Celebrate Independence Day with Benko Problems

Happy Independence Day! Solve the following problems from Grandmaster Pal Benko, which are inspired by the American Revolutionary War. Start off with two problems that depict both Independence Day and July 4th: a mate in 7, and a mate in four in "I" and "D." 1.
Mate in 7 Show Solution
 1.Kd6  Nf4  2. Qc4+ Kf5  3. Qc8+  Kf6  4. Qg4  e2  5.Qxf4+  Kg7   6.Qf7+ Kh8 7.Ng6#
2. D
Mate in 4 Show Solution
1.Re4  g6  2. Re8  g5  3.Rg8 gxh4 4.g4#  (if  1…g5  2.Ke6  gxh4  3.Rxh4+ , or 1….gxf6  2.Re5   fxe5  3.  Bf6    )
A
Mate in Three  Show Solution
 1.c7 Kd6   2. Kb4  
R
Show Solution
 2.) 1.Nc1  Kc6 2. Kc4 or 1…Ka5, 2.Kc4
Mate in Three  3
Mate in Three  Show Solution
 1.Na3   Kc5    2.Ke6 
75- 
Stalemate (or mate ) in 5     Show Solution
  1. 0-0 (White's last move)  Kxh6  2. Rf7  Kxh5  3. Rf6  Kxh4   4. Rf5   Kxh3  5. Rf4  stalemate
The solo king (1), and the men in the column (7) and the solution (in five moves) depict the year, 1775. The White men are the patriots while the black king represents the British army. The possible mate in five if (3...Kf8) represents the Lexington, MA victory by the minute men. It became a stalemate situation since there was no decisive victory for either side. 76
Stalemate in 6         Show Solution
 1. Rg1 (White's last move) Kxh6  2. Rg5  Kh7    3. Rg6  Kh8   4. h6  Kh7   5. h5  Kh8  6. Rg7  stalemate or 1……Kg8 2. Kf3 Kf7  ( 2……Kf8  3. Rg1  Ke7  4. Rg6  ) 3. Ke4  Ke6  4. h7
There are 7 total + 6 white men on  the board in honor of the date US declared independence from Britian, on 1776 at the Continental Congress. There are 7+6 white men on the board, but after the serious loss at the NYC battle, only six White men remain. Benjamin Franklin said that"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." He was a famous physicist, statesman as well as an avid chessplayer. He even wrote an essay on chess and how good it is for the mind. 78
   Mate in 8 and stalemate in 3 The stipulations depicts the date of the peace treaty in Paris, in 1783 after eight years of War (eight move mate.) In three moves the King III George could be stalemated,, and US sovereignty is recognized. In the same year with the Louisiana Purchase the US more than doubled its territory Show Solution
  1. Ke2 (White's last move) Kh7 2. Rd1 Kxh6  3. Rd7  Kxh5  4. Rd6  Kxh4  5. Rd5  Kxh3  6. Kf3  Kxh2  7. Rd1 ,or
1……Kg8 2. Kf3 Kf7  ( 2……Kf8  3. Rg1  Ke7  4. Rg6  ) 3. Ke4  Ke6  4. h7
 

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