Chess puzzle

[Super Teds]

There's more than one way I think depending on what the black player does, but the first move is queen to B2.

From there it's either;
1) black rook moves - queen to h8
2) black pawn at f3 moves to e2 - queen to b7
3) black knight moves to d2 - king takes black knight
4) black knight moves to a3 - king castles with rook

by George, I think you've got it!

[KateR]

hardly 2 moves unless I am misunderstanding, I think I can do that in 3 but am stumped in terms of doing it once

[duncandisorderly]

hardly 2 moves unless I am misunderstanding, I think I can do that in 3 but am stumped in terms of doing it once

I think you are misunderstanding.
The first white move is queen to B2. The second white move is dependent on which piece the black player moved. One pawn can't move at all, one can only move to one position, the knight can only move to two and the rook can do what it wants.
Basically, once the queen moves to B2 it matters not what the black player does - all four options result in mate in the following turn.

[Super Teds]

Think you've nailed it DD. Thanks for saving my Friday, and my life

[KateR]

If I move the black rook to C2 how do you get checkmate on your next move?

[HunterST_BFC]

king e1 to f1

castle g5 to h5

game over

[duncandisorderly]

king e1 to f1

castle g5 to h5

game over

But then black pawn at f3 takes pawn at e2 to put king in check. Game not over.

[FactualFrank]

Isn't the above just what I said further up? KendalDave pointed out that the knight can move to B3 and then back again if the King moves up.

[KateR]

not 2 moves though is it?

also after king e1 to f1

I move my black king to H2, don't see how you can then checkmate me on your next move by moving to H5 with your rook, I have space to make another move with my black king

[KateR]

putting here again for ease of reading on second page

[kendaldave]

There's more than one way I think depending on what the black player does, but the first move is queen to B2.

From there it's either;
1) black rook moves - queen to h8
2) black pawn at f3 moves to e2 - queen to b7
3) black knight moves to d2 - king takes black knight
4) black knight moves to a3 - king castles with rook

Brilliant, think you've cracked it!

[dsr]

king e1 to f1

castle g5 to h5

game over

If the king moves e1 to f1, then the black knight moves b1 to d2 and puts the white king in check. So white has to do something about that and can't move the rook.

[duncandisorderly]

If the knight moves to B3 then white castles his king with his rook.

[dsr]

not 2 moves though is it?

also after king e1 to f1

I move my black king to H2, don't see how you can then checkmate me on your next move by moving to H5 with your rook, I have space to make another move with my black king

h2 is covered by the bishop, unless you're answering someone else's puzzle?

[duncandisorderly]

not 2 moves though is it?

also after king e1 to f1

I move my black king to H2, don't see how you can then checkmate me on your next move by moving to H5 with your rook, I have space to make another move with my black king

I don't know what you mean? There are only two moves by the white player - it's just that the second move is dependent on the black players move.

[cloughyclaret]

Castle a1 to b1
King e1 to d2
Checkmate.

[KateR]

i can do G5 - H5
Black king can only move 2 places, G1/2
White Bishop to H2
I was thinking next white move regardless of black, C1 to G5, however black could move B1 to D2 before me and more steps required
as I said my brain hurts

[kendaldave]

If I move the black rook to C2 how do you get checkmate on your next move?

Queen to H8 as pointed out by duncandisorderly.

[KateR]

I don't know what you mean? There are only two moves by the white player - it's just that the second move is dependent on the black players move.

the rules are white has 2 moves, the second white move has to be checkmate regardless of what blacks first move is, well those are the rules as understand them anyhow.

[duncandisorderly]

Castle a1 to b2
King e1 to d2
Checkmate.

King can't move in to check with the black knight.

[duncandisorderly]

the rules are white has 2 moves, the second white move has to be checkmate regardless of what blacks first move is, well those are the rules as understand them anyhow.

This is what I'm describing - irrespective of the black players move, white can win on its second move provided the first move is queen to b2.

[cloughyclaret]

King can't move in to check with the black knight.

Ment b1

[duncandisorderly]

Ment b1

Then rook moves to d3 or c2 and puts king in check.

[KateR]

Queen to H8 as pointed out by duncandisorderly.

yes ok, so instead of moving rook I move black pawn to F3 to E2 how does white make checkmate on the next move since the queen is blocked from black rook in moving directly to H8 now.

[Zlatan]

There's more than one way I think depending on what the black player does, but the first move is queen to B2.

From there it's either;
1) black rook moves - queen to h8
2) black pawn at f3 moves to e2 - queen to b7
3) black knight moves to d2 - king takes black knight
4) black knight moves to a3 - king castles with rook

happy to be corrected, but dont think you can castle with knight attacking b1 from a3

[KateR]

This is what I'm describing - irrespective of the black players move, white can win on its second move provided the first move is queen to b2.

I still don't see it if I move black pawn from F3 to E2

[duncandisorderly]

happy to be corrected, but dont think you can castle with knight attacking b1 from a3

The rules for castling require no pieces betwixt the rook and king and that both pieces are in their original position - if the knight is in a3 then it's no longer between the two - unless I misunderstand you?

[duncandisorderly]

I still don't see it if I move black pawn fro F3 to E2

If you move black pawn to E2 then I move my queen to B7

[Funkydrummer]

Do we need a flow diagram ?

I bloody do !!

[Zlatan]

happy to be corrected, but dont think you can castle with knight attacking b1 from a3

its OK i've corrected myself with google - nice solution

[StuffyClaret]

happy to be corrected, but dont think you can castle with knight attacking b1 from a3

I think king can move to D2 in that scenario leaving checkmate

[Zlatan]

The rules for castling require no pieces betwixt the rook and king and that both pieces are in their original position - if the knight is in a3 then it's no longer between the two - unless I misunderstand you?

nah, its clear, thanks for that - wasted a whole afternoon

EDIT - but there's no info about whether either the king or rook have moved previously so the solution assumes they haven't

[FactualFrank]

Black knight moves to A3 - the black knight can then immediately move back to where he was originally, blocking the line of king and rook.

[cloughyclaret]

Then rook moves to d3 or c2 and puts king in check.

Correct,maybe you can castle while the black night is there,not sure on that rule.

[kendaldave]

happy to be corrected, but dont think you can castle with knight attacking b1 from a3

As long as the king doesn't move through a threatened square when castling you're ok. Rook is allowed to pass through a threatened square when castling.

[StuffyClaret]

Can I just say that I have really enjoyed this thread.....given me something to do while i have been twiddling my arse at work all day

Let's have some more!

[duncandisorderly]

By castling the king ends up in c1 and the rook in d1 - by moving the knight back to b1 you are just adjacent to the king - unless I'm misunderstanding what you mean?

[KateR]

Now I FINALLY see it lol, queen can go H8 if rook moves, or B7 if pawn moves

but if I move black knight to D2 what can the next move be for checkmate? E1 to D2.

Easy wasn't it

thank you

[Funkydrummer]

happy to be corrected, but dont think you can castle with knight attacking b1 from a3

The rules of Chess state that castling is illegal when:

1. The King has moved earlier

2. The Rook has moved earlier

3. The King is in check

4. The King is under an opponent's attack

5. The King's squares of journey and destiny are under hostile attack by an opponent's
piece.

6. If there are Chess pieces between the King or the Rook

If you have been checked during a game and you have met the above rules (i.e. the check was blocked by interposing another piece or by taking the enemy piece with an own piece other than the King or Rook involved in the castling) then nothing will prevent you from castling later.

This applies no matter how many times your King has been put in check during the game.

[duncandisorderly]

Now I FINALLY see it lol, queen can go H8 if rook moves, or B7 if pawn moves

but if I move black knight to D2 what can the next move be for checkmate? E1 to D1.

Easy wasn't it

thank you

E1 to D2 - king takes knight!

[FactualFrank]

Queen moves to B2.

If we then see B1 to A3, then the king can move to D2.

Check.

The knight in A3 can move back to where it was originally - B1. This then makes the King no longer in check as the knight is blocking the rook.

Both players have played 2 moves.

[KateR]

yessssss 100% right I missed my number, was correcting while you replied

[duncandisorderly]

Queen moves to B2.

If we then see B1 to A3, then the king can move to D2.

Check.

The knight in A3 can move back to where it was originally - B1. This then makes the King no longer in check as the knight is blocking the rook.

Both players have played 2 moves.

If the knight moves to a3 then the king doesn't move to d2 but instead castles with the rook.

[KateR]

forget the castling, as pointed out, move queen to B2, regardless of what black does next move is checkmate ether by queen, 2 options if black moves rook or pawn. If black moves knight then king takes knight and checkmate from rook A1.

[FactualFrank]

There's more than one way I think depending on what the black player does, but the first move is queen to B2.
4) black knight moves to a3 - king castles with rook

4) black knight moves to a3 - king castles with rook

Black knight then uses his second move to go back to the space it was originally in. Doesn't this block the check?

Not played chess in years, but thought rook - knight - king, means the rook is no longer putting the king into check.

[duncandisorderly]

4) black knight moves to a3 - king castles with rook

Black knight then uses his second move to go back to the space it was originally in. Doesn't this block the check?

Not played chess in years, but thought rook - knight - king, means the rook is no longer putting the king into check.

But by castling the rook ends up in D1, the King in C1. Moving your knight back to B1 just puts it adjacent to the king.

[KateR]

forget the castling, as pointed out, move queen to B2, regardless of what black does next move is checkmate ether by queen, 2 options if black moves rook or pawn. If black moves knight then king takes knight and checkmate from rook A1.

as per this

[duncandisorderly]

Kate - if the black knight moves to A3 then the only way to win on whites second turn is by castling.

[Zlatan]

The rules of Chess state that castling is illegal when:

1. The King has moved earlier

2. The Rook has moved earlier

3. The King is in check

4. The King is under an opponent's attack

5. The King's squares of journey and destiny are under hostile attack by an opponent's
piece.

6. If there are Chess pieces between the King or the Rook

If you have been checked during a game and you have met the above rules (i.e. the check was blocked by interposing another piece or by taking the enemy piece with an own piece other than the King or Rook involved in the castling) then nothing will prevent you from castling later.

This applies no matter how many times your King has been put in check during the game.

Cheers Funkydrummer - already googled that myself almost immediately and saw the error of my ways (including asking to be corrected on this forum - far too many people queuing up to do that )

its OK i've corrected myself with google - nice solution

[KateR]

yes sorry, seeing that now, was missing the A3 move doh! So there are 4 options for the check mate for the 4 potential moves black can make, that penny is dropping slowly but hoepfully that is the end of it

Enjoyed that thank you.