the few against the many

Power is nothing without control. This proposition is well illustrated by this 1887 composition by J. Votruba:


1.? 1-0

Originally posted by Wulebgr
Power is nothing without control. This proposition is well illustrated by this 1887 composition by J. Votruba:

[fen]8/5p2/5p1p/5KPk/7p/7P/8/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]
1.? 1-0

There's not a mate in one.........

Originally posted by Ravello
There's not a mate in one.........

1. ? 1-0 represents a win for white, not mate in 1

Originally posted by Santa Drummer
1. ? 1-0 represents a win for white, not mate in 1

Thanks for the great point of view,genius,but a "?" after the first move and nothing more makes one think that there should be a mate in one.

Originally posted by Wulebgr
Power is nothing without control. This proposition is well illustrated by this 1887 composition by J. Votruba:

[fen]8/5p2/5p1p/5KPk/7p/7P/8/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]
1.? 1-0

1. g6!! fxf6+
2. Kxf6 g5
3. Kf5 g4
4. hxg4#

All of black's moves are forced

Originally posted by Ravello
Thanks for the great point of view,genius,but a "?" after the first move and nothing more makes one think that there should be a mate in one.

Originally posted by Wulebgr
only if you are unfamiliar with chess jargon

I have never seen any chess book state, "White to move and win somewhere down the line."

Almost universal in chess books, however, is a statement about who is on move ( "white to move" ) and the result sought ( "win" ). A few texts, such as Polgar's Chess Training in 5334 Positions tell you mate in x moves. On the other hand, Polgar's Chess Endgames cuts it to a minimum: "1? =" means white to move and draw, while "1...? -+" means black to move and win. None of the 4560 positions in that tome are mate in one, but a small number of solutions list only one move.

So, after the pattern of Polgar, here's another of my favorites from Finali di Pedone I

1.? +-


But you knew that already. 😛

Originally posted by Bad wolf
1. g6!! fxf6+
2. Kxf6 g5
3. Kf5 g4
4. hxg4#

All of black's moves are forced

Think you mean 1... fxg6+ "Bad Wolf."

Originally posted by BlueEyedRook
Think you mean 1... fxg6+ "Bad Wolf."

Sorry that was a typo, fxg6+ is right.

1. Ke2? don't see anything else