Answers.Body: <p>White threatens 27. Qf8#. Black has several ways to stop the immediate mate, so let's look at them:</p>
  <ol>
  <li>26...Qc8? 27. Rxc1 Qg8 (27...Qxc1? 28. Qf8#) 28. Qxg8+ Kxg8 29. gxf6 gives back a decisive amount of material.</li>
  <li>26...Qc5? 27. Qe8+ forces mate.</li>
  <li>26...Be7 27. Rxc1 Qd7 leaves Black with a still-comfortable material advantage.</li>
  <li>26...Rf1+ is a variant of the above idea. After 27. Nxf1 or Rxf1 Black plays 27...Be7 and maintains a still-comfortable material advantage.</li>
  <li>26...h6? 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. g6#</li>
  <li>26...h5? 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. g6+ Kh6 29. Qh8#</li>
  <li>26...Nh6 27. gxh6 Bh4+ is the computer's main line. 28. Rg3 (only legal move) Bxg3+ 29. Kxg3 Rg1+ 30. Kh4 Qc8 leaves Black up more than a decisive amount of material.</li>
  </ol>
  <p>The last line is admittedly somewhat difficult to spot, but 26...Be7 is still winning.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-10T06:22:45.403Z
Answers.Text: Bh4+ is what I was missing after white picks the knight, thanks
Answers.UserDisplayName: Owen Kelvin
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-10T17:45:03.613Z
Answers.Text: Thoughts on 26. … h5 (instead of h6)? It doesnt look like it falls to the g6 mate im (5), but I could see 27. Qxh5+ being annoying/starting to give up those material advantages
Answers.UserDisplayName: D. Ben Knoble
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-10T19:31:04.430Z
Answers.Text: @D.BenKnoble 26. …h5 would be a blunder because of the same variation provided by Allure 26...h6? 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. g6+ Kh6 29.Qh8#
Answers.UserDisplayName: Owen Kelvin
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-10T19:59:49.800Z
Answers.Text: 6. `26...Nh6 27. Qf8+ Ng8` (the declined sacrifice becomes the only blocker that self-pins to stop mate) is mind-bendingly precise but good to study and get comfortable with.
Answers.UserDisplayName: BaseZen
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-10T21:17:56.987Z
Answers.Text: on the first line, with `Qg8 (forced)` I don't see what's wrong with, e.g. `Qb8`? Why it is forced? I imagine `Qb8` leads to `gxf3 gxf3. Qxf3+ Ng7`, which is the same result in material losses for black.
Answers.UserDisplayName: njzk2
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-10T21:26:42.127Z
Answers.Text: @njzk2 I meant Black has to move the queen and cannot play Qxc1. I'll edit.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Allure
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-10T21:31:41.893Z
Answers.Text: @njzk2, `26...Nh6 27. Qf8+ Ng8 28. gxf3` continues with `28... Rxg1` and White can no longer checkmate.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Stadem
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-06-10T05:59:23.633Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-06-10T21:27:00.890Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-06-10T21:27:00.890Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Allure
Body: <p>Shown below is a game I have been trying to solve, Black has been better for the whole game but resigns at the end. On checking the analysis stockfish says black is still better</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7THMf.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7THMf.png" alt="Stockfish Analysis on Lichess" /></a></p>
  <pre><code>[Event &quot;Hourly Blitz Arena&quot;]
  [Site &quot;https://lichess.org/RS8OKA3q&quot;]
  [Date &quot;2021.06.09&quot;]
  [White &quot;okotieno&quot;]
  [Black &quot;Kryptonopolis&quot;]
  [Result &quot;1-0&quot;]
  [UTCDate &quot;2021.06.09&quot;]
  [UTCTime &quot;15:28:08&quot;]
  [WhiteElo &quot;2018&quot;]
  [BlackElo &quot;2363&quot;]
  [WhiteRatingDiff &quot;+11&quot;]
  [BlackRatingDiff &quot;-10&quot;]
  [Variant &quot;Standard&quot;]
  [TimeControl &quot;300+0&quot;]
  [ECO &quot;B21&quot;]
  [Opening &quot;Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack&quot;]
  [Termination &quot;Normal&quot;]
  [Annotator &quot;lichess.org&quot;]
  [FEN &quot;&quot;]
  
  1. e4 c5 2. f4 { B21 Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack } d5 3. e5?! { (-0.07 → -0.59) Inaccuracy. exd5 was best. } (3. exd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 Qxd5 6. Qf3 Qe6+ 7. Qe3 Nc6) 3... Nc6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. Bxc6 Bxc6 6. d3?! { (-0.62 → -1.17) Inaccuracy. d4 was best. } (6. d4 Nh6 7. Nf3 e6 8. c3 Nf5 9. O-O cxd4 10. cxd4 Bb5) 6... d4 7. Nf3 Nh6 8. Nbd2 e6 9. Ne4 Be7 10. h3?! { (-0.63 → -1.44) Inaccuracy. Qe2 was best. } (10. Qe2) 10... O-O? { (-1.44 → -0.04) Mistake. f5 was best. } (10... f5) 11. g4 Qd5 12. Kf2 c4?! { (-0.76 → 0.01) Inaccuracy. f6 was best. } (12... f6 13. exf6) 13. g5?? { (0.01 → -2.34) Blunder. Re1 was best. } (13. Re1 Rac8) 13... Nf5 14. Rg1 Kh8 15. Qf1 Rac8 16. Bd2?! { (-2.69 → -3.52) Inaccuracy. Qe2 was best. } (16. Qe2 Rfd8 17. h4 cxd3 18. cxd3 Qb5 19. Rd1 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Rc2+ 21. Rd2 Rdc8 22. h5 g6) 16... cxd3?! { (-3.52 → -2.75) Inaccuracy. b5 was best. } (16... b5 17. Qe2 c3 18. bxc3 dxc3 19. Be3 b4 20. h4 Rfd8 21. h5 a5 22. h6 g6 23. Nf6) 17. cxd3 Bb5 18. Rc1?! { (-2.30 → -3.39) Inaccuracy. a4 was best. } (18. a4 Ba6 19. b4 b6 20. Qe2 Rc2 21. Rgb1 Rfc8 22. Ne1 R2c7 23. a5 Bb7 24. b5 g6) 18... Qxa2 19. Rxc8?! { (-3.01 → -3.78) Inaccuracy. Ng3 was best. } (19. Ng3) 19... Rxc8 20. Bc1? { (-3.78 → -7.51) Mistake. Ng3 was best. } (20. Ng3 Nxg3) 20... Rc2+ 21. Nfd2 Qa6 22. Nf6 Bxd3 23. Qg2 Qc6 24. Qg4 Rxc1 25. Qh5 Bxf6 26. Qxf7 { Black resigns. } 1-0
  </code></pre>
  <p>How should black continue to prevent the checkmate on the backrank?</p>
  
Tags: <analysis>
Title: How does black proceed in the following position?
ThreadText: # How does black proceed in the following position?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-10)
  
  Shown below is a game I have been trying to solve, Black has been better for the whole game but resigns at the end. On checking the analysis stockfish says black is still better
  
  [![Stockfish Analysis on Lichess](https://i.sstatic.net/7THMf.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/7THMf.png)
  
  ```
  [Event "Hourly Blitz Arena"]
  [Site "https://lichess.org/RS8OKA3q"]
  [Date "2021.06.09"]
  [White "okotieno"]
  [Black "Kryptonopolis"]
  [Result "1-0"]
  [UTCDate "2021.06.09"]
  [UTCTime "15:28:08"]
  [WhiteElo "2018"]
  [BlackElo "2363"]
  [WhiteRatingDiff "+11"]
  [BlackRatingDiff "-10"]
  [Variant "Standard"]
  [TimeControl "300+0"]
  [ECO "B21"]
  [Opening "Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack"]
  [Termination "Normal"]
  [Annotator "lichess.org"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 c5 2. f4 { B21 Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack } d5 3. e5?! { (-0.07 → -0.59) Inaccuracy. exd5 was best. } (3. exd5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 Qxd5 6. Qf3 Qe6+ 7. Qe3 Nc6) 3... Nc6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. Bxc6 Bxc6 6. d3?! { (-0.62 → -1.17) Inaccuracy. d4 was best. } (6. d4 Nh6 7. Nf3 e6 8. c3 Nf5 9. O-O cxd4 10. cxd4 Bb5) 6... d4 7. Nf3 Nh6 8. Nbd2 e6 9. Ne4 Be7 10. h3?! { (-0.63 → -1.44) Inaccuracy. Qe2 was best. } (10. Qe2) 10... O-O? { (-1.44 → -0.04) Mistake. f5 was best. } (10... f5) 11. g4 Qd5 12. Kf2 c4?! { (-0.76 → 0.01) Inaccuracy. f6 was best. } (12... f6 13. exf6) 13. g5?? { (0.01 → -2.34) Blunder. Re1 was best. } (13. Re1 Rac8) 13... Nf5 14. Rg1 Kh8 15. Qf1 Rac8 16. Bd2?! { (-2.69 → -3.52) Inaccuracy. Qe2 was best. } (16. Qe2 Rfd8 17. h4 cxd3 18. cxd3 Qb5 19. Rd1 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Rc2+ 21. Rd2 Rdc8 22. h5 g6) 16... cxd3?! { (-3.52 → -2.75) Inaccuracy. b5 was best. } (16... b5 17. Qe2 c3 18. bxc3 dxc3 19. Be3 b4 20. h4 Rfd8 21. h5 a5 22. h6 g6 23. Nf6) 17. cxd3 Bb5 18. Rc1?! { (-2.30 → -3.39) Inaccuracy. a4 was best. } (18. a4 Ba6 19. b4 b6 20. Qe2 Rc2 21. Rgb1 Rfc8 22. Ne1 R2c7 23. a5 Bb7 24. b5 g6) 18... Qxa2 19. Rxc8?! { (-3.01 → -3.78) Inaccuracy. Ng3 was best. } (19. Ng3) 19... Rxc8 20. Bc1? { (-3.78 → -7.51) Mistake. Ng3 was best. } (20. Ng3 Nxg3) 20... Rc2+ 21. Nfd2 Qa6 22. Nf6 Bxd3 23. Qg2 Qc6 24. Qg4 Rxc1 25. Qh5 Bxf6 26. Qxf7 { Black resigns. } 1-0
  
  ```
  
  How should black continue to prevent the checkmate on the backrank?
  
  **Tags:** analysis
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2021-06-10. Score: 16 | Accepted answer
  
  White threatens 27. Qf8#. Black has several ways to stop the immediate mate, so let's look at them:
  
  1. 26...Qc8? 27. Rxc1 Qg8 (27...Qxc1? 28. Qf8#) 28. Qxg8+ Kxg8 29. gxf6 gives back a decisive amount of material.
  2. 26...Qc5? 27. Qe8+ forces mate.
  3. 26...Be7 27. Rxc1 Qd7 leaves Black with a still-comfortable material advantage.
  4. 26...Rf1+ is a variant of the above idea. After 27. Nxf1 or Rxf1 Black plays 27...Be7 and maintains a still-comfortable material advantage.
  5. 26...h6? 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. g6#
  6. 26...h5? 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. g6+ Kh6 29. Qh8#
  7. 26...Nh6 27. gxh6 Bh4+ is the computer's main line. 28. Rg3 (only legal move) Bxg3+ 29. Kxg3 Rg1+ 30. Kh4 Qc8 leaves Black up more than a decisive amount of material.
  
  The last line is admittedly somewhat difficult to spot, but 26...Be7 is still winning.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Bh4+ is what I was missing after white picks the knight, thanks  
  > **username_2**: Thoughts on 26. … h5 (instead of h6)? It doesnt look like it falls to the g6 mate im (5), but I could see 27. Qxh5+ being annoying/starting to give up those material advantages  
  > **username_0**: @username_2 26. …h5 would be a blunder because of the same variation provided by username_1 26...h6? 27. Qf8+ Kh7 28. g6+ Kh6 29.Qh8#  
  > **username_3**: 6. `26...Nh6 27. Qf8+ Ng8` (the declined sacrifice becomes the only blocker that self-pins to stop mate) is mind-bendingly precise but good to study and get comfortable with.  
  > **username_4**: on the first line, with `Qg8 (forced)` I don't see what's wrong with, e.g. `Qb8`? Why it is forced? I imagine `Qb8` leads to `gxf3 gxf3. Qxf3+ Ng7`, which is the same result in material losses for black.  
  > **username_1**: @username_4 I meant Black has to move the queen and cannot play Qxc1. I'll edit.  
  > **username_5**: @username_4, `26...Nh6 27. Qf8+ Ng8 28. gxf3` continues with `28... Rxg1` and White can no longer checkmate.  
  
  ---
  
  