Chess
By Lubomir Kavalek
Monday, December 21, 2009; 10:10 AM
Vasily Smyslov, 88, became the world chess champion in 1957, defeating Mikhail Botvinnik. Aside from having a great career as a practical player, Smyslov also produced more than 100 endgame studies, the most of any world champion. In his teens he tried his hand at composing problems. In 1935, at age 14, Smyslov created the following (above) problem (White: Kf8, Qa8, P:c4,d3,e3,g4; Black: Kf6,Nf1,P:a7,c5,e6,f7,g5) in which white mates in three moves.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
I see only 2 possible moves to handle the Kg6 escape and hope for a quick mate, namely Qh1 and Qe4.
At first, Qh1 looks stronger since it threats Qh8# directly. But it fails to Ke5! Ke7 (only to prevent Kd6 since Qh2 isn’t possible) Ng3! Qh8 (only since Qe4 isn’t possible) f6 and king escapes.
This leaves us with:
1. Qe4
Enforces a knight move, since no king move is possible, and e5? fails to Qc6#.
1. … Ng3/Nxe3
2. Qh7 Nf5! (e5? Qh6#)
3. Qh8+ Ng7
4. Qxg7#
The difference between me and Smyslov seems to be that he found mate in 3 while I needed 4 moves:-)
Honestly, I have no idea where the improvement is.
1. Qf3+!
… Ke5
Ke7 Ng3
Qxg3# (or f5 Qe4#)
… Kg6
Qxf7+ Kh6
Qg7#
Really amusing!
The correct move seems to be the only move that I didn’t bother to investigate properly because it looked “to common”:
1. Qf3+!
A)
1. … Kg6
2. Qxf7+ Kh6
3. Qg7#
B)
1. … Ke5
2. Ke7! Ng3
3. Qf6#
Is it really that simple?
I was badly fooled here by the 14 years young Smyslov:-)
1. Qh1 (threatening Qh8+ followed by Qg7#) Ke5 2. Ke7 (threatening Qe4#) f5 3. Qh8# (or 2. – Nxe3 3. Qe4#; on any other N move follows Qa1#). On 1. – e5 follows 2. Qc6# (or Qh6#) and on 1. – Nh2 2. Qa1+ e5 3. Qa6# (or 2. – Kg6 3. Qg7#).
I’d say 1.Qh1 threatening 2.Qh8 Kg6 3. Qg7#
1…Ke5 2. Ke7! threatening Qe4#
And now if 2…Ng3 1. Qa1#
Qh1
Susan, light en up a bit on Texas Tech,
Yea, they used the humanity thing. Give em credit for creative thinking, because in the college world that feel good crap works. Life in the college world is like living in socialism. The powers that be are total dictators, the quicker you submit to their will the less disappointed you will be.
No one will ever be overruled for a humanitive decision in a college setting.
1. Qh1
1. … N anywhere
2. Qa1+
2. … Kg6
3. Qg7#
2. … e5
3. Qa6#
1. … e5
2. Qh6#
1. … Kg6
2. Qh8 anything
3. Qg7#
1. … a6 or a5
2. Qh8+ Kg6
3. Qg7#
1. … Ke5
2. Ke7
2. … a6 or a5 or Nh2 or Nxe3 or f6
3. Qe4#
2. … Ng3 or Nd2
3. Qa1#
2. …f5
3. Qh8#
The 3rd post here, starting with “really amusing”, was mine.
Now I have to wonder what is correct, Qf3+ or Qh1.
Well, the move looking too simple was exactly that, too simple:
1. Qf3+? Ke5
2. Ke7 f5!
prevents both Qe4# and Qf6#.
So correct must be:
1. Qh1! Ke5
2. Ke7 Ng3 (f5 Qh8#)
3. Qa1# (the move that I overlooked)