Chess Puzzle #105058

CHESS PUZZLE, FEN 8/3k4/1K3R2/5N2/8/8/8/8 w - -

Added by:	jsiehler
Added on:	20-Jul-13
Description:
Difficulty:	chess puzzle 8/3k4/1K3R2/5N2/8/8/8/8 w - -
Attempts:	13
Solved:	10 (76%)


White to move, mate in 4

Comments: (2) » Last

From	Comment
capafan 24-Mar-26, 10:54 » Report abuse	Classic Opposition <How to make the other K go where you want it to go> When Kings are separated by an ODD number of squares (1 is odd), the one who does NOT have the move, has the Opposition. His opponent must yield and move away. In the starting position here, White seizes the Opposition by moving from b6 to b7. Black has to yield, and he can choose between d8 & e8; let's say d8, it's longer. WK c6, BK e8, WK d6, BK d8, Rf8#. W's Kt never moved. Since these have been confined quarters, the Opposition has been simple. On an open board it gets more complicated, but understanding the principle makes the process far more comprehensible than does playing without this understanding.
capafan 24-Mar-26, 11:18 » Report abuse	I replayed it several times... ...and the robot 🤖 keeps picking the longer variant, but the shorter one is more interesting: 1. Kb7...Ke8 2. Kc6...Kd8 3. Rf8# (f5N covers e7) 10/13 = 76% ~ should be better!!

From

Comment

capafan
24-Mar-26, 10:54

» Report abuse

Classic Opposition

<How to make the other K go where you want it to go>
When Kings are separated by an ODD number of squares (1 is odd), the one who does NOT have the move, has the Opposition. His opponent must yield and move away. In the starting position here, White seizes the Opposition by moving from b6 to b7. Black has to yield, and he can choose between d8 & e8; let's say d8, it's longer. WK c6, BK e8, WK d6, BK d8, Rf8#.

W's Kt never moved.

Since these have been confined quarters, the Opposition has been simple. On an open board it gets more complicated, but understanding the principle makes the process far more comprehensible than does playing without this understanding.

capafan
24-Mar-26, 11:18

» Report abuse

I replayed it several times...

...and the robot 🤖 keeps picking the longer variant, but the shorter one is more interesting:

1. Kb7...Ke8
2. Kc6...Kd8
3. Rf8# (f5N covers e7)

10/13 = 76% ~ should be better!!

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