Hint 1

It's mate in 4.

Hint 2

Nf7+ then Nh6+

Smothered mate

The solution is here - https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/live/120785379743?tab=analysis&move=59 - check top of the right sidebar.

I started trying something new when I watch speed chess.

  1. Sometimes I watch players stronger than me but not too much stronger than me.

  2. I keep the evaluation bar off so I'm forced to think without hints. I'm way too addicted to the elav bar.

Spoiler - I mention what I saw in real time.

I watched this game a few minutes ago. I thought I was clever to notice Nf7+ and Nxd8 which wins the rook. But even though I love smothered mates - I didn't even think to look for that. When white played Nh6+ I nearly groaned. What the- Oh! I missed it! Fuuuuuuck!

    • Wakmrow [he/him]
      ·
      2 months ago

      NF7+ KG8 NH6+ KF8 QG7#

      If you wanted to be spiteful you could do this to deny the smother

      • propter_hog [any, any]
        ·
        2 months ago

        I followed you until Qg7#. The Queen is on e6, so it can't move to g7 in one move.

        ETA: I see you meant Qf7#, but that line doesn't work in the puzzle because I believe Kf8 is going to be worse than Kh8, but I'd want to see what the analysis says about it. At that point mate in 2 is unavoidable regardless.

        • Wakmrow [he/him]
          ·
          2 months ago

          Yeah, meant qf7#, I always mess up notation lol.

          I mean there is no analysis at this point, it's forced mate. Neither kh8 nor kf8 is better. But black can avoid a smother if they choose. For the record, I would not avoid it, smothers are cool.