Endgame problem from 1904

magnublm

Only Chess

27 Oct 07

magnublm

Joined: 17 Dec 02
Moves: 4144

27 Oct 07

Mate in three.

The problem dates 1904, and it's from http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/williams.html

magnublm

Joined: 17 Dec 02
Moves: 4144

27 Oct 07

This drove me nuts, by the way.

tomtom232

Joined: 15 Jun 06
Moves: 16334

27 Oct 07

7 edits

Originally posted by magnublm
This drove me nuts, by the way.

If the Q was on d7 its a mate in three but from here it is a mate in five.

1. Qxh2 Kxa7 2. Qc7+ Ka6 3. Rh6+ Kb5 4. Rb6+ Ka5 5. Qa7# 1-0

magnublm

Joined: 17 Dec 02
Moves: 4144

27 Oct 07

Originally posted by tomtom232
If the Q was on d7 its a mate in three but from here it is a mate in six.

1. Kb2 a1=Q+ 2. Rxa1 h1=Q 3. Qh8+ Kb7 4. a8=Q+ Kb6 5. Qd4+ Kb5 6. Ra5# 1-0

Look again. ;-) It *is* mate in 3.

tomtom232

Joined: 15 Jun 06
Moves: 16334

27 Oct 07

Originally posted by magnublm
Look again. ;-) It *is* mate in 3.

heres what I got after looking at it longer

1. Qxh2 Kxa7 2. Qd6 Ka8 3. Qd7 Kb8 4. Rh8# {White mates} 1-0

Yuga

Renaissance

OnceInALifetime

Joined: 24 Sep 05
Moves: 30579

27 Oct 07

1 edit

Originally posted by magnublm
Look again. ;-) It *is* mate in 3.

I have seen this problem on the Winter site. :-) It is a nice little conception.

Edit: That seems to be where you found it too!

tomtom232

Joined: 15 Jun 06
Moves: 16334

27 Oct 07

1 edit

Originally posted by magnublm
[fen]k7/P6Q/8/8/8/8/p6p/K6R w - - 0 1[/fen]

Mate in three.

The problem dates 1904, and it's from http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/williams.html

I got it!

1. Kb2 a1=Q+ 2. Rxa1 h1=Q 3. Qxh1# {White mates} 1-0

Dragon Fire

Lord of all beasts

searching for truth

Joined: 06 Jun 06
Moves: 30390

27 Oct 07

1 edit

Originally posted by tomtom232
I got it!

1. Kb2 a1=Q+ 2. Rxa1 h1=Q 3. Qxh1# {White mates} 1-0

Why bother. Qxh2 saves brain cells and wins easily in 4 moves.

wittywonka

Chocolate Expert

Cocoa Mountains

Joined: 26 Nov 06
Moves: 19249

27 Oct 07

2 edits

Originally posted by magnublm
[fen]k7/P6Q/8/8/8/8/p6p/K6R w - - 0 1[/fen]

Mate in three.

The problem dates 1904, and it's from http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/williams.html

Finally found it, but it took me long enough...

1. Ka2 a1=Q+
2. Rxa1 h1=Q
3. Qxh1#

Edit - I see that tomtom beat me to it, but I solved it without scrolling down... 😉

Edit 2 - Nice puzzle, thanks for posting it.

ilywrin

Joined: 30 Oct 04
Moves: 7813

27 Oct 07

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Why bother. Qxh2 saves brain cells and wins easily in 4 moves.

I guess you are not much into that kind of puzzles - if win is all that matters, I guess a few moves are not a concern. But to find a solution in the requested number of moves (and this being a composition means it has a single solution) will help finding the "best" move. Anyway for the lovers of such problems here is a site that marinkatomb pointed me to in the past:
http://www.chessproblems.com/

schakuhr

Joined: 12 Feb 05
Moves: 47202

27 Oct 07

Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Why bother. Qxh2 saves brain cells and wins easily in 4 moves.

? The first solution I found was 1. Kb2 a1Q+ 2. Rxa1 h1Q+ 3. Qxh1# after about 10-20 seconds. It is completely forced and therefore pretty easy to find, I don't see how the other way 'saves brain cells'.

wittywonka

Chocolate Expert

Cocoa Mountains

Joined: 26 Nov 06
Moves: 19249

27 Oct 07

1 edit

Originally posted by schakuhr
...The first solution I found was 1. Kb2 a1Q+ 2. Rxa1 h1Q+ 3. Qxh1# after about 10-20 seconds...

It took me about 5 minutes... 🙁

~~Dutch Defense~~

Stealer of Souls

Waiting for You

Joined: 16 Feb 07
Moves: 119052

27 Oct 07

Originally posted by wittywonka
It took me about 5 minutes... 🙁

😵