Please try this....

yes. 4 mins.

😠 No illegal positions.

yes, 6ish minutes

If there's no white king on the board, then the position is always going to be illegal.

No, 5 minutes plus.

Ah, just got it. Was trying to see the position in my head but couldn't, had to set it up on a board before I found it.

Thanks lads that will do.

Got a bucket load of PM's with the answer or not the answer because
some people thought it was a GP joke and did not want to set
themseleves for riddicule.

It's not a joke. And if you did not get it, it's OK.
(some very good players have failed).

Next blog posted later on today will reveal all and the reason.
I have been showing that wee puzzle for over 25 years to players of
varying strength from GM's downwards.

Right now I've got to get some sleep.

(I'll play some blitz first)....🙁

Pity one or two dropped a hint. I knew someone would.
(so expect to see your biggest blunder posted very soon on here) 😉

Thanks again.


Edit 1: 9 players in the Blitz room - we have to get that room filled up.
Rated games should do it or at least show the W.D.L's.
Going to bed.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
(so expect to see your biggest blunder posted very soon on here) 😉

I hung a Rook for mate in one against a 1200 player.

If that's not a whopper, I don't know what is.

Originally posted by SwissGambit
I hung a Rook for mate in one against a 1200 player.

If that's not a whopper, I don't know what is.

We should get together and write a book.

Yes, one minute or so.

Followup: Demonstrate a legal way to arrive at the position.

Hi SG.

It was not a Rook you hung, you left your King en prise.

White to play.



Not a bad move though.
19...Ng4 hitting the Queen and threatening a mate on h2.
One slight drawback,.....

My recent one. I've just played 23.Qg3-h3.



I meant 23.Qh4+ this is my clumiest move to date and was long over due
after all the prattling on I do about a pre-send check.

Chess advice always returns to haunt you and practising what you
preach is very very hard.

(I was actually posting and writing my blog whilst playing games - the irony).

Mu opponent must have thought I was a nutter because I sent a draw
offer with this move. 🙂

Yes. 4 mins, 50 secs!

Yes, two minutes

Now that everything was revealed, I'll give out my thinking process for this one. I was trying to solve it conventionally, playing around with the rooks and the knight. after a few mins I found that it wasn't working. So you have to think outside the box.

I got it 10 seconds after I started to think about the problem this way.

- you need to cover 9 squares, the king itself + the 8 surrounding squares.

- The knight can only cover two escape squares from the king(or put him in check while covering one square), no matter how you place it.

-Which way can you place the rooks to cover 7 squares (without hanging themselves)? The answer comes very quickly afterward.

Forgot to add solutions here are all 4 - Cheers Max.

Try it out amongst other players.
It's surpising how often less experinced players get it so quickly
and yet stronger players struggle.

Now you have it, like other patterns you have messed about with,
you will take it to your grave.

Let me know if the opportunity to use it in a game crops up. 😉

Thanks again everyone who took part.