Fascinating chess puzzle

perihelion

Posers and Puzzles

01 Dec 05

perihelion

Joined: 12 Aug 05
Moves: 2866

01 Dec 05

2 edits

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.

Bowmann

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01 Dec 05

Is this position correct?

BigDogg

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01 Dec 05

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.

Bowmann

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01 Dec 05

1 edit

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.

Tetsujin

Mississauga, Ontario

Joined: 28 Oct 05
Moves: 668

01 Dec 05

I can't see it at all.

Unless... we change how knight capture.

BigDogg

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01 Dec 05

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.

Bowmann

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01 Dec 05

Who is this Sam Loyd, anyway?

Mephisto2

Joined: 12 Mar 03
Moves: 44411

01 Dec 05

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'😉.

perihelion

Joined: 12 Aug 05
Moves: 2866

01 Dec 05

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.

crazyblue

Joined: 29 Apr 05
Moves: 827

01 Dec 05

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.

BigDogg

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01 Dec 05

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#.

BigDogg

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02 Dec 05

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

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

Bowmann

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02 Dec 05

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=

Mephisto2

Joined: 12 Mar 03
Moves: 44411

02 Dec 05

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. .......".

🙂