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Darnall and Handsworth Chess Club-30, 2015

#3

1.R7f6! (2.R3f4+  exf4   3.Rxe6#)

1...Sc6  2.Kc3    &      3.Sd2#
1...Sg6  2.gxh4   &      3.Sg3#
1...Sd5  2.Sd1          (3.Sf2#)
                  hxg3   3.Sxg3#
                  S5 any 3.S(x)c3#

After the key, with its sacrificial threat, Black has three defences by his knight that isn’t pinned. 1...Sc6 allows 2.Kc3 walking into what would be a check from 2...Rc8+ if the knight hadn’t blocked the c-file. 1...Sg6 is similar. This time the knight blocks the g-file, allowing White to threaten 3.Sg3# and Black can't defend by 2...Rg8. In the third variation Black makes the error of occupying d5, so letting White unguard it and threaten 3.Sf2#. I composed this during an open rapidplay tournament at the club organised by the club’s hard-working Geoff Brown. No, of course I wasn’t playing in the rapidplay!