White begins the fun with a queen offer backed by a mate threat on the back rank.

Note that I don't call this a queen *sacrifice*. That is because Black can't even consider accepting, and this makes the offer itself a "stock" pseudo-sacrifice in such positions; watch for ones like it (or the threat of them) in your own games and those of others to see how common they really are.

<<•> 31. Qd6! ... >

Taking is not an option: (a) 31. ...Rxd6? 32. Re8†, Kh7 33. Rh8#.

Technically, this isn't a back-rank mate, but it is one that requires control of the eighth rank, so it falls into the same thematic category.

Black can, of course, make a check of his own.

<<•> 31. ...Nxh3†

32. Kf1 ... >

But since the check has no follow-up, Black is confronted afresh by his dilemma: how to avoid the mate pattern described above.

Black has three options.

<<•> (1) 32. ...Rf8 >

Not playable here is (b) 32. ... Qxd5? 33. Qxd5, Rxd5 33. Re8†, Kh7 34. Rh8#.

<<•> 33. Qf6 >

Black can't stop the mate threats.

< (2) 32. ...Rc8
33. Bxf7†, Kh7
34. Qf6 >

As before, Black can't hold off the mate threats. And 33. ...Kxf7 34. Qf6†, Kg8 35. Qg7# is no better.

< (3) 32. ...Qg5
33. Bf6 >

Black still can't take on d6 or d5, and any other move cedes decisive material.

•Takeaway: If you can offer your queen on penalty of mate and in the process create threats or win material, never fear to do so. A defense that can't be played is no defense at all.

In any case, it startled me to see a 2400 player essay such a hopeless move.

Vocalizing your logic is among the best ways to sharpen it.

"If you want to learn about a subject," one proverb has it, "write a book about it." The same sort of mechanism may be at work here.

31. Qe7? Nxh3+!, 32. Kf1 Qxd5!!, 33. Qf6?? Qh!+, 34. Ke2 Ng1+! (<abuzic>'s line) 35. Rxg1 (35. Kf1 Nf3+, 36. Ke2 Rd2#) Qe4+, 36. Kf1 Rd1#

Well-done, <abuzic>

Instead of 33. Qf6?, 33. Qe8+ Kh7!!! (allowing the Black Rook to defend h8 and to prevent Qh8#).

So, that's why I prefer 31. Qd6! better than 31. Qe7.

SuperPatzer77>

I wanted to prevent 31...Nh3+, double-attacking the bishop, so I chose 31 Bg2, below.

click for larger view

invade at e7 whilst d5 and b2 jostle for the right,

to demolish a king bereft of resources so pumped queen shin ace rook hoodwinked behind quench in d5,

a rope to hang on first d6 or e7 mind you slog amor fati to bear up tour bishop it yeah in line l0 i nudge knight h3 despot dilemma in ever tickle wain,

hid a 31...Nxh3+ king up ply in 32.Kg2 qxd5+ ar,

good in wall it now in reverence the hero blink and,

youll miss the point re b2 hush queen in achtung,

king off he goes call extricate gotcha see had,

33.kxh3 when gauge light re oomph can effectively bet resign b2 in will decide queen edged out cad a 31.qd6 fagged aqua ducked marine whats at fault,

here rookd7 I think it is I don't know at rook dutiful slide a mongrel is vivacious again d6 first be dead in the water e6 nearly it ogle in flurry i,

tale in every it double in dig a 31...ne6 tour mate,

for age in calms it be in flakey it overall you,

panderings lot and aint it swan in song scanned tho,

31. Qd6

If 31. ..RxQd6, 32. Re8+ Kh7 33. Rh8#

Declining the sac doesn't help either,

e.g. 31. ..Nxh3+ 32. Kf1 now black has no more checks and white threatens 33. Bxf7+ Kxf7 34. Qe7+ Kg8 35. Qg7#

32. .. QxBd4 33. QxQd4 and the Q is still immune to capture due to Re8+ and Rh8#

31.Qe7 Nh3+ 32.Kg2 leads to winning position after 32...Qxd5+ 34.Kxh3