3

Today I remembered this position that I saw a few months ago in a tweet by Sergey Karjakin:

[fen "2k5/8/8/BQ6/4K3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

It seemed very easy to me because there are just 4 pieces left but it was much more difficult than I expected. Sergey was asked to solve it in less than five minutes as part of a bet (which he won). White to play and mate in 3. Can you also solve it in less than 5 minutes? :)

Improve this question
3
  • 3
    I failed to solve it in 5 minutes.
    – Tony Ennis
    Dec 6, 2015 at 23:34
  • @TonyEnnis Don't give up! It happened the same to me the first time that I saw this puzzle
    – S -
    Dec 6, 2015 at 23:41
  • I already cheated. I was on the right track, however.
    – Tony Ennis
    Dec 6, 2015 at 23:41

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
6

Got it barely under the mark. Not sure if it helped or hurt that I knew the mate-in-2 with a similar position (move the Ke4 to f5).

1 Qb2!! Kd7 2 Qe5! Kc8/Kc6 3 Qc7/Qd5#!

Spoiler for mate in 2 (Kf5 Qb5 Ba5 / Kc8):

1 Qb3! Kd7 2 Qe6#!

Improve this answer
2
  • On your mate in 2, 2... Kxe6
    – Tony Ennis
    Dec 10, 2015 at 23:04
  • 1
    2... Kxe6 3 KxK. Note wK on f5.
    – Noam D. Elkies
    Dec 10, 2015 at 23:25
0

Favourite task of V. Lenin )) 1. Qb2 2.Qe5

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.