Originally posted by UriesA good one. Can you see you have worked at it.
[fen]rr4Q1/kpK5/2n5/1p6/P7/8/8/R7 w - - 0 1[/fen]
White to move and mate in 4. (He chooses to show off and play the fancy mate as opposed to the mate in 2)
1. Qxb8 Nxb8 [...Rxb8 2. axb5+ Na5 3. Rxa5#] [...Ka6 2. Qxa8+ Na7 3. Qxa7+ Kxa7 4. axb5#]
2. axb5 Na6+
3. Rxa6+ bxa6
4. b6#
I was thinking if you replaced the b8 Rook with a Black Queen.
(Black's last move was 1...Qf8-b8+) then the problem is sound
without having to add the 'showing off' variation.
That does mean the problem atarts off with White in check
which is against most Problem rules. But it works.
2.Qxb8 Nxb8
3.axb5+ Na6+
4.Rxa6 bxa6
5.b6 mate.
1 edit
Originally posted by greenpawn34Edit: Thought 4.b6# worked, but 3...Nxa6+ is check.
A good one. Can you see you have worked at it.
I was thinking if you replaced the b8 Rook with a Black Queen.
(Black's last move was 1...Qf8-b8+) then the problem is sound
without having to add the 'showing off' variation.
That does mean the problem atarts off with White in check
which is against most Problem rules. But it works.
2.Qxb8 Nxb8
3.axb5+ Na6+
4.Rxa6 bxa6
5.b6 mate.
Originally posted by UriesYes, like greenpawn says, substitute a queen on b8 for the rook and it will work.... I don't remember saying it is against the rules to start off in check and if I have I will have to ammend that.
[fen]rr4Q1/kpK5/2n5/1p6/P7/8/8/R7 w - - 0 1[/fen]
White to move and mate in 4. (He chooses to show off and play the fancy mate as opposed to the mate in 2)
1. Qxb8 Nxb8 [...Rxb8 2. axb5+ Na5 3. Rxa5#] [...Ka6 2. Qxa8+ Na7 3. Qxa7+ Kxa7 4. axb5#]
2. axb5 Na6+
3. Rxa6+ bxa6
4. b6#
Originally posted by tomtom232It's not 'against the rules', but is generally frowned on in a forced-mate type problem, because it makes the problem easier to solve by giving White fewer options for the first move.
Yes, like greenpawn says, substitute a queen on b8 for the rook and it will work.... I don't remember saying it is against the rules to start off in check and if I have I will have to ammend that.
Originally posted by SwissGambitThat's why I didn't say I hadn't put it in the rules but having a cooked problem is even worse.... As I am well aware of 😞 I have posted at least two of my own composition on this site that have been busted.
It's not 'against the rules', but is generally frowned on in a forced-mate type problem, because it makes the problem easier to solve by giving White fewer options for the first move.
Originally posted by petrovitch1...Qf3 2.Ke1 (both Qh8+ and Qg8+ get mated sooner) 2...Bc3+ 3.Kf1 Qh1+ 4.Ke2 e4 5.Qh8-g8+ Kxh8-g8 and now 6.b6-g4-h4-f3-f4 and 6... Qe1 is mate if 6.Ke3 then Qf3 is mate.
[fen]1Q6/p4p1k/6pp/1P1qp3/3b4/6PP/5P2/5K2 b - - 0 1[/fen]
Black to move. Mate in 8.
These are both good problems but unfortunately this one is cooked and neither of them lead to the desired final position. 🙁
3 edits
These all came from my real games. Many of these solutions are not forced or absolute. You just have to find the quickest winning method. In other words, if I tell you it's a mate in 9 then that is the quickest mate that can be found, but by no means the only winning method. And these are not difficult problems; most of them came from blitz games. It was my understanding that these problems were to be original.
Originally posted by petrovitchThe solution I have given is two moves quicker than the stipulation. The problems are supposed to be original but they all have to end in the position in the original post.
These all came from my real games. Many of these solutions are not forced or absolute. You just have to find the quickest winning method. In other words, if I tell you it's a mate in 9 then that is the quickest mate that can be found, but by no means the only winning method. And these are not difficult problems; most of them came from blitz games. It was my understanding that these problems were to be original.
3 edits
Kind of similar to another position posted but extended a bit. Don't think I've seen the promotion idea used yet so here it is.
Helpmate in 4 moves on the condition that black doesn't move his rook or a pawn.
1. f3/f4 exf3(ep)
2. a3 fxg2 [2.a4 forces black to move one of the forbidden pieces]
3. a4 g1=Q
4. a5 Qb6+
5. axb6#