Unmovable King

Here is a puzzle that has an interesting tale from my perspective. I was shown it at a tournament in 2006. The person showing me didn't remember the solution! He vowed that it had a solution. So over the next few years, I would occasionally set it up on the board and have a crack at it without any satisfaction. Recently, I seen it presented on a blog that I read and now have the knowledge to share it with you.

At first glance, it would seem to be a simple win for White. But Black has received some outside assistance and while you were not paying attention, someone has glued your King to c3! Infuriated, you then decide to show your devious opponent that you can deliver the mate without moving your King!

mueller wrote: hehe. fun puzzle, but if the king really is glued to c3, then the blackking could go to b3 / b4 without fear of being captured :D

That's true... if the white King cannot move, then he is not attacking the eight squares around him.

If a pinned piece can still deliver mate, why can't a glued piece?

Because the pinned piece giving mate would capture the opponent's King before his own could be captured. Here, we are just saying that the black King can move into the squares around the white King as they are not being attacked.

I realised that, I was joining in the fun of the thought

In actual play, if my opponent moved his King to a square adjacent to mine, I would call the arbiter and have him restore the position to the last legal one, and if the arbiter was of a mind that I couldn't play with my King glued to a square, then he would move the game to a board where all would be well.

The glued concept is just a funny way to get the idea across that the king isn't allowed to move in this puzzle.

With some student's, I set it up and asked if it would be an easy win for White, once they agree, I then say that I am willing to bet a dollar that I can draw as Black, most jump at this opportunity for easy money. I then ask did I inform them that in this case, they are not allowed to move their king! Most then laugh and call off the bet at which point I then offer to play the White side and am willing to bet $2 that I can win it, I also offer them the choice, play White and win for $1, play Black and draw for $2. It adds to the fun of the moment and hopefully makes the puzzle and its concepts more memorable.

 Since the white king is glued then when black plays 12...Kb4# then black can call checkmate since white's king can't get out of danger.  :)

The thought of trying to checkmate black without moving the king is an interesting challenge though.  :)

nice puzzle.....

Nice!

I played with Stockfish and won ! with these moves 1. Qg6 Ke7 2. Qf5 Kd6 3. Qf6+ Kd5 4. Qe7 Kc6 5 . Qe6+ Kb7 6. Qe7+ Kb6 7. Qd7 Ka6 8. Qc7 Kb5 9. Qd6 Ka5 10. Qc7+ Ka6 11. Qb8 Ka5 12. Qb7 Ka4 13. Qb6 Ka3 14. Qa6# , Mate

Please see my unmovable (clued !) King variation topic too