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How many moves...

Posers and Puzzles

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...does White need at least to checkmate Black if

a. White may only moves his knights?
b. Both may only move their knights?

Just came up with this one, so I don't know the solution either yet 🙄

1 edit
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Okay a. was too easy and it's even better ifBlack has to checkmate White because then there will be no waiting move:
1. e3 Nc6 2. g3 Ne5 3. Ne3 Nf3 mate
White would need 4 moves to mate like that.

Part b. is more difficult though, but should be possible also 🙂

edit: I found mate in 9 so far.

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Are you sure I made it to 10 🙁

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Originally posted by ilywrin
Are you sure I made it to 10 🙁
Well, he moved some pawns, so I'm guessing it's not a valid solution.

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Originally posted by ark13
Well, he moved some pawns, so I'm guessing it's not a valid solution.
The solution with the pawn moves is for part a.
For part b. I found 9 moves.
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Nh4 Nh5 3. Nf5 Nc6 4. Nxe7 Nb8 5, Nf5 Nc6 6. Nxg7+ Nxg7 7. Nc3 Ne7 8. Nd5 Ngf5 9. Nf6 mate

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Originally posted by crazyblue
The solution with the pawn moves is for part a.
For part b. I found 9 moves.
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Nh4 Nh5 3. Nf5 Nc6 4. Nxe7 Nb8 5, Nf5 Nc6 6. Nxg7+ Nxg7 7. Nc3 Ne7 8. Nd5 Ngf5 9. Nf6 mate
How about:
1.Nc3 Nc6 2.Nd5 Ne5 3.Nxe7 Nh6 4.Ng6 Nf5 5.Nxf8 Ng6 6.Nf3 Nfe7 7.Ne6 Nf8
8.Nxg7#

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very nice indeed! don't think i can beat that 🙄

can you think of similar one like this? i was thinking of "both may only move knights and bishops and the mate has to be with bishop" but it turned out to be too easy.

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Originally posted by ilywrin
How about:
1.Nc3 Nc6 2.Nd5 Ne5 3.Nxe7 Nh6 4.Ng6 Nf5 5.Nxf8 Ng6 6.Nf3 Nfe7 7.Ne6 Nf8
8.Nxg7#
1. Nf3 Nc6
2. Nd4 Nf6
3. Ne6 Ng8
4. Nxd8 Nf6
5. Ne6 Nd8
6. Nxc7 mate

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Very nice. Looks like the Knight Award goes to Thud unless someone can find a solution in 5 🙂

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Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDER
1. Nf3 Nc6
2. Nd4 Nf6
3. Ne6 Ng8
4. Nxd8 Nf6
5. Ne6 Nd8
6. Nxc7 mate
It's also possible to kill the Bishop and mate in 5.5 moves.

1.Nf3 Nc6 2.Ng5 Ne5 3.Nxh7 Ng6 4.Nxf8 Nh6 5.Ne6 Nf8 6.Nxg7#


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Originally posted by crazyblue
Very nice. Looks like the Knight Award goes to Thud unless someone can find a solution in 5 🙂
There is no way to improve that 😉 Four moves to capture the queen and two to mate 😉
Anyway, an interesting question is if you require both side to alternate moves with certain pieces what is the shortest mate? For instance, both sides move pawn, then knight, then bishop, then again pawn, knight, followed by bishop, and so on.

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Sounds fun. I guess in your example it's too easy though. White plays 1. e4 2. Nf3 3. Bc4 4. any pawn 5. Ng5 6. Bxf7 mate
Black can play anything on the queenswing in the meantime 🙂

2 edits
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Originally posted by crazyblue
can you think of similar one like this? i was thinking of "both may only move knights and bishops and the mate has to be with bishop" but it turned out to be too easy.
Have you tried BigDogg's A game ends with 6.BxRc4#. Give the complete gamescore.?

1 edit
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Originally posted by crazyblue
The solution with the pawn moves is for part a.
For part b. I found 9 moves.
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Nh4 Nh5 3. Nf5 Nc6 4. Nxe7 Nb8 5, Nf5 Nc6 6. Nxg7+ Nxg7 7. Nc3 Ne7 8. Nd5 Ngf5 9. Nf6 mate
Yeah, but you started with white playing e3. It's white that's the one who has to only move knights, right? 😕 I'm sure I'm confused.

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Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDER
Have you tried BigDogg's A game ends with 6.BxRc4#. Give the complete gamescore.?
Yes, it's quite easy 🙂
1.e3 h5 2.Qxh5 e6 3.Qe5 Rh4 4.Bc4 Ke7 5.Bxe6 Rc4 6.Bxc4 #