There was a fight at the Chess Club last night.
Big Frank Clark and Mike McGuire were playing and....I’ll show the position.
Big Frank was White and played g2-g4. Mike then declared ’Stalemate!”
Big Frank pointed out that Mike could play hxg3 en passant so it was not stalemate.
Mike said according to the rules taking en passant was an option, therefore
a choice and as it his move his chooses not to take en passant. it’s a stalemate.
The wicked, the wealthy and the wise consulted the rule books but before
a ruling could be made the two of them started throwing punches at each other.
Eye witness Albert Skinner (56) said; “The two of them nearly killed each other.
Both ended up in hospital but had to be kept in separate wards because although
they were swathed in bandages they kept swearing and lashing out with their crutches.”
Club Historian Bruno Plaice (73) said that has always been bad blood between these two
ever since Mike pulled off a stalemate in almost an identical position a few months ago.
Here Big Frank played 46.f4 Mike laughed and danced around the club showing
everyone the stalemate. (it’s actually from the game dwchrist - Didymo RHP 2011 )
“Don’t forget,” interrupted a player called Rufus, “...that time two years ago.”
Again in a similar position (actually this is rmaki1 - Bracker1973, RHP 2018)
Big Frank played 61.h6 Stalemate. Mike chuckled and called Big Frank a dope.
For this week problem first we play over a 10 move RHP game.
cave - super mario 470 RHP 2012
Well that was fun. However if we take the final position....
...and remove most of the pieces we have our problem.
Place both Kings on the board so White to play can and give checkmate in one move.
Clue:
Reveal Hidden ContentIt is White to move so you are allowed to place the White King in check.
yura1968 - nemostat RHP 2012
Composed by Lars Falk, 1986. This is lovely and witty. If you are ever
going to get into the field of study composition, use this as your template.
White to play and win.
Black will try everything to give up that Rook for the White pawn making it a draw.
Watch as White foils the Black Rook, keep an eye on where that Knight ends up.
A couple of positions from RHP games using the same pieces and missed draws.
aleksandrK - jbtrader12 RHP 2018 (Black to play)
1...Rxf3 2.Kxf3 Kf5 picks up the pawn. Draw. Black played 1...Kf7 2.Ng5+ 1-0.
fitz911 - chav RHP 2010 (Black to play)
Black can just play 1...Rh7+ and keep checking. If the White King approaches the Rook
then Kd6 gets the pawn. Instead Black played the only plausible move that loses. 1...Rd6.
2.Ne6+ and Black resigned.
*** Solution to the Problem ***
Place both Kings on the board so White to play can and give checkmate in one move.
1.Kxf2 Checkmate.
The thread accompanying this blog is Thread 185803
The rules of chess were amended to make this clear.[9] Today, it is settled that the player must make that move (or resign). The same is true if an en passant capture is the only move to get out of check.[15]:49
I do have some sympathy with Black though. If White had intended the black pawn to take the white pawn, White could have just as easily move it to g3, which makes me think White missed the stalemate.
From Wikipedia:
In his book on chess organization and rules, International Arbiter Kenneth Harkness wrote that it is frequently asked if an en passant capture must be made if it is the only legal move.[15]:49 This point was debated in the 19th century, with some arguing that the right to make an en passant capture is a "privilege" that one cannot be compelled to exercise. In his 1860 book Chess Praxis, Howard Staunton wrote that the en passant capture is mandatory in that instance.