wu :: forums - Print Page


    
      
        wu :: forums
        (http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        riddles >> easy >> Don't mate in one
        
(Message started by: Garzahd on Nov 4^th, 2002, 2:12am)

Title: Don't mate in one
Post by Garzahd on Nov 4^th, 2002, 2:12am


B.....KR
.r.....B
......R.
..b.p.p.
..P.k.P.
.p..P..p
.P..P..P
...N.N..

Apologies for the dumb ascii art. I don't have a graphic of the board handy. Capital letters are white pieces, lowercase letters are black pieces.

Your task: Find a move for white that does not checkmate black.

This puzzle isn't terribly hard, but the time it takes you to solve it is an interesting barometer of chess problem-solving ability. Average for beginner chess players (including those who conclude there is no solution) is 10-15 minutes, moderately skilled players can usually get it in less than 5.

I'd appreciate it if you don't post the solution till, say, Wednesday, just to give people a chance to solve it unspoiled. I like this problem, even though it's a nigh impossible position to reach in an actual game, even with cooperating players. But feel free to post your thoughts on the problem as usual.

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by wowbagger on Nov 4^th, 2002, 3:50am

Hmpf! It took me 4 minutes!! :-[
Well, I'll blame that on the use of ASCII art instead of a standard diagram. ;)

on 11/04/02 at 02:12:24, Garzahd wrote:

I'd appreciate it if you don't post the solution till, say, Wednesday, just to give people a chance to solve it unspoiled.

I suggest not posting the solution at all, but rather the time it took you to find it (or to give up).

Anyway, it's a really nice problem!

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by James Fingas on Nov 4^th, 2002, 8:45am

2 or 3 minutes ... I'm not sure (because I didn't look at the second hand on the clock when I started). But it seems like most of my time was spent finding out exactly what the problem was. After that, the solution pretty much popped right out.

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by Chronos on Nov 4^th, 2002, 11:46pm

I spent a few minutes (didn't time it) transfering the setup to a normal-looking board, but once I did that, it took about 30 seconds. It helped that the second piece I examined happened to be the right one.

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by Nick on Nov 5^th, 2002, 12:03am

When I was looking at this problem, first of all I'm not a very good chess player. I am assuming that "B" means White's Bishops. Just a curious note, what are both bishops doing on the same color? And no, after 10 minutes, I have not solved it. I'm sure it's quite obvious and right in front of me. Perhaps if I have a smoke then come back...

Nick

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by wowbagger on Nov 5^th, 2002, 1:29am

on 11/05/02 at 00:03:03, Nick wrote:

I am assuming that "B" means White's Bishops. Just a curious note, what are both bishops doing on the same color?

Yes, "B" stands for bishop. Actually it is possible to reach the position with legal moves. Note that White could have transformed (hope that's the correct term in English) one of his pawns (namely, the a-pawn) to a bishop.

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by Garzahd on Nov 5^th, 2002, 10:51am

"transformed" is not ambiguous, but I believe the proper chess term is "promoted".

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by Jonathan_the_Red on Nov 7^th, 2002, 11:33am

Ah, Mrs. White makes her appearance. I'm sure Garzahd knows what I'm talking about ;)

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by Garzahd on Nov 8^th, 2002, 1:15pm

Jonathan: Yes, but it took me awhile. This was my first hunt, remember.... but I have read through the previous ones. At first I was thinking along the line of "What's Mrs. White doing..."

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by NeedQTIP2StabBrain on Nov 17^th, 2002, 3:36am

What can I say? I get bored easy.
http://members.aol.com/likes2liquor/chess.jpg

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by Macduff472y on Jan 23^rd, 2003, 2:20pm

whats the answer? >:( ??? :'(

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by Macduff472y on Jan 23^rd, 2003, 2:20pm

whats the answer? >:( ??? :'(

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by Jeremy Randolph on Jan 23^rd, 2003, 7:08pm

move the white rook over to the left... then the black takes white's bishop with his rook

Title: Re: New Puzzle: Don't mate in one
Post by mistysakura on Jan 25^th, 2003, 9:00pm

More precisely, Rc6.

It took me about 7 minutes, I say.