Advanced Chess Puzzles: 1-6
on October 13, 2017

Answers at the bottom of the page…

Puzzle 1: White to play and win in 4 moves.
Puzzle 2: White to play and win in 5 moves.
Puzzle 3: White to play and win in 3 moves.
Puzzle 4: White to play and win in 7 moves.
Puzzle 5: Black to play and win in 7 moves.
Puzzle 6: White to play and win in 4 moves.

ANSWERS

Puzzle 1

This is known as Smothered Mate.

1 Nf7+ Kg8       If …Rxf7 then Qd8 forces mate in 2
2 Nh6+ Kh8
3 Qg8+ Rxg8
4 Nf7++ Mate

Puzzle 2

1 Nf4 Kh7
2 Bg5 Kh8
3 Ng6+ Kh7
4 Nf8+ Kh8
5 Bf6++ Mate

Puzzle 3

1 Qxf6+ exf6         If …Kg8 then Nh6++ Mate
2 Bxf6+ Kg8
3 Nh6++ Mate

Puzzle 4

1 Rc7+ Kh8       1… Kf8 loses to 2. Rc8+ Rxc8; 3.bxc8/Q+ Kg7; 4.Qg8++ or 3…Ke7; 4. Bg5++
2 Bh6 a1/Q+
3 Kg2 Rg3+      …Rg3+ is the only way to survive another move
4 hxg3 Qh1+      …Qh1+ is the only way to survive another move
5 Kxh1 Rg8
6 b8/Q fxg4         Black can’t do anything about the attack
7 Bg7++ Mate

Puzzle 5

1 Ra3+
2 Kb2 Ra2+
3 Kb1 Raxc2       If Kc3 then Raxc2+, Kd3, Be4++
4 Bd2 Rexd2       White can only delay the attack by giving away pieces
5 Rb4 cxb4
6 g3 Bb3         White has no other possible moves
7 g4 Rf1++

Puzzle 6

1 Nf6+ Kg7/Kh8
2 Ng4+ Nd4/Ne5
3 Bxd4+/Bxe5+ Kg8
4 Nh6++ Mate