Chess Problems Du Jour

[Coyote]

It's been a while since anyone's posted any chess problems, so here's a timely trio of two-movers to try tackling:

L. Jokisch, 1909

[MNOWAX]

- 1: Nc7+ NxNc7 2: e6 ++ - Is what I'm thinking for the first one.
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The Man The Myth The Legend
MNOWAX

[MNOWAX]

-1: Qc5 + d5 2: b8 - > Q ++ - for number 2
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The Man The Myth The Legend
MNOWAX

[Zag]

[Zag]

[Zag]

#3.
1. Rxe3, if 1. .. d4xe3, then 2. Qxe3++ else Qe5++

[The Potter]

#1
[1. Kf5 NxG5
2. Nc7 ++
--or if NxG5 isn't played--
2. QxE4 ++]

actually, I guess the knighy could move and put white in check. sigh.

But [Bh7] should do the trick.
if backs counters with f5 we can capture en passant
...but then Nxd5 is open. Moving the mental pieces around is tricky!

My final answer is the unlikely d4 and then Qa2 or Qh8 if the pawn is captured; otherwise a knight should be able to checkmate.
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[The Potter]

[The Potter]

[L'lanmal]

#1
The black king currently has no escape route. White needs to keep it that way while freeing up a guarding piece for the mate.
1. Pd2-d4
This double covers c5, and frees up the d-knight to mate on b6. Black has three choices: guard b6, take the pawn, or make a different escape route for his king.
(guard b6 - this unguards a second mate square)
. . . b-c5
N-f6++

(take d-pawn - this opens up a diagonal for the queen)
. . . cxd3 (e.p.)
Q-a2++
or
. . . exd3 (e.p)
Q-h1++

(make a different escape route)
. . . c6-c5
Q-b7++
or
. . . n moves (including nxd4)
N-c7++


Did I miss anything?

[The Potter]

(I also believe that is correct. My edit comes 20 minutes later but I had not seen your post.)
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[novice]

1:

1. Bh7 threatens Qxe4#
1. .. Nc5 or Nxg5. 2. Nc7#
1. .. f5. 2. exf6 (en passant) #


2: What MNOWAX said.

1: Qc5+ d5 2: b8 - > Q #


3:

1. Qe5+. Kxf3. 2. Nh4#
1... Kg5. f4#

[novice]

[novice]

[The Potter]

[The Potter]

#1 d3, if a pawn takes it see L'lanmal's post. If Bd8, xe4
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[Zag]

[The Potter]

My biggest problem with computer screen chess boards is figuring out which way the pawns are actually going. I thought the white pawn was protecting the queen!
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[novice]

[novice]

So amending Zak's solution yields:
3:

1. Rxe3.
1 ..dxe3. 2. Qxe3#
1 ..gxf3. 2. Rh4#
else 2. Qe5#


EDIT: Bah, 2. Qe5+. Kg5 is still a problem.

These puzzles are fiendishly constructed...

[Trojan Horse]

[novice]

[Trojan Horse]

[novice]

[Trojan Horse]

Then here's my proposed solution for #2:

1. Qc5++

Black can't respond 1 ... d5, because White is at the TOP of the board, and Black is at the BOTTOM.

You do know what day this is, right?

[Trojan Horse]

Similarly, for #3:

1. Qxe3++

Black can't respond 1. ... dxe3, since he's moving UP the board.

#1 has me stumped, though.

[groza528]

Hmm... I would accept "white at the top" on an unlabeled board, but this board is clearly labeled on ranks and files. If that is in fact the trick to this puzzle it unfortunately falls a little flat due to a flawed premise caused by limitations of the chess tags.

[Trojan Horse]

Sigh. Perhaps I was too suspicious.

[The Potter]

#2:
Qc5+ is flawed because d5 cannot be followed by a promotion because moving that pawn put you in check.

My earlier attempt of Qb4 is foiled by c5.
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[Coyote]

I suppose there's a few issues I should address:

a) Yes, this was deliberately posted on April 1st.

b) White pawns are moving UP the board. More generally, there's no trickery involved here with either the diagrams or the rules of chess. The joke's a bit more subtle.

c) I don't think anyone's caught on to the joke yet, though they skirted the edges while working on the one problem that's been correctly solved so far.

d) I'm going to spoiler this one, since it kinda gives away the joke (but not the actual solutions, sorry.)
There are three 'special' moves in chess that problem composers love to exploit. So much so in fact, that...

...

Actually, I think I'll wait until tomorrow to finish that last sentence.

[Trojan Horse]

I think the point is that: since setting up an en passant capture was the wrong move in #1, we should forget about promoting the pawn in #2 and castling in #3.

Also, glad to know my scumdar wasn't completely malfunctioning. This puzzle is called "Chess Problems Du Jour". Given what the current "jour" is, and given that Coyote called these puzzles "timely", I knew there was some chicanery involved. I just went a bit too far.

[The Potter]

So #3 is [after the hint...]
castling. Black has only three moves.
e2. 2. Bd4#
d3. 2. Qxe3#
xf3 2. ??


If only the hombre with the nobby thing was next to the hexing and vexing setup for Da Shooty Drive By.
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Artwork | Fractals | Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.

[Trojan Horse]

For #3:

1. Rh2. Possible replies:

1. ... d3
2. Qxe3++

1. ... e2
2. Bd2++

1. ... gxf3
2. Rh4++

1. ... Kxf3
2. Rf2++

PLEASE say I got it right...

[The Potter]

[novice]

[L'lanmal]

Jokisch (Joke-ish) does sound like a good April Fools name, but I'm guessing that's a real person too.

[Zag]

So, for those trying to check their work.

#1 solution: L'lanmal in post #10 The Potter's modification in post #16
#3 solution: Trojan Horse in post #33.

Brilliant work, both all three of you.

I don't think we have a solution for #2 yet, or did I miss it?
Gaah. I've been trying a lot of things, with no luck. I have lots of ways to mate in 3, but none in 2.
Just to review, MNO proposed
1. Qc5+ d5 2. d8->Q++. But The Potter pointed out that this is an illegal move (putting yourself in check).
So far I've tried
1. BxR BxB 2. RxN Kd6 or 2 d8->Q d6+ or. 2 Nf7 KxNe6 or 2. Qc5 d5
1. d8->Q+ d6+ 2. BxR BxB or 2 Nf7 KxNe6 Since we're in check, our options are very limited, and I don't see any others that even put him in check never mind mate.
1. Qc5+ d5 2. Same two second moves, same two flaws.
1. Qb4, planning Rf5++ (or, following Nd4, QxN++), but c5 leaves K escape at d6
1. Qb3, planning Nf7++ but Kd6 give him an escape to e7

Oh! I think I've got it!
1. RxB, planning Nf7++. if 1. .. Kd6, then Qc5++
Edit. Crud. that doesn't work because the N on G5 is no longer pinned, so Nf7 isn't mate.

[DejMar]

The solution to #1 is NOT White's move d2-d4. Black can delay any mate by playing Be7 - d8. Any move made by White that checks the Black King is able to be captured by the Bishop, a pawn, or the King thus it is not a first of a 2-move to mate move.Thus, under a condition that White MUST mate in two, White would fail.

[Trojan Horse]

Right. The Potter got #1 in post 16.

[novice]