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Resurrected Proof Game

Resurrected Proof Game

Posers and Puzzles

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Black


White

23.0 moves (position after Black's twenty-third move)

So I was just browsing through some old threads when I found one asking for the most beautiful chess problems ever composed. SwissGambit submitted this proof game. Then I realized that no one (including myself) had attempted to solve it then. So I spent the last 45 minutes doing just that. And I do think it is indeed a very beautiful solution. Oddly enough, it is somewhat reminiscent of one of my previous proof games (those who manage to solve this and have solved the one I'm referring to will see the resemblance). Anyway, I thought it deserved its own thread for people who want to solve it and appreciate its beauty.

EDIT: Please send your solutions instead of posting them so others will have a chance to solve it.

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Originally posted by Jirakon
Black
[fen]r1R2Bnk/ppp2ppp/4pR2/2pB4/N1PP4/1PP1KPP1/5PP1/1N6[/fen]
White

23.0 moves (position after Black's twenty-third move)

So I was just browsing through some old threads when I found one asking for the most beautiful chess problems ever composed. SwissGambit submitted this proof game. Then I realized that no one (including myself) had attempted ...[text shortened]... : Please send your solutions instead of posting them so others will have a chance to solve it.
Yes, this is indeed a PG well worth solving. However, I think the PG solvers here have gone away. You and I are probably the only ones who would bother nowadays.

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I do try, but i generally just fail miserably.

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Originally posted by Dejection
I do try, but i generally just fail miserably.
You are counting minimal moves first, yes?

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Originally posted by SwissGambit
You are counting minimal moves first, yes?
I have just tried doing only that, but already there I stumble on difficulties. Perhaps I'm not following the correct method.

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Originally posted by heinzkat
I have just tried doing only that, but already there I stumble on difficulties. Perhaps I'm not following the correct method.
What count did you get for White?

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I get 19 for white

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I've never really tried solving proof games, nor read any strategy. It's something I should try though.

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Originally posted by forkedknight
I get 19 for white
That's too few. Remember pieces like Nb1 are permanent obstacles [unless you commit 2 moves to move him out of the way and back again].

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You also need to include the Queen's moves. How many moves must she make to get to either of the squares she could possibly have been captured on?

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Im usually terrible at these proof games so i can make whites minimal number of moves to be 23
now as for blacks moves.... absolutely no idea

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Originally posted by banx99
Im usually terrible at these proof games so i can make whites minimal number of moves to be 23
now as for blacks moves.... absolutely no idea
Don't even worry about Black's minimal moves. Try to use Black to help White keep moving on schedule.

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Someone can post the solution (here o by private message)?
Thanks.

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alright, the major thing that's stuffing me up right now is white's white bishop and that annoying c-pawn...
but chances are i'm probably missing something here

EDIT: scratch that, make it both of white's bishops

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Ask yourselves these questions: What can White do before capturing? How soon can White capture? What, then, must White capture? After that, what can Black do before capturing? How soon can Black capture? And it's obvious what Black captures.