One Puzzle - 4 Helpmates

I like problems that look pleasing to the eye
and have few pieces.



Help Mate in 2
Black goes first and helps White to mate him
in two moves. There are four solutions - find all four.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
I like problems that look pleasing to the eye
and have few pieces.

[fen]8/8/8/8/2R2r2/4k3/8/2K2R2 w - -[/fen]

Help Mate in 2
[b]Black goes first and helps White to mate him
in two moves. There are four solutions - find all four.[/b]

1.Rf2 Rf4 2.Re2 R1f3
1.Rd4 Rf4 2.Rd3 Rce4
1.Kd3 Rcxf4 2.Kc3 R1f3
1.Ke2 R1xf4 2.Ke1 Rcf4

Good - it was the 3rd one I struggled with. Too easy?

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Good - it was the 3rd one I struggled with. Too easy?

Yeah, I got it in a couple minutes. There aren't many double-rook mates even possible in only 2 moves, and the symmetrical position implies symmetrical solutions.

symmetrical position implies symmetrical solutions

Hmmmmm.
I'll see if I can come up with a anti-symmetrical solution
from a symmetrical position.

By the way do you post the source details when giving
the wee puzzles. I notice sometimes they do, sometime they don't.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
symmetrical position implies symmetrical solutions

Hmmmmm.
I'll see if I can come up with a anti-symmetrical solution
from a symmetrical position.

By the way do you post the source details when giving
the wee puzzles. I notice sometimes they do, sometime they don't.

Sometimes I give the composer's name after the problem is solved, to make it harder for people to 'solve' by looking up the name.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
symmetrical position implies symmetrical solutions

Hmmmmm.
I'll see if I can come up with a anti-symmetrical solution
from a symmetrical position.

Happy that you like my knights problems!
The first one is by far the hardest! the third one could be seen as an answer to what you said about anti-symmetrical solution !
(by the way i wrote symmetry with only one "m" in my post, because in french there's only one ! strange difference between our languages (also l language is langage in french. tricky...)

I work beside a French lad. He's off today.
I'll get him to post a puzzle in French just for you.

Is it not strange how chess and coincidence often collide.

You come on asking for Herioc Knights. You are French.

in 1980 I played a Frenchman and won with very heroic Knights.
(I have just visited my website and got the game.)

Here is the final position.



And here is the game (i was Black - do not recall his name)
Edinburgh 1980

1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.f4 c6 5.Be3 Qb6 6.Rb1 f5 7.Bc4 fxe4 8.b4 d5 9.Be2 Nh6 10.Na4 Qc7 11.Nc5 Nf5 12.Qd2 0-0 13.Bf2 b6 14.Nb3 Nd7 15.Nh3 Nf6 16.Ng5 h6 17.Nh3 e3 18.Bxe3 Ne4 19.Qd3 Ba6 20.Qxa6 Nxe3 21.Rc1 Rxf4 22.Nxf4 Qxf4 23.Bf3 Nxg2+ 24.Ke2 Qe3+ 25.Kd1 Qd2+ 26.Nxd2 Nc3

(A few edits to get Fen correct)

nice finish!