Move 30
 

With our Queen ready to pull back to f1 if Black plays Qc1+, can we play b7 and get Black in check and ultimately mate if Black plays Rxb7? :smile:

Rook from a1 to e1.

Maybe a better move us would be g3 :smile:

One line might be:

30. b7 Rxb7 (otherwise we threaten a pawn promotion by Ra8)
31. Ra8+ Kg7
32. Qg3+ Kf7
33. Be6+ Kf6
34. Qf3+ Kg7
35. Rg8+ Kh7
36. Qf5 mate

or

30. b7 Rxb7
31. Ra8+ Kf6
32. Rf8+ QxR
33. Qg6+ Ke5
34. Qe6+ Kf4
35. Qe4+ Kg5
36. h4+ Kh6
37. Qf4+ kh7
38. Qg4+ Kh8
39. Qh5+ Kg7
40. Qg6+ Kh8
41. Qh7 mate

Does that make sense? :smile:

Hopefully I will get a chance to analyse this properly late this evening.

Managed to get a short time now.
I think 30. b7 Rxb7 is a lost game for them. What else can they do after b7? Be5 maybe? Kg7?

With a cursory glance at Kg7, I think we can force the king back onto the 8th rank.

If we allow an attack on h2 after Black's Be5, I think we can get the promotion.

30. b7 Kg7
31. Bc8 Be5
32. h3

We have a strong position :smile:

[QUOTE=paulunderwood;412605]With a cursory glance at Kg7, I think we can force the king back onto the 8th rank.

If we allow an attack on h2 after Black's Be5, I think we can get the promotion.[/QUOTE]

With Be5 I was more thinking of them doing d5 and defending b8 with the bishop. This is probably better if they exchange queens first so they don't lose the pawn.
30. b7 Be5
31.Ra8 Qc1+
32.Qf1 Qxf1+
33.Kxf1 d5


What about:
30.b7 Kg7
31.Bc8 Qf4
32.Qe2 Qe5
Our pawn on b2 looks weak.

In either of your scenarios we get the promotion. In scenario 2 we can take Black's queen with ours.

I agree b7 is our move. Here's how I think the play may go:

30. b7 Kg7
31. Qg3+ Kf6
32. Qf3 Kg7
33. Qg4+ Kf6
34. Bc8 Qg5
35. Qe6+ Kg7
36. g3 Qg6
37. Qxe7+ Qf7 (we pick off another pawn; they may resign at this point)
38. Qg5+ Qg6
39. Qxg6+ Kxg6 (we finally exchange queens)
40. Ra8 Rxb7
41. Bxb7 (and we get their rook, it's really time for them to resign)