Logic & Math Puzzles | Chess Puzzle 04
Can you find the best move?
Instructions: White to play and mate in 2. Try your solution on the board.
![Puzzle Puzzle](https://englishpluspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Logic-and-Math-Puzzles-Chess-Puzzle-04.jpg)
![Solution Solution](https://englishpluspodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Logic-and-Math-Puzzles-Chess-Puzzle-04-AK.jpg)
Slide left to see the answer, but don’t do it right away. Think about it first!
Hint!
Black has a whole range of powerful threats, including 1 …Nxd3 and 1 …Bxb7,so White’s first move has to be fairly blint. A sacrifice may be necessary.
Solution!!!
The correct answer is b7e4. Since Black threatens to play 1…Nxd3 or 1…Bxb7, White’s first move must carry a strong threat. Bearing in mind that sacrifices are appealing to both composer and solver alike, one might be led to try 1 Be4! This multiple bishop sacrifice is the spectacular solution. The powerful threat is 2 Qxe7 mate. If Black plays 1…Kxe4, then 2 Re3 is mate; 1…Rxe4 allows either 2 Rd5 or 2 Qd5 mate, while if Black plays 1…Nxe4 or 1…Bxe4 then the square e4 is blocked and White can mate by 2 Bf4. Thus the sacrifice can’t be accepted, but other moves are no help, for example 1…Bd6/Rd6/Rd7 2 Qf5 mate, or 1…e6 2 Qf4 mate.