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Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:01 am
by Super Teds
This is doing my head in, I'm not convinced it's possible. White to win in 2 moves whatever black does.
![Image]()
. Help please!
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:07 am
by Quickenthetempo
Pawn at E2 takes F3.
Then the king moves into E2
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:10 am
by fatboy47
or king to F1
rook to H5 ?
sorry...no.thats 3 if black knight checks
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:14 am
by Super Teds
e2-f3 but black defends knight b1-d2 Then can block check from the queen. Or rook c3-c2
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:35 am
by StuffyClaret
Super Teds wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:14 am
e2-f3 but black defends knight b1-d2 Then can block check from the queen. Or rook c3-c2
In that case the second white move is e1-e2 taking Knight.... Checkmate
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:37 am
by AfloatinClaret
Super Teds wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:14 am
e2-f3 but black defends knight b1-d2 Then can block check from the queen. Or rook c3-c2
So King goes to d2 (knight gone) rather than e2
Sorry, StuffyClarets post didn't show on my screen; why not?
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:40 am
by Super Teds
yes true. I should have just said rook c3-c2. so the king can't move
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:42 am
by StuffyClaret
Yes. King to e2 if Knight is left at b1. King takes Knight if it moves to d2
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:46 am
by Super Teds
doesn't work because if white e2-f3 then black c3-c2. So the King can't move into check
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:39 am
by Zlatan
can do it in 3 moves in various ways, but cant see how to force in 2... if anyone solves it I need to know!
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:54 am
by conyoviejo
White E1-F1
White G5-g1
Checkmate
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:03 pm
by AfloatinClaret
Got it! Re-run the problem on the basis that it's black's move next rather than white's and you can do it easily, maybe only one move.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:04 pm
by andyh
conyoviejo wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 11:54 am
White E1-F1
White G5-g1
Checkmate
f3xe2+ and the king has to break check
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:10 pm
by Quickenthetempo
AfloatinClaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:03 pm
Got it! Re-run the problem on the basis that it's black's move next rather than white's and you can do it easily, maybe only one move.
If black moves first you can do it in one move.
Or impossible depending on their move.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:12 pm
by Zlatan
AfloatinClaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:03 pm
Got it! Re-run the problem on the basis that it's black's move next rather than white's and you can do it easily, maybe only one move.
go on then... take me through it.
pawn f3 can only go e2 - then King e1-e2 Checkmate
pawn a1 cant move
Knight b1 can go either a1 or d2 - d2, then King e1-d2 Checkmate; a1, King e1-d2 Checkmate
Rook however can do many different options, for example c3-c5 to threaten the white rook - White king cant just e1-d2 because of knight so can really only move white rook to either take black rook or move out of line.
I'm struggling here

Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 12:56 pm
by bfcjg
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 1:49 pm
by Funkydrummer
Who has the first move ?
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:07 pm
by KateR
C1 - B1
E1 - D2
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:13 pm
by FactualFrank
Move the Queen (white) into B2 (Move 1)
If black pawn takes white pawn and moves into F3, then White Queen moves to B7 for checkmate (Move 2)
However if black moves their Rook anywhere, then White queen moves to H8 instead (Move 2)
If the black horse is jumped to d2 or a3 instead then White moves the king to D2 (Move 2)
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:16 pm
by Funkydrummer
KateR wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:07 pm
C1 - B1
E1 - D2
That's nailed it as far as I can see.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:17 pm
by Buxtonclaret
To whom it may concern...
Had this scenario on my board shortly after the OP.
Am now burning my chess set.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:20 pm
by FactualFrank
I thought it meant 2 moves for White, not 1 move each.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:22 pm
by FactualFrank
KateR wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:07 pm
C1 - B1
E1 - D2
Can't the black pawn move forward twice (take white pawn then reach the end of the board) and block the check?
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:26 pm
by bfcmik
KateR wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:07 pm
C1 - B1
E1 - D2
Mate in 2 stopped by c3-d3 - then it can defend the checkmate (for 1 move) by d3-d1
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:27 pm
by dsr
KateR wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:07 pm
C1 - B1
E1 - D2
C1-B1 would be followed by A2-B1, taking off the white queen and promoting the black pawn. Or possibly c3-b3 so that black's next move after the king move, b3-b1 takes the queen.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:32 pm
by AfloatinClaret
Funkydrummer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:16 pm
That's nailed it as far as I can see.
'F'raid not, having moved the Queen to B1, it falls to the pawn, so you'd still need two more white moves.
FactualFrank's B2 move seems to be the answer.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:32 pm
by Funkydrummer
Oh, stuff this, I'm off to see if the roof's still on.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:36 pm
by KateR
yes I was wrong
white has 2 moves and goes first so that means black has only one move to prevent white moving to checkmate, blacks second move is meaningless as he can not stop the checkmate on whites second move, this is the scenario.
Quite right I would have lost white queen to black pawn, therefore the move I suggested does not work at all doh!
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:36 pm
by dsr
FactualFrank wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:13 pm
Move the Queen (white) into B2 (Move 1)
If black pawn takes white pawn and moves into F3, then White Queen moves to B7 for checkmate (Move 2)
However if black moves their Rook anywhere, then White queen moves to H8 instead (Move 2)
If the black horse is jumped to d2 or a3 instead then White moves the king to D2 (Move 2)
For the first option, I think you mean B7?
But with the balck horse option, if the queen is at B2 and the king is at D2, then the black king isn't even in check and the black horse can skip about the board so there can't be a checkmate. Can there?
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:37 pm
by FactualFrank
AfloatinClaret wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:32 pm
'F'raid not, having moved the Queen to B1, it falls to the pawn, so you'd still need two more white moves.
FactualFrank's B2 move seems to be the answer.
C1 to B2
Then there's a move for White to checkmate, regardless of what Black does.
That's my more simplified version

Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:38 pm
by FactualFrank
dsr wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:36 pm
For the first option, I think you mean B7?
But with the balck horse option, if the queen is at B2 and the king is at D2, then the black king isn't even in check and the black horse can skip about the board so there can't be a checkmate. Can there?
Yeah, I did, just edited it.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:38 pm
by Funkydrummer
KateR wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:36 pm
yes I was wrong
white has 2 moves and goes first so that means black has only one move to prevent white moving to checkmate, blacks second move is meaningless as he can not stop the checkmate on whites second move, this is the scenario.
Quite right I would have lost white queen to black pawn, therefore the move I suggested does not work at all doh!
Oh, cheers Kate !!!
Led right up the garden path there.

Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:51 pm
by FactualFrank
dsr wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:36 pm
But with the balck horse option, if the queen is at B2 and the king is at D2, then the black king isn't even in check and the black horse can skip about the board so there can't be a checkmate. Can there?
Not sure now, my brain is fried.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:52 pm
by Zlatan
FactualFrank wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:13 pm
Move the Queen (white) into B2 (Move 1)
If black pawn takes white pawn and moves into F3, then White Queen moves to B7 for checkmate (Move 2)
However if black moves their Rook anywhere, then White queen moves to H8 instead (Move 2)
If the black horse is jumped to d2 or a3 instead then White moves the king to D2 (Move 2)
thanks Frank - I think you have it

Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:05 pm
by kendaldave
FactualFrank wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:13 pm
Move the Queen (white) into B2 (Move 1)
If black pawn takes white pawn and moves into F3, then White Queen moves to B7 for checkmate (Move 2)
However if black moves their Rook anywhere, then White queen moves to H8 instead (Move 2)
If the black horse is jumped to d2 or a3 instead then White moves the king to D2 (Move 2)
If black knight moves to A3 and king moves to D2 then returning black knight to B1 prevents checkmate.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:06 pm
by FactualFrank
Zlatan wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 2:52 pm
thanks Frank - I think you have it
I don't think I have, and think dsr.
If we start with what I suggested by moving queen to B2, the black horse can move to a3.
The Queen can't do anything for the second move to make it checkmake.
If the King moves to D3, then all the black horse has to do is move back to its original spot, to black the castle checking the King.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:06 pm
by FactualFrank
As what kendaldave said.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:15 pm
by Dougall
White g5-h5 check
white f4-h2 Mate ?
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:17 pm
by FactualFrank
Dougall wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:15 pm
White g5-h5 check
white f4-h2 Mate ?
King can move to G2 as castle is no longer where it was.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:20 pm
by kendaldave
Dougall wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:15 pm
White g5-h5 check
white f4-h2 Mate ?
Black king to G1 and returns to H1.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:21 pm
by fatboy47
C1 to E3
Queen takes pawn..checkmate.?
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:23 pm
by kendaldave
fatboy47 wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:21 pm
C1 to E3
Queen takes pawn..checkmate.?
Black rook takes pawn and then takes queen.
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:27 pm
by Zlatan
FactualFrank wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:06 pm
I don't think I have, and think dsr.
If we start with what I suggested by moving queen to B2, the black horse can move to a3.
The Queen can't do anything for the second move to make it checkmake.
If the King moves to D3, then all the black horse has to do is move back to its original spot, to black the castle checking the King.
SHUT IT FRANK... we could've fooled them all
back to the squared drawing board...
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:47 pm
by claretblue
I don't think it's possible
...It's a weird one because all of the blacks moves are so unnatural in that they just lose pieces but technically after pawn takes f3, black can take the c2 pawn with their rook and delay checkmate by a move
its checkmate in three in a number of ways but no way to mate in2!

Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:51 pm
by Zlatan
I had a 3 hour Zoom meeting with Splunk today, and then this. I've got no work done at all, TGIF...!
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:55 pm
by Zlatan
Super Teds wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:01 am
This is doing my head in, I'm not convinced it's possible. White to win in 2 moves whatever black does.
![Image]()
. Help please!
where did you find the puzzle? any clues to the solution there?
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 4:01 pm
by Dougall
FactualFrank wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:17 pm
King can move to G2 as castle is no longer where it was.
Then Bishop moves to h2?
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 4:11 pm
by KateR
ok, my brain is officially hurting now
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 4:18 pm
by Super Teds
Zlatan wrote: ↑Fri Jun 12, 2020 3:55 pm
where did you find the puzzle? any clues to the solution there?
http://www.theproblemist.org/wcbcsc/wcb ... ct=starter
no, it's a competition entry, also on guardian sport page. If I had a life, I'd have wasted it today. Please someone solve it!
Re: Chess puzzle
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 4:44 pm
by duncandisorderly
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