Can you helpmate in 20 moves with every move a check in the following position?

Nope.

I tried purposely making it impossible, but I actually didn't succeed (in fact, there is a helpmate in 6 with only checks). Here is a truely impossible one:

Below is a helpmate in 6 for the first problem.

 

The second problem is impossible because the white king needs to be one step closer to the edge in order to make a checkmate position possible, and you can't find a way to move the king and giving a check at the same time. In order to do that the white queen would need to hide behind the white king, so the white king can move and give a check, but you can't create such a situation without allowing white to make a move  without giving a check.

 

In traditional helpmate problems it is usually black that has the first move. If you give black the first move in the second problem, then it can be solved. Can you see how?

 

Anyway here is the first problem:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was actually thinking of another solution, which consisted of blundering your queen in every turn but the last.

what's the point of this? i mean this is extremely easy with helpmate and completely unrealistic... nothing is learned from this.

I disagree, you learn to visualize slightly different things. It's not "chess" but it helps you by making you work in a slightly different setting.

 Another example is Loser's Chess,  which I think also helps you becoming better at calculations and eliminating faulty assumptions from your game (variation I play requires players to capture if possible, but often players fail to realize that more than one capture is possible and wrecks the game). Granted, this won't teach you better openings, pawn structure, etc. But it can help you visualize some calculations in a fresh setting.

 

 

Tycho wrote:

I disagree, you learn to visualize slightly different things. It's not "chess" but it helps you by making you work in a slightly different setting.

 Another example is Loser's Chess,  which I think also helps you becoming better at calculations and eliminating faulty assumptions from your game (variation I play requires players to capture if possible, but often players fail to realize that more than one capture is possible and wrecks the game). Granted, this won't teach you better openings, pawn structure, etc. But it can help you visualize some calculations in a fresh setting.

 

 

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What's the point of visualizing something that will never happen in real chess? No one in a real chess game is going to help you mate them. Now, talking of your example of loser's chess, it doesn't really relate to real chess because you're not forced to take a piece in real chess. Loser's chess only teaches you how to set up the best way to kill yourself.

skeptical_moves wrote: Tycho wrote:

I disagree, you learn to visualize slightly different things. It's not "chess" but it helps you by making you work in a slightly different setting.

 Another example is Loser's Chess,  which I think also helps you becoming better at calculations and eliminating faulty assumptions from your game (variation I play requires players to capture if possible, but often players fail to realize that more than one capture is possible and wrecks the game). Granted, this won't teach you better openings, pawn structure, etc. But it can help you visualize some calculations in a fresh setting.

 

 

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What's the point of visualizing something that will never happen in real chess? No one in a real chess game is going to help you mate them. Now, talking of your example of loser's chess, it doesn't really relate to real chess because you're not forced to take a piece in real chess. Loser's chess only teaches you how to set up the best way to kill yourself.

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The world doesn't revolve around chess.

"The world doesn't revolve around chess."

What does this statement have to do with this topic/discussion?

Yes. You're saying that this doesn't help your chess, and I'm saying that that doesn't matter.

I agree. Chess is a thinking game. So is this type of puzzle. Who cares if this doesn't help your chess.

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Yes, that's right.  Black moves first in a helpmate.  If black moves first, it is possible.  Try it below.