PUZZLES (Think out of the box) - What is white's best move in these two positions

I will put it in white so that it can't be read by accident

@JamesAgadir - okay. Did you like the puzzle? Some would say its a 'cop-out' answer, I don't think so.

To me the 2nd position cannot happen, no pawn can be in h3 with both g2 and h2 pawns.

@Bourvil51 - Think of it as a hypothetical position then.

It isn't based on good sportsmanship, but chess is a war.

So the solution can be : "White's best option is to claim for cheat (or a hack) ", because the position can simply not happen.

Though, if you flip the board (White's king in a8), the position is valid.

this. is. IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!1

I am going to sleep now, bitterly let down by Arsenal yet again.

I stayed up till 3 just to watch that utter garbage of a show from the team.

However chess is a welcome distraction. I am going to sleep, try to keep cracking at the puzzle. Hopefully there will more 'solutions' when I log in after this tomorrow.

@Bourvil51 - Okay I have altered the 2nd problem and replaced a pawn with a bishop which makes the position hypothetically possible in a real game.

@The_Giraffe51 - Every word in the premise has been carefully chosen. There is a 'solution' within those parameters.

1a-2b/3g-4g

this can be a dance but it can be done

Why would white timing out be a draw? There is sufficient material on the board for black to checkmate.

SO many puzzles like this exist. I bet he switched the color scheme of the pieces so the the pawns can mow in diagonal of the king

cool

@A_G_A - You are right for a tournament game. If you timed out and claimed a draw the arbiter would over-rule and say a # is possible so white lost. However that is why I deliberately said in the premise to the problem that you are playing on chess.com.

Here the algorithm would auto call it a draw on insufficient material if white timed out.

you run out of time chess.com sees a knight and a bishop against anything as a draw

I like this puzzle. People go on too much about honour, this game isn't about honour it's about getting the best result possible.

Excellent work.