Chess Online

An amusing set-up. I like how the Black king can do nothing but walk the narrow patho f his prison cell.

What I'd like to se with this set-up is an extension, making it longer. For example, here's a six-move version with a minimal change:



This takes it to six moves, but there's a problem: after 1.Ra1 Ke7 2.Kc1 Ke6 3.Kd2 Ke5 4.Ke3 Ke6, both 5.Kd4 and 5.Kf4 are mate next move. I don't see a way to avoid this without ruining th charm of the position.

So here's another try, but I don't know if I ike tis as much: puzzle #222714

Off topic. (This is more a geometrical observation than a chess commentary).

The symmetry of knights and king shows that if the solution is unique then the first move isn't a knight move (e.g. if 1. Ng5 solves then 1. Nc5 also solves).

This has an obvious implication.

If you note this and you believe that the problem is correct (there is only one solution) the first move is completely obvious (well, this is not a usual way to solve a chess problem, but...)

no wait i'm drunk, i need to sleep probably   thx mkchess

Your rook on the A file can be captured by blacks pawn if you play 1.Kd2

This was a very good and funny puzzle!
I did not realize the solution.

I'm mostly amused by the clever horse commentary.

It makes sense that the Rook would have to pony up and do his part.

This is a position that would never occur in a game. However, it's an interesting thought puzzle, particularly since the three square corridor that the King is forced to walk isn't immediately apparent.

Here's a puzzle that I created with a similar "impossible position" theme where there are many possible moves, but the solution may not be obvious: gameknot.com