In this position white can checkmate black in one move in 43 different ways. However, there is a better solution where white can checkmate black in one move in 47 different ways!
♦ TOTALLY PUZZLED #213 (page 66) – Mate in One
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Has anybody solved this puzzle yet? It is extremely difficult! It has been posted here for more than a month. Does anybody want the solution?
Funny, I tried different strategies for a while, ending up with a near identical diagram as the one you posted (with 43). It's quite hard. Maybe I will try to improve tomorrow, but I'm positive I won't get to 47 anyway.
found it
estrada1234- You have repeated the 43-move solution. The best solution contains 47 moves, from my book TOTALLY PUZZLED. Hint: the solution contains pawn promotions and underpromotions among the 47 moves!
Nobody has found the optimum solution yet? Post a comment here if you would like to see the solution!
SHOW ME!!
May 29, 2012
0
#10
HairBall1 wrote:
Nobody has found the optimum solution yet? Post a comment here if you would like to see the solution!
I just saw this and would like to give it a try before you post the solution.
I could find only 42 out of the possible 43 moves that lead to mate, regarding the puzzle in the first diagram. Could anyone point me the move I am missing? Here is what I could find:
(rook in b7: 14), (queen: 4), (bishop in e5: 13), (horse in h5: 2), (horse in c4: 7), (pawn in c2: 1), (pawn in e2: 1), total: 42.
Yeah I can't see it either.
It looks like adding a pawn on g2 gives 44 mates, but then the bishop on a8 must be promoted 
You are correct, there are only 42 mates, and 44 with a pawn on g2, but this means the bishop on a8 must have been promoted. There is a completely different position with 47 mates in one, including two pawn promotions and two underpromotions. I'll post the solution soon....
Shoo, just noticed I have a similar problem with my h8 bishop =)
I actually might try to tackle this again, at least to improve on my previous attempt. You've waited 2 months already, so I suppose a few more days won't make much of a difference, right?
Unless many people suddenly want to see the solution already :P
May 31, 2012
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#15
shoopi wrote:
Shoo, just noticed I have a similar problem with my h8 bishop =)
I actually might try to tackle this again, at least to improve on my previous attempt. You've waited 2 months already, so I suppose a few more days won't make much of a difference, right?
Unless many people suddenly want to see the solution already :P
I'm still working on it too. Maybe one of us can come up with the answer before it is posted.
Here's a 44 one with underpromotions. Still not ideal, but best I could do in the mean time. Maybe I'll be able to achieve 45 with a slightly different strategy, given more time, but surely not more.
Jun 1, 2012
0
#17
I have come up with a 44 mate position also that looks completely different. In order to increase it I think I'll still have to move around some of the major pieces. The biggest problem here is that the knights are blocking important checking squares for the queen and one for a capturing pawn, but those are the only squares for the knights to defend d7 without being in the way of other more important pieces. Having to cover e2 is also a problem, because otherwise a knight could take the place of the king.
Wow, that's great! Really gives a new perspective on this puzzle, since there are quite a bit of different strategies to try.
I really like your use of a discovered check(mate) through pawn promotion, which here gives you a whooping 8 mates. Perhaps this strategy can be further perfected. Sounds like there's work to be done.
Also, I kept on using a bishop in the corner behind a rook, but here you show me that it is not really necessary for the bishop to be in the corner at all - the rook on g3 can still deliver 14 mates which is the maximum. This may give me some more leeway with the positioning.
However right now I don't have time for this, perhaps tomorrow.
I'm fairly confident we will crack 45 soon.
You are both on the right track! Actually, I reviewed the 47-move solution again and there are actually 3 pawn promotions and 3 underpromotions!
Construct a legal chess position where white can checkmate black in one move in the maximum number of different ways. Note: pawn promotions on the move are allowed, but previous pawn promotions are not allowed.