Two Positions to play v a Computer

Fun stuff for you to try v a computer.
(turn off it's analysis so you don't get clues)


White to play and mate.
You are not allowed to capture the h4 pawn
or even allow it to move.

You should pick up something about the Opposition.

In this position...


White to play and mate. (in x moves)
Sometime during the solution Black must promote to a Rook.

first solution must be rook h2.

Originally posted by hintjul
first solution must be rook h2.

You're not allowed to let the pawn move. When the rook moves, that must be the mating move. The trick is to hem in black's king with yours until it's stuck against one edge or other, and then mate it with the rook.

Of course, that's easier said than done - which is why it's a useful exercise.

But surely, Chandler me boyo, NOT against the devilish, demonish, unkirkly COMPUTER????? After all, we all know that those things will actively try and make you learn the wrong things altogether, and ruin your game if you so much as look at them!

Richard

Yes but it won't understand the rule about you not taking
or allowing the pawn to move.

Also it's using the box as a tool, a sparring partner.
You are doing the thinking. It is reacting.
How it should be. Not visa versa.

(If you ran it through the box it would grab the pawn - what have you learned?)

In this excercise you have to learn how to play Chess with your King.

rook h2 is still a win

Originally posted by hintjul
rook h2 is still a win

OK but it's not the quickest win
And you are opening the door to stalemates as in Game 4610262

Ed Harding - Jank1 RHP 2008


Final Position.

I've just done it again. It's all King moves, don't even look at the pawn.
(infact taking it only lengthens the solution).
All King moves and one Rook move, the mating move.

your too good. keep up the good work.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Fun stuff for you to try v a computer.
(turn off it's analysis so you don't get clues)

[fen]8/8/8/8/7p/7R/8/k6K w - - 0 0[/fen]
White to play and mate.
You are not allowed to capture the h4 pawn
or even allow it to move.

You should pick up something about the [b]Opposition.

In this position...

[fen]8/8/8/4N3/8/8/1R5p/2k4K w - - 0 0[/f ...[text shortened]... ite to play and mate. (in x moves)
Sometime during the solution Black must promote to a Rook.[/b]

Hi.
Could you give the solution for the second one.I've been trying for two days but can't figure it out.

Hi

As requested the solution to No2.
These postions are centuries old Indian studies when the rules differed.

The Chief differences are.

If either side is left with a lone King then the game is drawn right away.
(Even if taking the last piece was checkmate the game is still a draw).

And pawns must promote to the piece that was on the original square.
a & h pawns to Rooks, b & g pawns to Knights and c & f pawns to Bishops.
pawns promoting on either e or d were Queens.

The thought of taking these old studies and letting people figure
them out v boxes appealed.
The ancient world meets the modern world.

I hope some found it worthwhile.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Hi

As requested the solution to No2.
These postions are centuries old Indian studies when the rules differed.

The Chief differences are.

If either side is left with a lone King then the game is drawn right away.
(Even if taking the last piece was checkmate the game is still a draw).

And pawns must promote to the piece that was on the origi ...[text shortened]... 13. Rg2 Kf1 {Now the finish.} 14. Ra2 Ke1 15. Kg2 h1=R {The only move.} 16. Re2 {mate.}[/pgn]

Nice!Thanks.
I didn't miss the waiting move.I never found the right setup to begin with!

And how to force promotion to a rook was a problem I planned to tackle after I found a way to force the king to the right hand corner.
Would've never thought about ancient rules.Very cunning.

Still a lot to learn.No surprise there 😉