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Maddening little problem

Maddening little problem

Posers and Puzzles

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Helpmate in 3
a) diagram
b) -Nb7

In a helpmate, Black moves first, and both sides collaborate to checkmate Black within the time given.

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i've never done one of these before but how about...

...Nd8 cxd8=Q+..Kxd8 b7 oh whoops that attacks c8 square so ..Kc8 b8=Q# is no good. not to mention it's not even mate lol

but is that the correct number of moves for a helpmate? would that be a successful helpmate in 3 were black to be checkmated at the end?

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In a helpmate, Black moves first, and both sides collaborate to checkmate Black within the time given.[/b]
could do it two different ways with white checkmating on their 4th move...
on the 3rd, can't see how... yet...

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Originally posted by Aetherael
i've never done one of these before but how about...

...Nd8 cxd8=Q+..Kxd8 b7 oh whoops that attacks c8 square so ..Kc8 b8=Q# is no good. not to mention it's not even mate lol

but is that the correct number of moves for a helpmate? would that be a successful helpmate in 3 were black to be checkmated at the end?
Yes, you get three moves for each side. White's 3rd move should give mate.

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Originally posted by SwissGambit
[fen]b1k5/KnP5/1P6/8/8/8/8/8[/fen]
Helpmate in 3
a) diagram
b) -Nb7

In a helpmate, Black moves first, and both sides collaborate to checkmate Black within the time given.
it seems you r a genious i could find 5 ways for mate in 4 but......

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That was annoying!

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Originally posted by alexdino
it seems you r a genious i could find 5 ways for mate in 4 but......
This one is not my composition. I usually don't give the composer's name right away, to avoid people "solving" by just looking up the name.

These days, most composers will computer-test a problem before they have it printed, just to make sure there are no unwanted solutions.

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Originally posted by Jirakon
That was annoying!
Isn't it, though? For some reason, I was stalled on a), but got b) really quickly once I set a) aside for a bit.

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Very hard.

What do you mean by -Nb7 in (b)?

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ARGHHHHHHH
I noticed now....
I started solving the problem with the white king in a6...... gonna start all over....

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No way... there' no solution...
Initially, there are only 5 moves... 4 with knight, one with king.
Neither gives mate in 3 by white.

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Originally posted by serigado
No way... there' no solution...
Initially, there are only 5 moves... 4 with knight, one with king.
Neither gives mate in 3 by white.
Once you have the correct idea for limiting King squares, the problem is much easier. Quite annoying though until you find it!

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Originally posted by sb3700
What do you mean by -Nb7 in (b)?
It means that you are to remove the Nb7 from the diagram and find another helpmate in 3.

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argh... PM a clue, please... I'm going nuts...

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well if you take out Nb7 than its ok: 1.a8-c6 1.b6-b7;2.c8-d7 2.c7-c8(bishop) 3.d7-c7 3.b7-b8(Queen) =mate
But i can't wait to see it done with Nb7

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