Chess Puzzle #10678

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CHESS PUZZLE, FEN 8/3p4/3B4/2N5/N1bp4/4p3/1R6/2k1K2R w - -

Added by:	bubanja
Added on:	27-Apr-09
Description:
Difficulty:	chess puzzle 8/3p4/3B4/2N5/N1bp4/4p3/1R6/2k1K2R w - -
Attempts:	910
Solved:	123 (13%)


White to move, mate in 2

Comments: (14) » Last

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ulrich1987
12-Apr-13, 02:19

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Why?

Why not go
th2 e2
bf4?

bor1
12-Apr-13, 02:49

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Because on Th2 black respond with d3

123cro
12-Apr-13, 04:36

Comment deleted on 13-Apr-13, 01:35

josep_85
12-Apr-13, 04:44

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If you force mate in 3 instead of 2, where is the diference?
During a game, I will not see mate in 2, I'll see mate in 3.

1. Nb3+ Bxb3,
2. Ke2+ Bd1+,
3. Rxd1#

Is this wrong? What can happen if I don't make a mate in two, shall I lose the game?

ulrich1987
12-Apr-13, 05:51

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'why'

Thanks, missed it.

And josep, I figured that one too... 'But if it can be done in two. Then it should.'
I believe thats the way grandmasters think.

kingdawar
12-Apr-13, 06:02

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In chess problems, all the beauty and fun are placed in the shortest mate! What can be done with the position in more moves is wholly uninteresting.

fezzik
12-Apr-13, 06:05

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Brilliant!

I spent about 5 minutes trying to find a way to castle to deliver the mate. It was only when I really started to ask why the B was on d6 that I found the solution. This was a good tough 2-mover!

rooklecour1
12-Apr-13, 08:56

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Solving Problems

fezzik's approach is the textbook method. In a aesthetic problem composition there are no "extra" pieces; efficiency of composition is the watch word. To solve problems - according to all the books I have read on the subject - ask the same question about every piece "Why is this piece here? An associated question is Why is it here and not on another square along the diagonal, file, rank, or what ever?

For this problem, which took about two minutes (a benefit of having read problem solving books, and NOT from being brilliant or clever), I too looked at the bishop and wonder what its purpose was. The only purpose was checking if the pawn moved. Why would the pawn move? Rh2? No, d3, Rh4? solution. It was that fast.

josep_85
12-Apr-13, 09:18

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I know this one is mate in two, the title says so. Here there's nothing I can say.

But in a real game, I ask.

If I have to spend more time thinking and then I lose (because of time), what is better? the straight way or waste time searching for something that could exist (or not) to finish in less moves?

I have to adjust myself to my level, at first glance I only saw that forced mate in 3, so in real game i'll do that forced combination. If someday I'm better I think that, at first glance maybe not, but with a bit of training I'll see that forced mate in 2. But right now, if this was a real game position I'll go for the one I see. Wich I think is not wrong.

chessikins
12-Apr-13, 10:30

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Great...

Took a while to get the key move..excellent tight puzzle in the traditional mode..lotsa false moves...great theme...more....

the_k_lags
12-Apr-13, 11:23

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josep_85,

Certainly in a real game it wouldn't matter if you mated in 2 or 20, the real meaning of these puzzles is to challenge your mind to find the mate. Don't think of them not so much as specific situations you'll run into and be able to convert a win because you've done the puzzle. Instead think of them as challenges on your chess knowledge, mentally visualizing each possible move and searching for the best outcome. You may never face this exact set up in a game, in fact it's extremely unlikely you would, but the visualizing as many possible out comes of your moves and choosing the best is indeed something you will use in all your games.

So to answer your question, you wouldn't lose if you mated in 3, but what if your chess knowledge was strong enough that mate in 3 didn't even cross your mind because you instantly saw the mate in 2? That's what the puzzles aim to do, help practice deep thought and calculations.

carlossilva
12-Apr-13, 12:13

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Errors

Even Ivanchuck missed a mate in one ! I think in a real game, you just need to win. Winning in less moves is more beautiful, just that.

www.google.com

fezzik
12-Apr-13, 19:24

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Ivanchuk...

Ivanchuk wouldn't complain that he missed a mate in two because there was an easier mate in three if he was doing a chess puzzle.

As Kingdawar pointed out, the goal of a chess puzzle is to find the quickest win.

The ultimate goal of a chess game is to mate, and the fastest mate is usually the most aesthetically pleasing one. Chess puzzles are not complete games though. The winner in a chess puzzle is the one who solves it correctly.

Think of this as tactics training. If you missed the tactic, figure out why. Don't complain because you missed it.

josep_85
13-Apr-13, 01:37

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Thanks to everyone for answering and discuss my opinions.

I'm not an english speaker (talker?) so words don't come easy to me and I feel sometimes ashamed of my poor vocabulary and I feel that others won't understand me. Anyway, thank you.

Since I've started doing this mate exercicies my chess has improved a lot, I mean, a lot. But there's still too much to improve.

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