Tonight’s puzzle comes from Hikaru Nakamura vs. Robert Lee Hess, 2012 US Championship in St Louis. GM Robert Hess has just played move 30… Kh8. What did GM Nakamura play for white’s 31st move?
What is white’s best move?
#Chess Positions Worth Sharing! 117
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I think it might actually be a mate in 9:
1 Rxg7 Kxg7 (Kxg7 forced to prevent Qh7#)
2 Rg3+ Kf7 (2…Kf8 3 Qh7 Qxg2+ 4 Rxg2 Rc7 5 Rg8#, 2…Kh8 3 Qg6 Qxg2+ 4 Rxg2 Rc7 5 Qxe8+ Kh7 6
Qg8#, 2…Kh8 3 Qg6 Qxg2+ 4 Rxg2 Re7 5 Qg8#.)
3 Qf3+ Ke7
4 Rg7+ Kd8
5 Qb7 Qa4 (5…Qxg2+ 6 Kxg2 Re7 7 Qxe7+ Kc8 8 Qb7+ Kd8 9 Qd7#, 5…Qxg2+ 6 Kxg2 Rc7 7 Qxc7# (any other
move that does not protect d7 and is not check is useless, e.g. 5…a4 6 Qd7# ))
6 Qb6+ Kc8 (6…Rc7 7 Qxc7#.)
7 Qxc5+ Qc6
8 Qxc6+ Kb8 (8…Kd8 9 Qc7# or 9 Qd7#.)
9 Qxe8# (or Qb7#)
If you could respond, I would be very grateful. Thank you for the great puzzle!