Mate in 2

Mate in 2

Posers and Puzzles

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Sais

Berks.

Joined
27 Nov 04
Moves
41991
16 Jan 07

Obviously not mine:



White to move

k

Sigulda, Latvia

Joined
30 Aug 06
Moves
4048
16 Jan 07

Originally posted by Peakite
Obviously not mine:

[fen]4k2r/p1p1p1p1/1p2P3/8/3R4/6P1/5P1P/R3K3[/fen]

White to move
1. 0-0-0!! with the inevitable threat of Rd8#

I can't see a reason why that move couldn't be played.

M

Joined
12 Mar 03
Moves
44411
16 Jan 07
2 edits

I don't see how you can prove that black can't castle

Secret RHP coder

on the payroll

Joined
26 Nov 04
Moves
155080
16 Jan 07

Originally posted by Mephisto2
I don't see how you can prove that black can't castle
Easy. If White may play 0-0-0, then Rd4 isn't the original Rh1 (which must have died in the SE corner), but a promoted Rook. The promoted Rook can only exit the 8th rank via d8, f8 or h8, all of which displace Black's K or R.

j
nice one

bed, chair or floor

Joined
03 Oct 04
Moves
4854
16 Jan 07

I might not have the hang of this yet.

I get:
If black may not caslte and white can not castle, there is 1 solution. (Rad1)
If black may not castle but white may, there are 2 solutions. (Rad1 and 0-0-0)
If black may castle, there is no solution.
Assuming this is supposed to have 1 solution only, the solution must be Rad1.

Where is the flaw in this logic?

D

Joined
21 Sep 05
Moves
75006
16 Jan 07

Originally posted by jfkjmh
I might not have the hang of this yet.

I get:
If black may not caslte and white can not castle, there is 1 solution. (Rad1)
If black may not castle but white may, there are 2 solutions. (Rad1 and 0-0-0)
If black may castle, there is no solution.
Assuming this is supposed to have 1 solution only, the solution must be Rad1.

Where is the flaw in this logic?
Also - doesn't Ra7 followed by Ra8 do the job (assuming that black can't castle)? I still don't get how to deal with the threat of castling, though!

Secret RHP coder

on the payroll

Joined
26 Nov 04
Moves
155080
17 Jan 07

Originally posted by jfkjmh
I might not have the hang of this yet.

I get:
If black may not caslte and white can not castle, there is 1 solution. (Rad1)
If black may not castle but white may, there are 2 solutions. (Rad1 and 0-0-0)
If black may castle, there is no solution.
Assuming this is supposed to have 1 solution only, the solution must be Rad1.

Where is the flaw in this logic?
Your problem is with the case:

"Black may castle".

In this position, you can't disprove this case, unless you are allowed proof A Posteriori, or proof after the fact. From retrograde analysis, we know that only one side may castle. By castling first, White deprives Black of the right to do so.

Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of AP proof, but that is how the logic of this problem is meant to work.

Secret RHP coder

on the payroll

Joined
26 Nov 04
Moves
155080
17 Jan 07
1 edit

Originally posted by Diapason
Also - doesn't Ra7 followed by Ra8 do the job (assuming that black can't castle)? I still don't get how to deal with the threat of castling, though!
1.Rxa7? does not prove that Black can't castle. 1.0-0-0! does.

Edit: Perhaps this will help people understand AP proof. Imagine that you are a third-party observer to the game. You just walked in the room, and the players were at the position in the diagram. You are allowed to assume the position is legal. Once White plays 1.0-0-0, you know for certain that he has a forced mate the next move. If he had played 1.Rad1, you still would not know for sure.

j
nice one

bed, chair or floor

Joined
03 Oct 04
Moves
4854
18 Jan 07

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
Your problem is with the case:

"Black may castle".

In this position, you can't disprove this case, unless you are allowed proof A Posteriori, or proof after the fact. From retrograde analysis, we know that only one side may castle. By castling first, White deprives Black of the right to do so.

Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of AP proof, but that is how the logic of this problem is meant to work.
Thank you, I understand now. Is AP common knowledge on "mate in ..."problems or should it be stated explicitly beforehand?

Secret RHP coder

on the payroll

Joined
26 Nov 04
Moves
155080
18 Jan 07
1 edit

Originally posted by jfkjmh
Thank you, I understand now. Is AP common knowledge on "mate in ..."problems or should it be stated explicitly beforehand?
Article 16, section 2 of the FIDE codex of composition states:

"(2) In case of mutual dependency of castling rights of each party, the party exercising this right first is entitled to do so."

http://www.saunalahti.fi/~stniekat/pccc/codex.htm

Edit: But it also states:

"Other conventions (which also affect other rights to move) should be expressly stipulated, for example:

(a) If an en-passant capture in the course of the solution has to be legalized by a subsequent castling (for example AP)."

So, the answer is: sometimes it is understood, sometimes it should be expressly stipulated. 😛

AP

Joined
23 Jan 07
Moves
2547
24 Jan 07

Originally posted by kbaumen
1. 0-0-0!! with the inevitable threat of Rd8#

I can't see a reason why that move couldn't be played.
first of all, 0-0-0 can simplely be just move the rook. also, rxa7 can threat. there is no # in 2 if black can castle.

AP

Joined
23 Jan 07
Moves
2547
24 Jan 07

Originally posted by jfkjmh
I might not have the hang of this yet.

I get:
If black may not caslte and white can not castle, there is 1 solution. (Rad1)
If black may not castle but white may, there are 2 solutions. (Rad1 and 0-0-0)
If black may castle, there is no solution.
Assuming this is supposed to have 1 solution only, the solution must be Rad1.

Where is the flaw in this logic?
no no, rxa7 alsoworks

Secret RHP coder

on the payroll

Joined
26 Nov 04
Moves
155080
24 Jan 07

Originally posted by Ason Pigg2
first of all, 0-0-0 can simplely be just move the rook. also, rxa7 can threat. there is no # in 2 if black can castle.
First of all, read the thread.