Copy Cat

(yes, 'twas inspired by him)
You are playing white in a chess game.
Black - determined to lose - has announced that he will copy every one of your moves and if you put him in check he will resign. How quickly can you defeat his strategy?

What do you mean by 'defeat his strategy'? Do you mean 'make yourself lose the game'?

If that is the case, it can be done by resigning before the game starts.

Originally posted by iamatiger
(yes, 'twas inspired by him)
You are playing white in a chess game.
Black - determined to lose - has announced that he will copy every one of your moves and if you put him in check he will resign. How quickly can you defeat his strategy?

I looked at that line originally, but when he can't copy it, he resigns. At least that's what he did in practice. So how do you lose nontrivially?

Originally posted by royalchicken
I looked at that line originally, but when he can't copy it, he resigns. At least that's what he did in practice. So how do you lose nontrivially?

Originally posted by Toe
you play; e4, d4; d4xe5; qd5 (or d6)
he can't copy your queen move: 'strategy' defeated.

Alternatively never play him at all: the only real option.

you play e5, Qh5, Qxh4. Or e5, Qf3, Qxf6 etc.
Is 3 moves the least?

Originally posted by jot
you play e5, Qh5, Qxh4. Or e5, Qf3, Qxf6 etc.
Is 3 moves the least?

I have a proof. Anyone else care to try?

In order for the strategy to be defeated, you must take a mirror image piece. You can prove a knight can't threaten a knight because they have to be opposite each other. So you need to move a pawn out first. Then position a piece where it can take the mirror image piece, and finally actually take it. That takes 3 moves. You can't put a piece en prise after just moving a pawn as they block all the pieces except the knights.

Care to be a bit more concise?

Originally posted by royalchicken
I have a proof. Anyone else care to try?

Originally posted by Jay Peatea
I can't see a 2 move check only 3 moves perhaps you can enlighten us ?

1)g3 g6
2)Bh3 Bh6
3)Bxd7+

or

1) Nc3 Nc5
2) Nd5 Nd4
3) Nxc7+

Of course you can actually checkmate in 4 moves as in the Royal Game puzzle (2 different ways as far as I know).
😉

Originally posted by Toe
you play; e4, d4; d4xe5; qd5 (or d6)
he can't copy your queen move: 'strategy' defeated.

Alternatively never play him at all: the only real option.

Originally posted by richjohnson
White can be checkmated in 2 moves:

1 f3 e5
2 g4 Qh4++

Here is a PGN line to beat him. I checked copy cat's games and he follows your every move.. so you can't check him until it is check mate.

THere may be a faster way? I'll let someone else find it. I don't think there is any way to force copy cat to win... but who knows??? At least he won't resign. Here is my line.

[Event "I will mate copycat"]
[Site "Posers and Puzzles"]
[Date "2003.08.02"]
[Round "-"]
[White "You"]
[Black "copy cat"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. d4 d5 2. f3 f6 3. Kf2 Kf7 4. Kg3 Kg6 5. Qd2 Qd7 6. Qa5 Qa4 7. Qxd5 Qxd4
8. e3 e6 9. Ne2 Ne7 10. Kh3 Kh6 11. Ng3 Ng6 12. Qh5#
{White mates} 1-0