Chess/Puzzles/Endgame/Puzzle 2/Solution

1.Nd4+ Ke1 1...Kd1 leads to 2.Qb1# 2.Qh2! Kd1! 2...Qf2 3.Nc2+ Ke2 (3...Kf1 4.Qh1+, 3...Kd1 4.Qh1+) 4.Qh5+ transposes to 4...Qf2 2...Qa6 leads to 3.Nc2+ Kd1 4.Nxe3+ Ke1 (4...Kc1 5.Qc2#) 5.Qd2# Other moves lose the queen or allow 3.Qe2# 3.Qh7! Ke1! White's threat is 4.Qb1#. 3...Kc1 leads to 4.Qc2# 3...Qe1+ leads to 4.Kb3 transposing to 6.Kb3 in the 4...Kd1 line 4.Qh4+ 4.Qe4? leads to 4... Kf2 5.Qf3+ Kg1 6.Ne2+ Kh2 7.Qxf1 (stalemate!!) 8 7 6 5 4 3 kl pd 2 nl kd 1 ql 40 The problem now branches into two main possibilities a)4...Kd1 5.Qe4! Qe1+ 6.Kb3 Qf2 6...Qd2 leads to 7.Qh1+ Qe1 8.Qh5+ e2 (8...Kd2 9.Nf3+; 8...Kc1 9.Qc5+ followed by Qc2# or winning the Black queen) 9.Nf3 and Black must loses his queen or allow 10.Qd5+ Kc1 11.Qd2+ Kb1 12.Qb2# Other Queen moves lose the queen or allow 7.Qc2+ Ke1 8.Qe2# 7.Qb1+ Kd2 8.Qc2+ Ke1 9.Qc1# 8 7 6 5 4 nl 3 kl pd 2 qd 1 ql kd 40 b)4...Qf2 5.Nc2+ Ke2 5...Kf1 leads to 6.Qh1+ transposing to 7.Qh1+ 5...Kd1 leads to 6.Qh1+ Qg1 (6...Ke2 7.Nd4#) 7.Qxg1+ Ke2 8.Nd4# 6.Qh5+ Kf1 6...Qf3 leads to 7.Nd4+ forking king and queen 7.Qh1+ Qg1 7...Ke2 leads to 8.Nd4# 8.Qf3+ Qf2 9.Nxe3+ Kg1 9...Ke1 leads to 10.Qd1# 10.Qd1+ Kh2 11.Ng4+, and white has a queen and king v. king situation. 8 7 6 5 4 nl 3 kl 2 qd kd 1 ql 40