgi_ () and is from Fred Reinfield's book "1001 Brilliant Ways to Checkmate" . Problem BWTC 0428 White to move FEN: r1b4k/ ppp1Q1Rp/ 1n1q1np1/ 8/ 2BP4/ P7/ 1PP2PPP/ R1B3K1 w - - 0 1 Short Algebraic Problem Setup: White: Kg1, Qe7, Ra1, Rg7, Bc1, Bc4, Pa3, Pb2, Pc2, Pd4, Pf2, Pg2, Ph2 Black: Kh8, Qd6, Ra8, Bc8, Nb6, Nf6, Pa7, Pb7, Pc7, Pg6, Ph7