01 Oct 04
White: Ka2, Be8, Nf7, Nh51.Ba4, Kc4
Black: Kd5, d2, e4, f3
White to move and win
2.Ka3, e3
3.Ng3, f2
4.Bd1...
That's one partial variation. It's all about preventing the pawns from queening. Nf7 can drop from the heavens and take a pawn piece or simply aid in preventing e-file pawn from e1=Q. White's king can move to prevent black's king from taking the bishop while the knights advance on the pawns. The positioning of each pawn gives each white piece enough tempo to get to a place where he can defend the first rank squares. No?
02 Oct 04
Originally posted by mindbuzzYup! That's about it...if Black manages to advance his pawns to the first rank, White's finished...but if White plays just what he needs to...there's no doubt that he would win...
1.Ba4, Kc4
2.Ka3, e3
3.Ng3, f2
4.Bd1...
That's one partial variation. It's all about preventing the pawns from queening. Nf7 can drop from the heavens and take a pawn piece or simply aid in preventing e-file pawn from e1=Q. White's king can move to prevent black's king from taking the bishop while the knights advance on the pawns. The position ...[text shortened]... each white piece enough tempo to get to a place where he can defend the first rank squares. No?
02 Oct 04
1 edit
Here's one taken from a Garry Kasparov game when he was playing yet another computer program...
White: Kg1,Qh5,Ne4,Bc1,g2,Ra1,e1,Pa2,b2,c4,d3,e5,f4,g3,h3
Black: Kg8,Qd7,Nc6,Bb7,b8,Ra8,f8,Pa5,b6,c5,d4,e6,f7,g7,h7
rb3rk1/1b1q1ppp/1pn1p3/p1p1P2Q/2PpNP2/3P2PP/PP4B1/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 1
White to move and win in five...
Have fun...^__^
02 Oct 04
Originally posted by mindbuzzIm sorry, this is not correct. After 1. Ba4 black plays 1... e3
1.Ba4, Kc4
2.Ka3, e3
3.Ng3, f2
4.Bd1...
That's one partial variation. It's all about preventing the pawns from queening. Nf7 can drop from the heavens and take a pawn piece or simply aid in preventing e-file pawn from e1=Q. White's king can move to prevent black's king from taking the bishop while the knights advance on the pawns. The position ...[text shortened]... each white piece enough tempo to get to a place where he can defend the first rank squares. No?
I admit that this study is hard, but the solution is very beautiful.
03 Oct 04
Originally posted by FireswordOkay...here's something entirely new (and better)
Good try! But lets look at blacks 4. move. Here he will not play 4... fxe2, but instead 4... Ke3, with the plan of moving his king down to e1.
1. Ba4 Kd4
2. Bd1 e3
3. Ng3 Kc3
4. Bxf3 Kc2
5. Be4+ Kc1
6. Ne2+ Kd1
7. Nc3+ Ke1
8. Bf3 Kf2
9. Ne5 Kf1
10. Bg4 Ke1
11. Nd1 Kf1
12. Nxe3+ Kf2
13. Nf5 Kf1
14. Nd3 Kg1
15. Kb2 Kf1
16. Kc2 d1Q+
17. Kxd1 Kg2
18. Ke2 Kg1
19. Ne1 Kh2
20. Kf2 Kh1
21. Ng3+ Kh2
22. Nf3++
03 Oct 04
Originally posted by yamiyokazeThe only problem is that black doesn't play 1... Kd4 but 1... e3
Okay...here's something entirely new (and better)
1. Ba4 Kd4
2. Bd1 e3
3. Ng3 Kc3
4. Bxf3 Kc2
5. Be4+ Kc1
6. Ne2+ Kd1
7. Nc3+ Ke1
8. Bf3 Kf2
9. Ne5 Kf1
10. Bg4 Ke1
11. Nd1 Kf1
12. Nxe3+ Kf2
13. Nf5 Kf1
14. Nd3 Kg1
15. Kb2 Kf1
16. Kc2 d1Q+
17. Kxd1 Kg2
18. Ke2 Kg1
19. Ne1 Kh2
20. Kf2 Kh1
21. Ng3+ Kh2
22. Nf3++
03 Oct 04
Here's one taken from a Garry Kasparov game when he was playing yet another computer program...
White: Kg1,Qh5,Ne4,Bc1,g2,Ra1,e1,Pa2,b2,c4,d3,e5,f4,g3,h3
Black: Kg8,Qd7,Nc6,Bb7,b8,Ra8,f8,Pa5,b6,c5,d4,e6,f7,g7,h7
rb3rk1/1b1q1ppp/1pn1p3/p1p1P2Q/2PpNP2/3P2PP/PP4B1/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 1
White to move and win in five...
Have fun...^__^
04 Oct 04
Originally posted by yamiyokazeI got it. First move is Nf6 to put the black king in check and break through the barrier of the second rank pawns. If...
rb3rk1/1b1q1ppp/1pn1p3/p1p1P2Q/2PpNP2/3P2PP/PP4B1/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 1
White to move and win in five...
1.Nf6, Kh1 then... 2.Qh7++
But that isn't 5 moves and black would be better off taking the knight, so...
1.Nf6, gxf6
2.exf6, Kh1
Pondering black's next move is a little tough, but I would think black's strategy would have to try to preemptively prevent check from the queen and plan to close up g file with the rook next turn, despite the open diagonal thus...
1.Nf6, gxf6
2.exf6, Kh1
3.Be4, h6
4.Qxh6+, Kg8
5.Qh7++
=)
04 Oct 04
Originally posted by mindbuzzYou've got it...although I'm sure that you meant Kh8 as it's unusual for the king to move so many squares in one move...^__~
I got it. First move is Nf6 to put the black king in check and break through the barrier of the second rank pawns. If...
1.Nf6, Kh1 then... 2.Qh7++
But that isn't 5 moves and black would be better off taking the knight, so...
1.Nf6, gxf6
2.exf6, Kh1
Pondering black's next move is a little tough, but I would think black's strategy would have ...[text shortened]... te the open diagonal thus...
1.Nf6, gxf6
2.exf6, Kh1
3.Be4, h6
4.Qxh6+, Kg8
5.Qh7++
=)
04 Oct 04
Originally posted by mindbuzzI think it would be:
Okay, I haven't had a chance to peruse this entire thread, so I don't know for sure if this problem has ever been posted before or not. But it's a smooth, little composition by Sam Loyd (c. 1861) --
[fen]n1rb4/1p3p1p/1p6/1R5K/8/p3p1PN/1PP1R3/N6k w - - 0 1[/fen]
White to mate in 5 moves.
1. b4 Rxc2
2. Nxc2 a2
3. Rd5 a1Q
4. Nxa1 Nc7
5. Rd1++
The trick here is to get rid of Black's passed pawn and then to get the other rook down there...but I think the more looming question in my mind is not the way to get checkmate, but how that Black king got all the way over there! o__O