Chess
Posted: September 8th, 2021, 9:14 pm
We haven't had a chess problem for some time:
White to move has three queens against a lone black king at h8. Checkmate in seven moves, but there’s a catch. The three queens are allowed to move only on the extreme left hand file from a1 to a8. You have a choice of two alternatives at white’s first move. All the other moves have to be precise, and all black’s replies are forced.
Cinelli
. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
8 | | | | | | | | k |
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
7 | Q | | | | | | | |
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
6 | Q | | | | | | | |
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
5 | Q | | | | | | | |
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
4 | | | | | | | | |
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
3 | | | | | | | | |
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
2 | | | | | | | | |
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
1 | | | | | | | | K |
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
a b c d e f g h
White to move has three queens against a lone black king at h8. Checkmate in seven moves, but there’s a catch. The three queens are allowed to move only on the extreme left hand file from a1 to a8. You have a choice of two alternatives at white’s first move. All the other moves have to be precise, and all black’s replies are forced.
Cinelli