Mate in 2. White to play. I’ve given up.
Posted Jun 6, 2023, 7:23 AM UTC
029
With this theme i would blunder every single piece i have.
13
Took me forever to find, but 1. Qh6!! seems to place Black in the mother of all zugzwangs:
- If 1...c5 then 2. Qxd6#;
- If 1...d5 then 2. Nxc6#;
- If 1...e5 then 2. Qxd6#;
- If 1...f4 then 2. Rxe4#;
- If 1...c3 then 2. Rb4#;
- If 1...e3 then 2. Qf4#;
- If 1...d2 then 2. Qxd2#;
- If 1...dxe2 then 2. Qd2#;
- If any knight move then 2. Qe3#.
Probably one of the most difficult puzzles I've ever solved. No way in hell I would have found Qh6 in an actual game (I would've just played 1. Qxd1 and been done with it), but, what a puzzle!
7
Nice find
On a tangent, is Zugzwang correct terminology here? My understanding was that Zugzwang denotes a situation where if the player would not be losing if they had no obligation to move. Black seems lost anyway here.
1
Thanks!
My understanding is that 'zugzwang' is a situation where any legal move worsens a player's position. In this case, after 1. Qh6, White would have no mate in 1 if Black could simply refuse to move. However, Black has to make a move - and any legal move allows a mate in 1.
So, yes, I'd say that this still count as a zugzwang, even though Black would lose quickly even with the option of passing after 1. Qh6. (Indeed, White would have several forced mates in 2 - just no forced mate in 1!)
1
Is anything wrong with
- Nc6+ Kd5 2. Nb4#
1
Qh6 then mate with whatever
4
This problem was composed by Leon Fontaine, and was published in Schach-Echo in 1971. YACPDB entry
2
I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:
White to play: chess.com | lichess.org
^(I'm a bot written by ) ^(u/pkacprzak ) ^(| get me as ) ^(Chess eBook Reader ) ^(|) ^(Chrome Extension ) ^(|) ^(iOS App ) ^(|) ^(Android App ) ^(to scan and analyze positions | Website: ) ^(Chessvision.ai)
1
bad bot
1
[deleted]
1
Bf2 then Qb2?
1
Black plays c3, therefore not a mate in 2
1
I was thinking the same thing so don't feel bad.
1
Bishop f2 and then if pawn block bishop take and then knight take and queen take# And if knight takes bishop queen check #
1
Qg6 and m1 on every move
1
Isn’t Qc3 checkmate ?
1
Knight takes
2
N c6 +, K d5 or e5 and then Rc5 # ?
1
Nxc6, Kd5,
1
E1 Bishop to F2. D1 Knight takes. Queen to E3.
1
I have the same app, and this was one of two puzzled that I just could not solve...
Just went back into the app and apparently i DID solve it, must have been some brute force attempt...
1
what app?
1
Too hard the tell the colors apart. That is the problem
1
Bishop f2 and then queen b4 i think? Am i right? (Yep i think im right)
1
I see Bf2+ Nxf2, Qb2# idk if it’s legal
1
Do people play with such horrible themes on purpose? How do you even tell the pieces apart from your opponent's?
1
It’s the only one available on the app.
1
Then the app is the problem. Use chess.com or Lichess.
Why anyone would use anything else is beyond my understanding.
1
Qc3, then knight takes. After that checkmate with bishop
-1
Black plays e3, therefore not mate in 2
2
[deleted]
1
At first look, the pieces seem like they are same color.
Second and third look appear to be about the same