Hi,

I played a very nice miniature on this site the other day, and got to this position:



This position is a mate in 3. As I am a Tal fanboy I decided that I should not win this game without saccing a piece, so played Bg5+, giving me a mate in 4. Of course e5+ straight away wins faster, but I always loved to mate when my opponents king is hindered by his own pieces. So in this position, did I spoil this game by playing Bg5?

Here's the whole game btw, notice that if dxe5 instead of Kf5, there follows Qxe5+ Kxf7 Nxh8#.

I really hoped he would go for that one, but alas.

I somehow can't put two FEN's in one post, so here is the other mate, which I think is nicer:

IMO, the mate that takes the fewest moves is the most elegant, especially in a chess puzzle or correspondence chess. However, if we are talking about an over the board game, or an on-line game in which your opponent is actually sitting there waiting, IMO the mate that wastes the least amount of total clock time for both players is the most elegant. Also, knowingly capturing pieces/pawns, or promoting pawns, when doing so is not necessary to achieve the above, is kinda inelegant.
Jim

What is the most elegant move?
37. e8D# or 37. e8R# ?
Is underpromoting always more elegant?

Originally posted by FabianFnas
What is the most elegant move?
37. e8D# or 37. e8R# ?
Is underpromoting always more elegant?