Chess Puzzle #64768

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CHESS PUZZLE, FEN 7b/5p2/5p2/5K1k/3Q4/5pp1/8/8 w - -

Added by:	desertfoxxx
Added on:	06-Jun-12
Description:
Difficulty:	chess puzzle 7b/5p2/5p2/5K1k/3Q4/5pp1/8/8 w - -
Attempts:	706
Solved:	72 (10%)


White to move, mate in 3

Comments: (20) » Last

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sirissac
13-Jul-14, 00:08

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Another cute one. Thanks for posting.

mrfery
13-Jul-14, 00:52

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Qa7 as a key move

Took few mistakes to get to the right path ( Qa7) . Then the second and third move are not that tough. I don't like words like cute for a puzzle since it's only a puzzle and not my wife but this is a relatively tough one.
3.5 stars for 15 minutes struggle....

asiong1934
13-Jul-14, 02:34

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A Masterpiece!

That deserves I guess 4 stars! The first move of course is very hard to find.

the_17_pawn
13-Jul-14, 05:04

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That's indeed a great problem on the 'Hard Puzzle' section. 1.Qa7, and the 2nd move, depending on what Black does, is very hard to find.

mrfery, I don't know your wife to say she's cute or not, but this puzzle surely is, just like this another puzzle composed by Johann Berger(White to move and draw):

maxwellunsmart
13-Jul-14, 06:35

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I'll go with the "cute" theme

Deviously "cute" puzzle. Had a couple of wrong moves but still got the credit for solving it correctly. Thanks desertfoxxx.

iberville
13-Jul-14, 08:55

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the-17 : Yes cute draw: 1.f4 a5 2. fg5 a4 3. Kg3 a3 4. Kh4 a2 5. g3 a1(Q) stalemate !
(if 1... gf4 2. h4 wins for white).

maxwellunsmart
13-Jul-14, 08:59

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iberville

1... a5 is a losing move for black. 2. h4 wins the game for white. 1... gxf3 is also a losing move for black

asiong1934
13-Jul-14, 09:18

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maxwellunsmart

How about 1.f4 Kc7 2.fxg5 a5 3.Kg3 a4 4.Kh4 and 5.g3 stalemate!

sirissac
13-Jul-14, 09:38

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Maybe I'm mistaken but wouldn't the idea be to draw no matter what? In which case 1. f4 a5 2. fxg5 a4 3. Kg3 a3 4. Kh4 a2 5. g3 a1=Q is a fine illustration. The same idea also draws after 1.... Ka8 and 1.... Ka7, in which White is also winning; as well many other combinations of moves. But what is the draw after 1....gxf4? Best I can tell White would have to Queen and clear blacks pawns, then force the stalemate.

Oh well, the first idea is certainly fun but 1.gxf4 seems to be much work.

the_17_pawn
13-Jul-14, 09:40

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iberville is correct. 1.f4! a5(1...gxf4?? 2.h4! and White wins, since the h-pawn queens first and it avoids the a-pawn promotion, as Black's king can't catch the h-pawn in time) 2.fxg5 a4 3.Kg3 a3 4.Kh4 a2 5.g3 a1=Q is a stalemate.

On either 1.h4? or 2.h4?(In the mainline), Black simply responds ...gxh4 and wins with the a-pawn, as White's king can be no longer stalemated, White's king also can't catch the a-pawn, and Black's king can easily catch the f-pawn if it tries to promote itself.

asiong1934
13-Jul-14, 09:43

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This one is cute too!

White has the move and wins! Do you believe it? Though it is not proper for me to post this sort of puzzle, I just can't help myself sharing it when we talk about "cute".

maxwellunsmart
13-Jul-14, 09:50

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asiong1934

asiong1934, that's the way I see it too.

the_17_pawn, 1. f4 a5 2. f5 gxf5 3. h4 wins for white. Black must move the King on move 1 to stay within the rule-of-square.

If..
1. f4 a5 2. f5 a4 3. fxg6 and white wins (rule-of-square).

maxwellunsmart
13-Jul-14, 09:55

Comment deleted on 13-Jul-14, 09:56

the_17_pawn
13-Jul-14, 09:56

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That's indeed another 'cute' puzzle, asiong1934. The pawns doesn't necessairly need to be connected in order to get promoted. Here's the solution: 1.h5 Ke6 2.h6 Kf6 3.f5! and White wins. Black must let the h-pawn queen.

That's a case where much material for one side does damage instead of actually help. If instead, the f7-pawn were gone, White's 1.h5! only draws(And all other moves loses on the spot), after 1...Ke6 2.h6 Kf6 3.f5! Kf7!(That's the point. Black can draw here by shuffling his king around f7-f6, which is not possible in the actual puzzle due to the f7-pawn existance) 4.Ka1 Kf6 5.Kb2 1/2-1/2.

sirissac
13-Jul-14, 09:56

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I believe. The a2-b3 group with the King on b2 means White's king can't move up or right, but Black can't advance there either while White has pawns.
1. h5 Ke6 2. h6 Kf6 Black must follow to stay in reach of the h-pawn
3. f5 zugzwang, Black must move the king or forfeit the a-pawn.
If he forfeits the a-pawn zugzwang again, move the king or forfeit the b-pawn.
If he forfeits the b-pawn zugzwang again, move the king and White promotes.

asiong1934
13-Jul-14, 10:12

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Thanks for the more logical explanations from the_17_pawn and sirissac! Actually I just found that one on a chess study book with no commentaries at all, just plain moves. The tactic employed however has some degree of subtlety that might be hard to see on an over the board play.

maxwellunsmart
13-Jul-14, 16:05

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the_17_pawn puzzle

I went back and looked at the_17_pawn's puzzle. Black must move the king to either c8 or c7 on move 1 or else black cannot stop the pawn promotion by white and white's victory.

That 1... a5 is a losing move by black. I found the puzzle on the internet and they all say 1... a5 is the correct move. I'm saying that by playing 1. Kc8 or Kc7, black keeps the white pawns within the rule-of-square and the only option for white is to play for the stalemate. A better layout for the puzzle is to have the black king at c8 to start. That would take away white's alternate path and force white to play for the stalemate, and 1... a5 is no longer a losing move.

Here's the various scenarios I played out following 1. f4 a5:

2. h4 a4 3. f5 gxf5 4. hxg5 (black cannot stop white promotion) a3 5. g6 a2 6. g7 a1=Q 7. g8=Q+ Kb7 8. Qd5+ Kc7 9. gxf5

2. f5 gxf5 3. h4 a4 4. hxg5 (black cannot stop white promotion) a3 5. g6 a2 6. g7 a1=Q 7. g8=Q+ Kc7 8. gxf5

Someone would have to beat me playing black from the position following 1. f4 a5 to convince me otherwise, or show me the errors of my way. I challenged the_17_pawn puzzle to play the position with me as white. My move is 2. f5, the more aggressive line.

mrfery
13-Jul-14, 20:27

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" cute solution" for a " cute puzzle" !

Wow what a cascade of comments following my post about "cute" puzzle. After some thoughts I came to the conclusion that actually a puzzle could be like a stand up comic : they are cute and the make you smile even laugh. So I decided to cancel my tickets for the next show down here and stick to the chess puzzle. In that manner I am saving big money
As to that puzzle sent by mister 17-pawn, well I think the following leads to a stalemate
f4. Kc7 (or Kc8)
fxg. a5. ( or Kd7) if gxf white will win by promoting one their pawn
Kg3 a4 ( or Kd6)
Kh4. a3
g3. And the door is closed. Stalemate.
Brilliant puzzle...congrats to the publisher and composer

chessikins
13-Jul-14, 21:41

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Fun..

Obviously, Hermaj had to be the key as white is stymied any other way...after a lot of jiggerepokiey I hit on the first move but then lots of running abart to secure the second..lotsa fun..and just when you think it's obvious it ain't..

snailmate
11-Jan-25, 09:55

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The pawn on f3 was the problem

I could see a couple of ways in which White would win against 1...g2, via a double threat of mating with 2. Qh2 or 2. Qxh8. A way had to be found, however, of preventing the f3 pawn from advancing and queening with a check to White. That meant that after 1...f2, White's second move had to be a check. Hence the solution.

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