Only Chess
27 Mar 07
27 Mar 07
Originally posted by JusuhThat was the part i was thinking about.. But i don't see how it could be done right away!
If white does not move his bishop, which I think is the case, then he must keep black king on the edge and mate him with two knights. That could be possible, given that there are some black pieces blocking possible escape squares.
27 Mar 07
Originally posted by DeepThoughtyou mean g7? I was wondering that too. Only explanation I could come up with was that its needed for spending tempos.
TommyC mentionned that Lasker described the problem as being "close to the ideal". In chess problems the ideal is that there are no pieces or pawns on the board that are not relevant to the problem. I wonder what the purpose of the black pawn on b7 is.
27 Mar 07
Originally posted by DeepThoughtI read the Lasker quote in the fascinating Levitt & Friedgood book 'Secrets of Spectacular Chess', where I also found this position. As I recall (I don't have the book with me) the book also explained how Lasker had his own ideas about the ideal in studies which were quite philosophical. But I don't recall any more detail. Anyhow. The ideal you mention applies absolutely to the white army, as Lasker in fact noted. And without the g7 pawn, there would I believe be a dual on move 2, amongst other things.
TommyC mentionned that Lasker described the problem as being "close to the ideal". In chess problems the ideal is that there are no pieces or pawns on the board that are not relevant to the problem. I wonder what the purpose of the black pawn on b7 is.
28 Mar 07
Alright, here's an easy one. But it's an easy one with a great story behind it, that Goran Urosevic of Chesslodge told me via my blog:
"It was two german players, champions of neigbhoring cities, that were playing the match. I can't remember the names now. The guy with white pieces had to hurry and catch up the last train to go home, and in this position he moved quickly Ne5. After his oponent took Bd1, he resigned and rushed to the station. On the way, he was still thinking about the "blunder" and then he found brilliant idea how to continue the game. He goes back to the caffe and resumes the game to deliever great combination. Of course, then he had quite a walk home."
28 Mar 07
1 edit
Originally posted by Helder OctavioWhite brings the king to f6 in 2 moves. If Black's 2 moves are:
Ricardo Reti, 1921.
[fen]7K/8/k1P5/7p/8/8/8/8 w - - - 1[/fen]
White to move. Draw.
1..h4, 2..h3 -> 3.Ke6 and white queens straight after black.
1..Kb6, 2..K*c6-> 3.Kg5 and captures black pawn
1..h4, 2..Ka7 -> 3.Ke6 and queens before black
1..h4, 2..Kb6 -> 3.Ke5. If 3..h3 -> 4.Kd6 and queens straight after black
3..K*c6 -> 4.f6 and captures blacks pawn
I think that works
EDIT: Very surprising though, im sure i would have resigned that position
28 Mar 07
Originally posted by TommyCeasy but still pretty cool.
[fen]r2q2kr/p1p2p1p/1p3p1B/2b1n3/P1ppN1b1/5N2/1PP2PPP/R2QR1K1 w - - 0 1 [/fen]
Alright, here's an easy one. But it's an easy one with a great story behind it, that Goran Urosevic of Chesslodge told me via my blog:
"It was two german players, champions of neigbhoring cities, that were playing the match. I can't remember the names now. The guy with white pi ...[text shortened]... esumes the game to deliever great combination. Of course, then he had quite a walk home."
now back to "close to the ideal" one... I think no RHP member can solve it. How about revealing the solution? 😀
28 Mar 07
Originally posted by hSilvaYou garbled the notation but indeed have the right idea.
Nd7! and black is DOOMED!
After
Be7, Nexf6+
Bxf6, Rd8+
Qxd8, Nxf6#
all other options are mate in less/same moves
Alright, here's a rather more unusual one. I know chess players often look at these kinds of puzzles and think they're unrealistic, and therefore decide not to bother. But I think this is a mistake. There is a lot of fun to be had, even if the learning value might be low, with this kind of thing. And I'm not even sure the learning value is low.
A puzzle by the contemporary great Gregory Popov. White to play: and check mate black in 8 moves, and no more than that.
28 Mar 07
Originally posted by TommyC1. Bg3 f5 2. Bxh2 Kxh2 3. Rxg1 f4 4. Qe1 Kh3 (4... d4 5. Qh4+
You garbled the notation but indeed have the right idea.
Alright, here's a rather more unusual one. I know chess players often look at these kinds of puzzles and think they're unrealistic, and therefore decide not to bother. But I think this is a mistake. There is a lot of fun to be had, even if the learning value might be low, with this kind of thing. And ...[text shortened]... y great Gregory Popov. White to play: and check mate black in 8 moves, and no more than that.
Kxg1 6. Kd1 Kf1 7. Qe1🙄 5. Rh1+ gxh1=Q 6. Qxh1+ Kg3 7. Qg1+ Kh3 8. b4 d4 9.
Kd1 Kh4 10. Qg4# 1-0
hmm....cant find it in 8 though....
28 Mar 07
Originally posted by ShinidokiThat's what drove me up the wall when solving this one - so many mates not quite in 8. (There's one in 9 too.)
1. Bg3 f5 2. Bxh2 Kxh2 3. Rxg1 f4 4. Qe1 Kh3 (4... d4 5. Qh4+
Kxg1 6. Kd1 Kf1 7. Qe1🙄 5. Rh1+ gxh1=Q 6. Qxh1+ Kg3 7. Qg1+ Kh3 8. b4 d4 9.
Kd1 Kh4 10. Qg4# 1-0
hmm....cant find it in 8 though....
