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      Home  >  Chess Improvement • Chess Puzzles • Polgar Events • SPICE / Webster  >  Puzzle from a 4 year old

      Puzzle from a 4 year old

      Chess tactic, Puzzle Solving, Susan Polgar


      White to move and checkmate in 2.

      I created this puzzle when I was 4 years old. Can you solve it in less than 5 seconds?

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      24 Comments

      1. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 2:07 pm

        cute

        kd1,kf1
        qe1 mate

      2. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 2:09 pm

        I solved it in 6 seconds 🙂

      3. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 2:29 pm

        Can’t believe you made it at 4. Sorry. 5, maybe.

      4. Matthew Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 2:34 pm

        took about 10 for me

      5. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 2:35 pm

        White’s Kd1 is forced as is Black’s Kf1 reply. So now White must mate in 1 – Qe1.

        Maybe a ‘puzzle’, a Chess “Mat in …” Problem and even a “White wins” Chess Study, but it lacks mystery.

      6. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 2:37 pm

        I haven’t generated all the 5-man tablebases yet so I couldn’t solve it.

      7. wgh Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 2:59 pm

        Pretty incredible. At four I was probably still struggling with where to stick the nose on Mr. Potato Head.

      8. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 3:12 pm

        Yeah, Susan, but what have you done lately?

      9. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 3:19 pm

        “Pretty incredible. At four I was probably still struggling with where to stick the nose on Mr. Potato Head.”

        Hahahaahhahahahhahaahha.

      10. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 3:20 pm

        “I haven’t generated all the 5-man tablebases yet so I couldn’t solve it.”

        Hahahaahhahahahhahaahha.

      11. DIDOU Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 4:04 pm

        Unbelievable !!

        Let’s just say a 4-year-old genius is worth a 8-year-old “normal” kid…

        Then I understand !

        I’m afraid it took me around 15-20 seconds ! But your “5 seconds” expectations put a lot of pressure on me… 😉

      12. mr. potato head Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 4:11 pm

        “Pretty incredible. At four I was probably still struggling with where to stick the nose on Mr. Potato Head.”

        Hahahaahhahahahhahaahha.

        KEEP LAUGHING STOOGE!

      13. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 4:21 pm

        Nice puzzle. White pawn is not needed for this, but i guess it is there to send you on a wrong track.

      14. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 4:59 pm

        But the White pawn is needed. Without it, White could also mate in two with 1.Kd2. The way Susan composed the problem, the solution is unique.

      15. Pitor Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 5:04 pm

        It is just beautiful like you Susan.

      16. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 5:08 pm

        It’s as sexy as you are!!!!!

      17. Anthony (Los Angeles) Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 6:33 pm

        1. Kd1, Kf1 (only legal move)
        2. Qe1#

        However, it took me considerably longer than five seconds to solve it. 🙂

      18. Michael Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 6:54 pm

        About 10 seconds for me.

      19. Anonymous Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 7:32 pm

        I read the answer and all the postings and I still can’t get it to work.

        All kidding aside that is a very beautiful puzzle. Very artistic.

        And I can honestly say I am now 64 years old and I have not yet created my first chess puzzle. Do you think there is still hope for me?

      20. ustedmecaemalporquenoloconozco Reply
        January 21, 2008 at 9:11 pm

        1 minute. God, I’m bad! However, I probably spent 50 seconds thinking on the 5 seconds rule 🙂

      21. Anonymous Reply
        January 22, 2008 at 4:19 am

        “And I can honestly say I am now 64 years old and I have not yet created my first chess puzzle. Do you think there is still hope for me?”

        If you are Bobby Fischer, alive and well after a clever ruse to be left alone maybe. 🙂

      22. Anonymous Reply
        January 25, 2008 at 9:15 pm

        Hi all,

        kd1, kf1 is not forced. Blacks pawn can move…

        Gregory

      23. Anonymous Reply
        January 26, 2008 at 12:58 am

        Nevermind!

        My brain is flipped upside down:)

      24. Anonymous Reply
        August 19, 2008 at 3:41 am

        Looks like the 4yr old placed the board wrong way? The kings are on the 8th rank. Not the first.

      Leave a Reply to wgh Cancel reply

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