mate in 1

Taken from Chess' december issue.Not too difficult but I like it because it's funny and engines are useless.

White to move mates in 1


toet.

You're right. Not hard, once you see it. And fun too. Bet many won't see it tho 😲

Pal, are you sure this is a mate in 1? I can't seem to find it. Please post the solution. Thanks.

Originally posted by Goshen
Pal, are you sure this is a mate in 1? I can't seem to find it. Please post the solution. Thanks.

Yes, there is a mate in one.
Think once more.

Originally posted by FabianFnas
Yes, there is a mate in one.
Think once more.

Haha!!! I finally got it!! It's so not obvious! Great!

Very cute, although the solution is a little deceptive given the amount of information provided.

Yeah, engines can only work with what they're given. If you set up the conditions properly in the GUI, almost all engines will find it instantly.

So why did Mr. Toet write that engines are useless?

Originally posted by Goshen
So why did Mr. Toet write that engines are useless?

Because most engine operators wouldn't think to set up the proper condition when inputting the FEN into the GUI.

nvm

Once you realise the proper conditions you wouldn't need the engine 🙂

And yes,there's some trickery.Heck,it's mate in 1,without a trick it's not worth looking at.

It's a creation of J.Perkins btw.Unknown to me but I'm not a keen problemist

toet.

The bishop blocks the mate! Knight blocks other mate!

I can't see it. 😞

Edit - Saw it.

Often in this kind of problem, there is a way to prove what black's last move must have been. Is this the case here?

Originally posted by Zaubernuss
Often in this kind of problem, there is a way to prove what black's last move must have been. Is this the case here?

To answer my own question, I think the answer is yes. I'll leave it to others to fill in the details.

Nice problem!