Black and White

clausén chess problem

By Sigurd Clausén. White to mate in three moves.

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1. Kf5! Now the bishop must move, and then 2. h8=Q+ Bb8 3. Qh1# Note that the king’s waiting move must be to f5. Moving to a black square leaves him vulnerable to a check; moving to the h-file blocks the queen’s access to h1; and moving to f3 blocks the queen’s final checkmate. If 1. Kf5 Be5 then 2. h8=Q+ Bxh8 3. f8=Q#. From Eskilstuna-Kuriren, 1931.