This Problem is mentioned at the beginning at Through the Looking Glass and is a guiding narrative structure for the plot. Because of metaphorical and narrative reasons White Pawn (Alice) is to move first [thus (due to Alice's naivety) 1. Ng3+ can't be played]. Try to find a correct solution. Mate in 9. Note: There are multiple lines to mate.

Black to move? 

No saccing Alice? :o

1.d3+ Kxd3 2. Qa3+ Kd2 3.Qb2+ Kd3 4. Qd4+ Kc2 5. Ne3+ Qxe3 6.Qxe3 Ne7+ 7.Kb5 Nd5 8. Rf2+ Kd1 9. Qd2#

This is Lewis Carroll's "solution" based on the plot of Through the Looking Glass.

Alice is the pawn and it's generally agreed that LC himself is the white knight.

1. Alice meets R.Q. R.Q. to K.R's 4th
2. Alice through Q's 3d (by railway) to Q's 4th
Tweedledum and Tweedledee W.Q. to Q.B's 4th (after shawl)
3 Alice meets W.Q. (with shawl) W.Q. to Q. B's 5th (becomes sheep)
4 Alice to Q's 5th (shop, river, shop) W.Q. to K. B's 8th (leaves egg on shelf)
5 Alice to Q's 6th (Humpty Dumpty) W.Q. to Q.B's 8th (flying from R. Kt.)
6 Alice to Q's 7th (forest) W. Kt. takes R. Kt. R. Kt. to K's 2nd (ch.)
7 W. Kt. takes R. Kt. W. Kt. to K. B's 5th
8 Alice to Q's 8th (coronation) R. Q. to K's sq. (examination)
9 Alice becomes Queen Queens castle
10 Alice castles (feast) W.Q. to Q. R's 6th (soup)
11 Alice takes R. Q. & wins 


Preface to the 1896 Edition

As the chess-problem, given on the previous page, has puzzled some of my readers, it may be well to explain that it is correctly worked out, so far as the moves are concerned. The alternation of Red and White is perhaps not so strictly observed as it might be, and the “castling” of the three Queens is merely a way of saying that they entered the palace; but the “check” of the White King at move 6, the capture of the Red Knight at move 7, and the final “checkmate” of the Red King, will be found, by any one who will take the trouble to set the pieces and play the moves as directed, to be strictly in accordance with the laws of the game.

For an animated board with LC's "solution" see

http://chessaleeinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/07/09/alice-in-wonderlands-mysterious-chess-game/

Much has been written about LC's chess problem, see 

http://chessvibes.nl/columns/lewis-carrolls-chess-problem  for a sampling

 = Cheshire Cat