Super dumb question about a rule.

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Rocky64
danedori wrote:

The problem with saying a pinned piece doesn't threaten squares runs into some serious problems if you extend the logic out a bit. For example, in the setup below:

 
 
Can the white king move to c5? If we're saying that pinned pieces don't threaten squares, then he could because the black knight is pinned. But, is he really? Because if the king moves to c5, then the white bishop is pinned to the king and so wouldn't threaten the black king if the knight were to move. So the black knight is not pinned. But wait, the white queen is pinning the black rook to his king, and so he doesn't threaten squares, so the bishop is not pinned anymore, but then does that mean that the black knight is once again pinned? 

That's an interesting position to illustrate what might seem problematic with the rule that "pinned pieces don't check", but there's nothing actually wrong or logically inconsistent with such a rule. Ultimately it's a matter of convention which rule we decide to use (and I'm happy with the existing one). So in your position, The WQ-BR pin means that the BR doesn't check on the c-file, so if the WK is on c5, the WB is free to move, which means the WB DOES pin the BN, and the latter doesn't check the WK on c5 - therefore 1.Kc5 is legal. Now if there is no WQ on a8, then the BR DOES pin the WB, which is thus unable to check, and that means the BN is free to move and check the WK on c5 - therefore 1.Kc5 is illegal without the WQ.

 

Such convoluted "pin logic" is explored by problem composers as a matter of course when they use this rule, called "Superpins" as mentioned above. For an example of a Mate-in-2 problem that uses this rule, see this position by the composer C Sydenham (in the solution, S (not N) = knight).

Storiaron

So after all the question I asked wasn't dumb, nor was it a new questipn grin.png

Prince-Chowmein
Lagomorph wrote:
Prince-Chowmein wrote:
what trolls are arguing ?

 

POTUS Trump-Wall for one

those trolls should be made pay a toll, that will stop their nefarious antics once and for all!