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.
Originally posted by crazyblueHow about:
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
1.Nc3 Nc6 2.Nd5 Ne5 3.Nxe7 Nh6 4.Ng6 Nf5 5.Nxf8 Ng6 6.Nf3 Nfe7 7.Ne6 Nf8
8.Nxg7#
Originally posted by crazyblueThere is no way to improve that 😉 Four moves to capture the queen and two to mate 😉
Very nice. Looks like the Knight Award goes to Thud unless someone can find a solution in 5 🙂
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.
Originally posted by crazyblueYeah, 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.
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