Since I am new and not able to put in a diagram apparently.
Pieces on the board:
White: Rook C3, Queen D3, King H3, Pawn H4, Noctambule D8
Black: Rook A7, Bishop B8, Knight H8 and King H5.
Hope this helps. Many thanks in advance.
Help with fairy chess problem
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1.Qf5 looks like mate. The Noct. on d8 covers h6.
Is this the correct diagram?
Dec 20, 2022
0
#4
Hello Big Dogg Problem, thanks for your response! Much appreciated. The diagram is not totally correct. I forgot there is a bishop (white) on G5 as well. Can you help me out again maybe? Much appreciated! I put the right diagram in. And as mentioned: D8 is a noctambule.
Beste regards, Bockham
Hint: look for "interference" among the black pieces.
Dec 20, 2022
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#6
After the correct first move, the dual mate after 1...Ng6 is unfortunate. So I'd add a black pawn on f3 to get rid of it.
BTW, the fairy piece noctambule is called a nightrider in English.
Rocky64 wrote:
After the correct first move, the dual mate after 1...Ng6 is unfortunate. So I'd add a black pawn on f3 to get rid of it.
BTW, the fairy piece noctambule is called a nightrider in English.
Does shifting all units down one rank work?
Dec 20, 2022
0
#8
BigDoggProblem wrote:
Rocky64 wrote:
After the correct first move, the dual mate after 1...Ng6 is unfortunate. So I'd add a black pawn on f3 to get rid of it.
BTW, the fairy piece noctambule is called a nightrider in English.
Does shifting all units down one rank work?
No, unfortunately. That would give the nightrider another potential mate on f8.
Come to think of it, a better fix is to replace the black knight on h8 with a black nightrider on a3. Then 1...Ng6 allows one queen mate only.
Dec 21, 2022
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#9
Many thanks Rocky and BigDogg for your help. I found the interference and solution.
@ rocky: do you mean that a solution with only one mate field is to be preferred over a problem which has two? So the problem will have one solution only?
Dec 21, 2022
0
#10
Bockham wrote:
@ rocky: do you mean that a solution with only one mate field is to be preferred over a problem which has two? So the problem will have one solution only?
The original problem does have one solution in the sense that it's solved only by 1.Rc7!, and such a unique first move is of course important. There are two threats, 2.Nf4/Qh7, and two main variations, 1...Rxc7 2.Nf4 and 1...Bxc7 2.Qh7, where in each case White makes a unique mating move. Black has a defence, 1...Ng6, that counters both threats, but in response White has multiple mating moves: 2.Qf3/Qe2/Qd1. Such alternative white moves that work equally well are called a "dual", and while they don't ruin the problem, they are viewed as a flaw.
In the modified position I suggested, with a nightrider on a3 instead of the knight on h8, Black can still make the 1...Ng6 defence. But now because the nightrider guards e2 from g6, White can mate only by 2.Qf3, hence the dual is removed. Generally speaking, in compositions we want a unique white move in every variation. Incidentally, alternative black moves are not a flaw at all, because they simply generate variations (like 1...Rxc7, 1...Bxc7, and 1...Ng6).
Hello I am a new member to this forum. I recently came into touch with fairy chess and I have a problem at hand which is driving me mad since I am not able to solve it. I possibly seriously overlooking something. So I can use your help.
In the diagram I am looking for a mate in two (white moving).
Please beware that the white Knight in D8 is supposed to be a Noctambule (and not the classic Knight that we know. Any help on a mate in two will be appreciated.