(June 1, 1922, p. 368)
In which of these two diagrams can White mate in two moves? White to play in each case.
(See below for Solutions)
In all cases, "Specially composed for The Times".
Notes
In all cases except for #3494, diagrams were provided in the chess column.
In which of these two diagrams can White mate in two moves? White to play in each case.
White to play, can he castle?
White to play and mate in one move.
White to play and mate in one move.
White to play and mate in one move.
White to play, and White has only the King. On what square is the White King?
White to play and mate on the move. Place the necessary White pieces on the board so that this can be done.
White to play, and save the game.
White to play and mate in two moves.
White to play and mate in two moves.
"This problem is the complement of the one by the same author, published last week [i.e., #3809]."
In which of these two diagrams can White mate in two moves? White to play in each case.
Answer: In both diagrams, g6 (P x P e.p.) followed by g7 mate. Black's previous move in both positions could only have been g7-g5.
White to play, can he castle?
Answer: No! From retrograde analysis, we know the White's King has moved. If it's White to play, what was Black's last move? It cannot have been Ra1-a2 or Re8-f8 since either would have left the White King under attack. Black's last move could only have been 0-0, which means the Rook at a2 was promoted from one of the pawns from e7, f7, or g7, any of which would have required either the White King or White Rook to have moved. (Solution by Mauro Castanho.)
White to play and mate in one move.
Answer: b3 (P x P e.p.). Black's previous move could only have been b7-b5.
White to play and mate in one move.
Answer: f6 (P x P e.p.). Black's previous move could only have been f7-f5.
White to play and mate in one move.
Answer: Retrograde analysis shows that Black has castled illegally on his last move, which means Black must replace the Rook at h8 and, by rule, move the King. If Kxd7, Bxc6 mate; if Kf8, Rxh8 mate. No other Black piece could have moved last, since all are blocked or whould have been attacking the White King; the pawn at e4 is shown to be the original Black e pawn by counting captured pieces. (Solutions by Michael A. Neumeier and Mauro Castanho.)
White to play, and White has only the King. On what square is the White King?
Answer: h2. Assuming White is not in checkmate and can actually move,
the King can only be at h2. Black's last move was g2xh1(Q)+. (Otherwise, two
positions for the King result in checkmate: e3 or b2.) (Solutions by Michael Keuchen
and Mauro Castanho.)
White to play and mate on the move. Place the necessary White pieces on the board so that this can be done.
Answer:
King at a5, Rook at b6, allowing Rxa6 mate. Black's last move was Qc4-a6+.
(Solutions by Michael Keuchen and Giuseppe Ferro.)
White to play, and save the game.
Answer: 1.Nd6+ exd6, 2.Ba6 Qxa6, 3.Rg8+! Kxg8 (if Kc7,
Qb8 mate!) 4.Qb8+!! Kxb8 Stalemate saves the game!
(Solution by Mauro Castanho.)
White to play and mate in two moves.
Answer: Assuming Black cannot castle, Rxa6 and Ra8 mate, or either Rd1 or 0-0-0 or Rd2 followed by Rd8 mate.
White to play and mate in two moves. "This problem is the complement of the one by the same author, published last week [i.e., #3809]."
Answer: Rxa7 followed by Ra8 mate. Black cannot castle since the King must have moved to allow the Queen Rook to reach h7. (Can we prove the Rook was not promoted from a pawn?!) (Solution by Mauro Castanho.)