Fascinating chess puzzle

This is one by Sam Loyd called "Organ Pipes". White to move and mate in 2



EDIT: black pawn is on a6, not a5. I don't believe this changes how its solved though. All other pieces were correct.

Is this position correct?

Originally posted by perihelion
EDIT: black pawn is on a6, not a5. I don't believe this changes how its solved though.

With Pa6->a5, 1.Qb5! is also a solution.

Originally posted by perihelion
I don't believe this changes how its solved though.

It makes a big difference.

Edit: See BD's post above.

I can't see it at all.

Unless... we change how knight capture.

Originally posted by Tetsujin
I can't see it at all.

Unless... we change how knight capture.

Don't go altering the rules just yet...consider zugzwang.

Who is this Sam Loyd, anyway?

Originally posted by Bowmann
Who is this Sam Loyd, anyway?

Google him. One of the most outstanding puzzle creators of all times. Chess and other stuff (remember the 16/15 game discussed in another thread).

Equally fascinating (if not more) is Lewis Caroll (as in 'Alice in wonderland'😉.

Heres where I got the puzzle from:

http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lab/7378/loyd.htm

I doubt this is a complete list of Loyd's chess puzzles, but theres quite a few. I've only had a chance to look at 3 or 4 so far and they've all been pretty interesting.

I have that one in a book and it says Black pawn is on a6.
1. Qa5! wins no matter what Black plays.

I guess if pawn is on a5 and White plays Qb5, Black can play Ba6 and there is no mate in next move. But I did not really check that yet, just had a quick look.

Originally posted by crazyblue
I have that one in a book and it says Black pawn is on a6.
1. Qa5! wins no matter what Black plays.

I guess if pawn is on a5 and White plays Qb5, Black can play Ba6 and there is no mate in next move. But I did not really check that yet, just had a quick look.

Try Nf5#.

Originally posted by Bowmann
Who is this Sam Loyd, anyway?

In Bowmann's world, brilliant Americans don't exist.

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
In Bowmann's world, brilliant Americans don't exist.

I couldn't find any:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22list+of+brilliant+Americans%22&btnG=Search&meta=

Originally posted by Bowmann
I couldn't find any:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22list+of+brilliant+Americans%22&btnG=Search&meta=

Perhaps because you are not brilliant enough to construct the right search? Would you have more success with the list of brilliant English (or Belgians for that matter)?

Try this (as an example): http://www.mindspring.com/~erasmus/Totem/elizabeth_b.htm
"Elizabeth is the mother of Robert B, Michael B, Elizabeth B, and Tim B. I cannot even begin to count the number of times we've stood in her kitchen chatting about the daily trivialities. In the list of brilliant people, she is among the top. .......".

🙂