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The Christmas Puzzle, Part Three.


  • 5 months ago · Quote · #1

    PrawnEatsPrawn

    As usual: no hints, no solution and no tricks.

     

    Do try to solve yourself: no research and no engines, please.

     

    Welcome to hell.

     

    (Not a helpmate)
  • 5 months ago · Quote · #2

    PrawnEatsPrawn

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #3

    theoreticalboy

    This is plain mean-spirited.

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #4

    bugoobiga

    [COMMENT DELETED]
  • 5 months ago · Quote · #5

    PrawnEatsPrawn

    p.s. To save the planet a little, I've run a few engines over the puzzle for you:

     

    Houdini doesn't get it @ depth 40:

     

    Stockfish doesn't get it @ depth 50:

     

    There's a concept at play, that evades engine comprehension.

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #6

    adude23

    What about Qb4? From what I see, this is a draw, since White has a perpetual, but there might be a line where White can win.

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #7

    adude23

    PrawnEatsPrawn wrote:

    p.s. To save the planet a little, I've run a few engines over the puzzle for you:

     

    Houdini doesn't get it @ depth 40:

     

     

    Stockfish doesn't get it @ depth 50:

     

     

    There's a concept at play, that evades engine comprehension.


    wow, that looks fierce Surprised

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #8

    PrawnEatsPrawn

    bugoobiga wrote:
    PrawnEatsPrawn wrote:

    As usual: no hints, no solution and no tricks.

     

    Do try to solve yourself: no research and no engines, please.

     

    Welcome to hell.

     

     

    (Not a helpmate)

     white promotes to queen in two moves, and so does black.

    then white's queen to c4 for mate.


    Take another look. The recently promoted Black Queen interposes on b4.

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #9

    bugoobiga

    PrawnEatsPrawn wrote:
    bugoobiga wrote:
    PrawnEatsPrawn wrote:

    As usual: no hints, no solution and no tricks.

     

    Do try to solve yourself: no research and no engines, please.

     

    Welcome to hell.

     

     

    (Not a helpmate)

     white promotes to queen in two moves, and so does black.

    then white's queen to c4 for mate.


    Take another look. The recently promoted Black Queen interposes on b4.


     i know...that's why i deleted that hasty posting.

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #10

    heinzie

    [COMMENT DELETED]
  • 5 months ago · Quote · #11

    kaos2008

    this is unfairly tough!!
    Anyone got Kramnik's or Nakamuras Number/ email ? Sealed

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #12

    kaos2008

    heinzie wrote:

    Old problem is old, why not surprise is with something new... as a kind of Christmas present?


    what might the solution/idea be then for us mere mortals?

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #13

    PrawnEatsPrawn

    [COMMENT DELETED]
  • 5 months ago · Quote · #14

    heinzie

    [COMMENT DELETED]
  • 5 months ago · Quote · #15

    heinzie

    [COMMENT DELETED]
  • 5 months ago · Quote · #16

    PrawnEatsPrawn

    [COMMENT DELETED]
  • 5 months ago · Quote · #17

    adude23

    Once you know the general idea (I'm naughty, I looked it up and I'll get coal), then it's really easy.

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #18

    PrawnEatsPrawn

    Not takers then, by honest-to-goodness solvers?

     

    Poor show Chess.com, poor show.

     

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #19

    -waller-

    Against my better judgement, I'm going to spend time trying to solve this ... will report back when I've failed lol.

  • 5 months ago · Quote · #20

    -waller-

    Ok, so, barring any strange first/second moves by black, we have:

     

    And now there are far too many possibilities! Taking the pawn loses to Qc4+, the queens come off and Black wins easily. There is the idea of 6.Qb1+ threatening the pawn but after 6...Kc5, taking the pawn again loses to the Qc4+ idea.

    So then I looked at king moves. 6.Kb2 is the only interesting try, threatening Qc3+ followed by mate. Two defences as far as I can see:

    -If 6...Qa4 defending, there is a small forcing sequence 7.Qxe4+ Kb5 8.Qd5+ Kb4 and then I'm truly stuck.

    - And anyway, 6...Qe5+ forces the king to b1 or c1 and then I can't see how to progress.

    All in all I'm stuck.


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