Chess Puzzle #8842

CHESS PUZZLE, FEN RNBKQBNR/PPPPPPPP/8/4n1b1/1rbk1r2/2q5/8/4n3 b - -

Added by:	im_sonoftal
Added on:	22-Jan-09
Description:
Difficulty:	chess puzzle RNBKQBNR/PPPPPPPP/8/4n1b1/1rbk1r2/2q5/8/4n3 b - -
Attempts:	141
Solved:	19 (13%)


Black to move, mate in 4

Comments: (1) » Last

From	Comment
capafan 01-Apr-26, 07:02 » Report abuse	19/141 = 13% ~ mighty, mighty lowly It seems to me that most "fails" (122/141= 87%) likely failed to notice ~ the board is backwards! International Master / I aM son of if M. Tal is mighty sneaky. The Wht pieces have been specifically and deliberately arranged to APPEAR as in their home positions, but in fact, they're all on BLACK'S SIDE of the board! I would venture to guess it's utterly impossible for legal moves from standard opening array, to combine to produce this configuration of chessmen. The most significant consequence of this reversal is that the Pawns all are unable to move "forward," that is, away from their pieces, but rather they can only await removal of a greater piece so they can advance to the 8th rank and promote. Only a Communist could dream up such wickedness. Just kidding! April Fool's! 🤪 The 'son' of Mikhail Tal wasn't a Communist. He just wasn't. 🤔 Zhanna Tal is his daughter; he had no son! But seriously, being subject to the machinations of such a tweaked composer, I therefore suspected that the piece furthest REMOVED from the fray must be the first to move, and forthwith endeavored to find out how he might arrive at c6 or e6, giving single-handed mate. Wait a minute...two candidates, c6 & e6 ~ why not use BOTH at once? Working backwards, from the other one (c6 is all ready accessed by e5N in 1 move), e6, I found c5 a good shot, since to prevent ...Nc5, W might be tempted to play Na6 immediately, which would allow me to play ...Nec6#! We'll see ~ after my first move! So I went for broke, and pressed the Solve button... 1...Nd3 ~ will he reply w/ 2. Na6??* If so, I'm ready! 😁 2. Nh6...Nc5 ~ my plan worked! ~ Double Threat: Nec6# & Nce6#! 3. Nf5+...R×f5 4. g8=Q (one move short)...Ne6# If 3. g8=Q...Ne6# If 2. Na6 (prevents ...Nc5)...Nc6# *2. Na6?? would be a complete blunder. I can't believe how long this post has become! But even more, how 17 years, 2 months, one week and one day could have passed without anyone posting a Comment... 😵‍💫

From

Comment

capafan
01-Apr-26, 07:02

» Report abuse

19/141 = 13% ~ mighty, mighty lowly

It seems to me that most "fails" (122/141= 87%) likely failed to notice ~ the board is backwards!

International Master / I aM son of if M. Tal is mighty sneaky. The Wht pieces have been specifically and deliberately arranged to APPEAR as in their home positions, but in fact, they're all on BLACK'S SIDE of the board! I would venture to guess it's utterly impossible for legal moves from standard opening array, to combine to produce this configuration of chessmen. The most significant consequence of this reversal is that the Pawns all are unable to move "forward," that is, away from their pieces, but rather they can only await removal of a greater piece so they can *advance* to the 8th rank and promote.

Only a Communist could dream up such wickedness. Just kidding! April Fool's! 🤪

The 'son' of Mikhail Tal wasn't a Communist. He just wasn't. 🤔
Zhanna Tal is his daughter; he had no son!

But seriously, being subject to the machinations of such a tweaked composer, I therefore suspected that the piece furthest REMOVED from the fray must be the first to move, and forthwith endeavored to find out how he might arrive at c6 or e6, giving single-handed mate.

Wait a minute...two candidates, c6 & e6 ~ why not use BOTH at once? Working backwards, from the other one (c6 is all ready accessed by e5N in 1 move), e6, I found c5 a good shot, since to prevent ...Nc5, W might be tempted to play Na6 immediately, which would allow me to play ...Nec6#! We'll see ~ after my first move!

So I went for broke, and pressed the Solve button...
1...Nd3 ~ will he reply w/ 2. Na6??* If so, I'm ready! 😁
2. Nh6...Nc5 ~ my plan worked! ~ Double Threat: Nec6# & Nce6#!
3. Nf5+...R×f5
4. g8=Q (one move short)...Ne6#

If 3. g8=Q...Ne6#
If 2. Na6 (prevents ...Nc5)...Nc6#

*2. Na6?? would be a complete blunder.

I can't believe how long this post has become! But even more, how 17 years, 2 months, one week and one day could have passed without anyone posting a Comment... 😵‍💫

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