Mixing
Chess puzzle with bishops and pawns
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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10
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FEN: B7/2pp4/8/PP2p3/K7/8/5k1b/8 w - - 0 1
The board contains only bishops, pawns, and kings. You're playing White, and it's your turn. How quickly can you force a mate, despite the material disadvantage?
Source: Valentin Rudenko, 2.hm Achalgazdra Kommunisti,
1956.
chess
edited Sep 2 at 18:27
xhienne
2,854526
asked Aug 31 at 20:26
Rand al'Thor
67.5k13223453
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
FEN: B7/2pp4/8/PP2p3/K7/8/5k1b/8 w - - 0 1
The board contains only bishops, pawns, and kings. You're playing White, and it's your turn. How quickly can you force a mate, despite the material disadvantage?
Source: Valentin Rudenko, 2.hm Achalgazdra Kommunisti,
1956.
chess
edited Sep 2 at 18:27
xhienne
2,854526
asked Aug 31 at 20:26
Rand al'Thor
67.5k13223453
This is a tough situation, so long as black doesn't move their king to a white square, this'll end up being a stalemate. I'm sure there's a way to do it, but it's not immediately obvious to me. +1
– PerpetualJ
Aug 31 at 20:41
Great puzzle! $(+1)$
– user477343
Sep 3 at 0:25
add a comment |Â
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
FEN: B7/2pp4/8/PP2p3/K7/8/5k1b/8 w - - 0 1
The board contains only bishops, pawns, and kings. You're playing White, and it's your turn. How quickly can you force a mate, despite the material disadvantage?
Source: Valentin Rudenko, 2.hm Achalgazdra Kommunisti,
1956.
chess
edited Sep 2 at 18:27
xhienne
2,854526
asked Aug 31 at 20:26
Rand al'Thor
67.5k13223453
FEN: B7/2pp4/8/PP2p3/K7/8/5k1b/8 w - - 0 1
The board contains only bishops, pawns, and kings. You're playing White, and it's your turn. How quickly can you force a mate, despite the material disadvantage?
Source: Valentin Rudenko, 2.hm Achalgazdra Kommunisti,
1956.
chess
edited Sep 2 at 18:27
xhienne
2,854526
asked Aug 31 at 20:26
Rand al'Thor
67.5k13223453
edited Sep 2 at 18:27
xhienne
2,854526
edited Sep 2 at 18:27
xhienne
2,854526
edited Sep 2 at 18:27
xhienne
2,854526
2,854526
asked Aug 31 at 20:26
Rand al'Thor
67.5k13223453
asked Aug 31 at 20:26
Rand al'Thor
67.5k13223453
asked Aug 31 at 20:26
Rand al'Thor
67.5k13223453
67.5k13223453
This is a tough situation, so long as black doesn't move their king to a white square, this'll end up being a stalemate. I'm sure there's a way to do it, but it's not immediately obvious to me. +1
– PerpetualJ
Aug 31 at 20:41
Great puzzle! $(+1)$
– user477343
Sep 3 at 0:25
add a comment |Â
This is a tough situation, so long as black doesn't move their king to a white square, this'll end up being a stalemate. I'm sure there's a way to do it, but it's not immediately obvious to me. +1
– PerpetualJ
Aug 31 at 20:41
Great puzzle! $(+1)$
– user477343
Sep 3 at 0:25
This is a tough situation, so long as black doesn't move their king to a white square, this'll end up being a stalemate. I'm sure there's a way to do it, but it's not immediately obvious to me. +1
– PerpetualJ
Aug 31 at 20:41
This is a tough situation, so long as black doesn't move their king to a white square, this'll end up being a stalemate. I'm sure there's a way to do it, but it's not immediately obvious to me. +1
– PerpetualJ
Aug 31 at 20:41
Great puzzle! $(+1)$
– user477343
Sep 3 at 0:25
Great puzzle! $(+1)$
– user477343
Sep 3 at 0:25
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
I think the key is
To promote your pawn to a Queen first, and control the A8-H1 diagonal with the Q-B combo, as @PerpetualJ has mentioned.
The sequence of moves would probably start with
1. a6! (push the pawn) Bf4 (mobilize the Black bishop). We then need to block the black square diagonal g1-a7, since this is the best diagonal for Black to block the coronation with 2...Be3 next. Then we use a pawn to achieve this, using 2. b6. 2. ... cxb6 is then forced, otherwise 3. b7 crowns the pawn. Then 3. Kb5!! blocks the Black bishop from accessing a7. Black rushes the pawn with 3...e4 4. a7 e3. White needs to control the diagonal as we mentioned, they do this with 5. Bh1. Black keeps rushing with 5...e2 6. a8=Q e1=Q. Unfortunately it’s now too late for Black, because the Queen serves as a barrier for the Black King now! 7. Qf3+ forces 7...Kg1, and then the final blow is delivered with 8. Qg2#.
So I think the answer is
Mate in 8 (lol, it rhymes!)
Notice that
The first Black move 1...Bf4 with the intended 2...Be3 is necessary; moving the two pawns out of the way instead loses because 1. a6 c5? 2. a7 e4? 3. Bh1 creates an unstoppable a-pawn. 1...Bg1 has some merit, but ultimately fails because the Black king has to move out of the way; Ke3, Ke2, and Ke1 block the e-pawn; and Kf1 has the same effect as above except blocks the king in faster with 7. Qg2#.
answered Aug 31 at 21:15
El-Guest
9,1681949
1
Move 2 is the key, I couldn't figure how to prevent what you prevented, then I finally did but you'd already posted.
– Joel Rondeau
Aug 31 at 21:20
1
What if black plays 6... e1=N?
– isaacg
Aug 31 at 22:28
I think that's it. Haven't checked all the moves in detail, but this looks like the solution I had.
– Rand al'Thor
Sep 1 at 10:48
@Randal'Thor isaacg has a point: why black would trap themselves by promoting to a queen?
– xhienne
Sep 2 at 0:47
1
@xhienne for the sake of uncovering what happened, I searched up whether this puzzle was available online. The solution that Chess.com provides is here although I’ve not found anything further. I agree though that this seems not as well posed as others I’ve solved.
– El-Guest
Sep 2 at 17:00
 |Â
show 7 more comments
up vote
3
down vote
I would personally go on the assault to take other pieces.
Lead with your king, though you can't check with the king, you can take the pawns. You'll need to lure the black bishop and pawns into the h1-8 diagonal. So long as you're able to retain your pieces, the black king will eventually have no defense and will be forced to surrender or stalemate will eventually happen.
answered Aug 31 at 20:46
PerpetualJ
1,38722
It would have been funny if you could make a perpetual check occur, hahah :P
– user477343
Sep 7 at 11:10
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
I think the key is
To promote your pawn to a Queen first, and control the A8-H1 diagonal with the Q-B combo, as @PerpetualJ has mentioned.
The sequence of moves would probably start with
1. a6! (push the pawn) Bf4 (mobilize the Black bishop). We then need to block the black square diagonal g1-a7, since this is the best diagonal for Black to block the coronation with 2...Be3 next. Then we use a pawn to achieve this, using 2. b6. 2. ... cxb6 is then forced, otherwise 3. b7 crowns the pawn. Then 3. Kb5!! blocks the Black bishop from accessing a7. Black rushes the pawn with 3...e4 4. a7 e3. White needs to control the diagonal as we mentioned, they do this with 5. Bh1. Black keeps rushing with 5...e2 6. a8=Q e1=Q. Unfortunately it’s now too late for Black, because the Queen serves as a barrier for the Black King now! 7. Qf3+ forces 7...Kg1, and then the final blow is delivered with 8. Qg2#.
So I think the answer is
Mate in 8 (lol, it rhymes!)
Notice that
The first Black move 1...Bf4 with the intended 2...Be3 is necessary; moving the two pawns out of the way instead loses because 1. a6 c5? 2. a7 e4? 3. Bh1 creates an unstoppable a-pawn. 1...Bg1 has some merit, but ultimately fails because the Black king has to move out of the way; Ke3, Ke2, and Ke1 block the e-pawn; and Kf1 has the same effect as above except blocks the king in faster with 7. Qg2#.
answered Aug 31 at 21:15
El-Guest
9,1681949
1
Move 2 is the key, I couldn't figure how to prevent what you prevented, then I finally did but you'd already posted.
– Joel Rondeau
Aug 31 at 21:20
1
What if black plays 6... e1=N?
– isaacg
Aug 31 at 22:28
I think that's it. Haven't checked all the moves in detail, but this looks like the solution I had.
– Rand al'Thor
Sep 1 at 10:48
@Randal'Thor isaacg has a point: why black would trap themselves by promoting to a queen?
– xhienne
Sep 2 at 0:47
1
@xhienne for the sake of uncovering what happened, I searched up whether this puzzle was available online. The solution that Chess.com provides is here although I’ve not found anything further. I agree though that this seems not as well posed as others I’ve solved.
– El-Guest
Sep 2 at 17:00
 |Â
show 7 more comments
up vote
10
down vote
I think the key is
To promote your pawn to a Queen first, and control the A8-H1 diagonal with the Q-B combo, as @PerpetualJ has mentioned.
The sequence of moves would probably start with
1. a6! (push the pawn) Bf4 (mobilize the Black bishop). We then need to block the black square diagonal g1-a7, since this is the best diagonal for Black to block the coronation with 2...Be3 next. Then we use a pawn to achieve this, using 2. b6. 2. ... cxb6 is then forced, otherwise 3. b7 crowns the pawn. Then 3. Kb5!! blocks the Black bishop from accessing a7. Black rushes the pawn with 3...e4 4. a7 e3. White needs to control the diagonal as we mentioned, they do this with 5. Bh1. Black keeps rushing with 5...e2 6. a8=Q e1=Q. Unfortunately it’s now too late for Black, because the Queen serves as a barrier for the Black King now! 7. Qf3+ forces 7...Kg1, and then the final blow is delivered with 8. Qg2#.
So I think the answer is
Mate in 8 (lol, it rhymes!)
Notice that
The first Black move 1...Bf4 with the intended 2...Be3 is necessary; moving the two pawns out of the way instead loses because 1. a6 c5? 2. a7 e4? 3. Bh1 creates an unstoppable a-pawn. 1...Bg1 has some merit, but ultimately fails because the Black king has to move out of the way; Ke3, Ke2, and Ke1 block the e-pawn; and Kf1 has the same effect as above except blocks the king in faster with 7. Qg2#.
answered Aug 31 at 21:15
El-Guest
9,1681949
1
Move 2 is the key, I couldn't figure how to prevent what you prevented, then I finally did but you'd already posted.
– Joel Rondeau
Aug 31 at 21:20
1
What if black plays 6... e1=N?
– isaacg
Aug 31 at 22:28
I think that's it. Haven't checked all the moves in detail, but this looks like the solution I had.
– Rand al'Thor
Sep 1 at 10:48
@Randal'Thor isaacg has a point: why black would trap themselves by promoting to a queen?
– xhienne
Sep 2 at 0:47
1
@xhienne for the sake of uncovering what happened, I searched up whether this puzzle was available online. The solution that Chess.com provides is here although I’ve not found anything further. I agree though that this seems not as well posed as others I’ve solved.
– El-Guest
Sep 2 at 17:00
 |Â
show 7 more comments
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
down vote
I think the key is
To promote your pawn to a Queen first, and control the A8-H1 diagonal with the Q-B combo, as @PerpetualJ has mentioned.
The sequence of moves would probably start with
1. a6! (push the pawn) Bf4 (mobilize the Black bishop). We then need to block the black square diagonal g1-a7, since this is the best diagonal for Black to block the coronation with 2...Be3 next. Then we use a pawn to achieve this, using 2. b6. 2. ... cxb6 is then forced, otherwise 3. b7 crowns the pawn. Then 3. Kb5!! blocks the Black bishop from accessing a7. Black rushes the pawn with 3...e4 4. a7 e3. White needs to control the diagonal as we mentioned, they do this with 5. Bh1. Black keeps rushing with 5...e2 6. a8=Q e1=Q. Unfortunately it’s now too late for Black, because the Queen serves as a barrier for the Black King now! 7. Qf3+ forces 7...Kg1, and then the final blow is delivered with 8. Qg2#.
So I think the answer is
Mate in 8 (lol, it rhymes!)
Notice that
The first Black move 1...Bf4 with the intended 2...Be3 is necessary; moving the two pawns out of the way instead loses because 1. a6 c5? 2. a7 e4? 3. Bh1 creates an unstoppable a-pawn. 1...Bg1 has some merit, but ultimately fails because the Black king has to move out of the way; Ke3, Ke2, and Ke1 block the e-pawn; and Kf1 has the same effect as above except blocks the king in faster with 7. Qg2#.
answered Aug 31 at 21:15
El-Guest
9,1681949
I think the key is
To promote your pawn to a Queen first, and control the A8-H1 diagonal with the Q-B combo, as @PerpetualJ has mentioned.
The sequence of moves would probably start with
1. a6! (push the pawn) Bf4 (mobilize the Black bishop). We then need to block the black square diagonal g1-a7, since this is the best diagonal for Black to block the coronation with 2...Be3 next. Then we use a pawn to achieve this, using 2. b6. 2. ... cxb6 is then forced, otherwise 3. b7 crowns the pawn. Then 3. Kb5!! blocks the Black bishop from accessing a7. Black rushes the pawn with 3...e4 4. a7 e3. White needs to control the diagonal as we mentioned, they do this with 5. Bh1. Black keeps rushing with 5...e2 6. a8=Q e1=Q. Unfortunately it’s now too late for Black, because the Queen serves as a barrier for the Black King now! 7. Qf3+ forces 7...Kg1, and then the final blow is delivered with 8. Qg2#.
So I think the answer is
Mate in 8 (lol, it rhymes!)
Notice that
The first Black move 1...Bf4 with the intended 2...Be3 is necessary; moving the two pawns out of the way instead loses because 1. a6 c5? 2. a7 e4? 3. Bh1 creates an unstoppable a-pawn. 1...Bg1 has some merit, but ultimately fails because the Black king has to move out of the way; Ke3, Ke2, and Ke1 block the e-pawn; and Kf1 has the same effect as above except blocks the king in faster with 7. Qg2#.
answered Aug 31 at 21:15
El-Guest
9,1681949
edited Aug 31 at 21:28
answered Aug 31 at 21:15
El-Guest
9,1681949
answered Aug 31 at 21:15
El-Guest
9,1681949
answered Aug 31 at 21:15
El-Guest
9,1681949
9,1681949
1
Move 2 is the key, I couldn't figure how to prevent what you prevented, then I finally did but you'd already posted.
– Joel Rondeau
Aug 31 at 21:20
1
What if black plays 6... e1=N?
– isaacg
Aug 31 at 22:28
I think that's it. Haven't checked all the moves in detail, but this looks like the solution I had.
– Rand al'Thor
Sep 1 at 10:48
@Randal'Thor isaacg has a point: why black would trap themselves by promoting to a queen?
– xhienne
Sep 2 at 0:47
1
@xhienne for the sake of uncovering what happened, I searched up whether this puzzle was available online. The solution that Chess.com provides is here although I’ve not found anything further. I agree though that this seems not as well posed as others I’ve solved.
– El-Guest
Sep 2 at 17:00
 |Â
show 7 more comments
1
Move 2 is the key, I couldn't figure how to prevent what you prevented, then I finally did but you'd already posted.
– Joel Rondeau
Aug 31 at 21:20
1
What if black plays 6... e1=N?
– isaacg
Aug 31 at 22:28
I think that's it. Haven't checked all the moves in detail, but this looks like the solution I had.
– Rand al'Thor
Sep 1 at 10:48
@Randal'Thor isaacg has a point: why black would trap themselves by promoting to a queen?
– xhienne
Sep 2 at 0:47
1
@xhienne for the sake of uncovering what happened, I searched up whether this puzzle was available online. The solution that Chess.com provides is here although I’ve not found anything further. I agree though that this seems not as well posed as others I’ve solved.
– El-Guest
Sep 2 at 17:00
1
1
Move 2 is the key, I couldn't figure how to prevent what you prevented, then I finally did but you'd already posted.
– Joel Rondeau
Aug 31 at 21:20
Move 2 is the key, I couldn't figure how to prevent what you prevented, then I finally did but you'd already posted.
– Joel Rondeau
Aug 31 at 21:20
1
1
What if black plays 6... e1=N?
– isaacg
Aug 31 at 22:28
What if black plays 6... e1=N?
– isaacg
Aug 31 at 22:28
I think that's it. Haven't checked all the moves in detail, but this looks like the solution I had.
– Rand al'Thor
Sep 1 at 10:48
I think that's it. Haven't checked all the moves in detail, but this looks like the solution I had.
– Rand al'Thor
Sep 1 at 10:48
@Randal'Thor isaacg has a point: why black would trap themselves by promoting to a queen?
– xhienne
Sep 2 at 0:47
@Randal'Thor isaacg has a point: why black would trap themselves by promoting to a queen?
– xhienne
Sep 2 at 0:47
1
1
@xhienne for the sake of uncovering what happened, I searched up whether this puzzle was available online. The solution that Chess.com provides is here although I’ve not found anything further. I agree though that this seems not as well posed as others I’ve solved.
– El-Guest
Sep 2 at 17:00
@xhienne for the sake of uncovering what happened, I searched up whether this puzzle was available online. The solution that Chess.com provides is here although I’ve not found anything further. I agree though that this seems not as well posed as others I’ve solved.
– El-Guest
Sep 2 at 17:00
 |Â
show 7 more comments
up vote
3
down vote
I would personally go on the assault to take other pieces.
Lead with your king, though you can't check with the king, you can take the pawns. You'll need to lure the black bishop and pawns into the h1-8 diagonal. So long as you're able to retain your pieces, the black king will eventually have no defense and will be forced to surrender or stalemate will eventually happen.
answered Aug 31 at 20:46
PerpetualJ
1,38722
It would have been funny if you could make a perpetual check occur, hahah :P
– user477343
Sep 7 at 11:10
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
I would personally go on the assault to take other pieces.
Lead with your king, though you can't check with the king, you can take the pawns. You'll need to lure the black bishop and pawns into the h1-8 diagonal. So long as you're able to retain your pieces, the black king will eventually have no defense and will be forced to surrender or stalemate will eventually happen.
answered Aug 31 at 20:46
PerpetualJ
1,38722
It would have been funny if you could make a perpetual check occur, hahah :P
– user477343
Sep 7 at 11:10
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
I would personally go on the assault to take other pieces.
Lead with your king, though you can't check with the king, you can take the pawns. You'll need to lure the black bishop and pawns into the h1-8 diagonal. So long as you're able to retain your pieces, the black king will eventually have no defense and will be forced to surrender or stalemate will eventually happen.
answered Aug 31 at 20:46
PerpetualJ
1,38722
I would personally go on the assault to take other pieces.
Lead with your king, though you can't check with the king, you can take the pawns. You'll need to lure the black bishop and pawns into the h1-8 diagonal. So long as you're able to retain your pieces, the black king will eventually have no defense and will be forced to surrender or stalemate will eventually happen.
answered Aug 31 at 20:46
PerpetualJ
1,38722
answered Aug 31 at 20:46
PerpetualJ
1,38722
answered Aug 31 at 20:46
PerpetualJ
1,38722
answered Aug 31 at 20:46
PerpetualJ
1,38722
1,38722
It would have been funny if you could make a perpetual check occur, hahah :P
– user477343
Sep 7 at 11:10
add a comment |Â
It would have been funny if you could make a perpetual check occur, hahah :P
– user477343
Sep 7 at 11:10
It would have been funny if you could make a perpetual check occur, hahah :P
– user477343
Sep 7 at 11:10
It would have been funny if you could make a perpetual check occur, hahah :P
– user477343
Sep 7 at 11:10
add a comment |Â
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This is a tough situation, so long as black doesn't move their king to a white square, this'll end up being a stalemate. I'm sure there's a way to do it, but it's not immediately obvious to me. +1
– PerpetualJ
Aug 31 at 20:41
Great puzzle! $(+1)$
– user477343
Sep 3 at 0:25