Chess Masters: the Endgame

[NickFaulks]

5q99.jpg (104.35 KiB) Viewed 3074 times

Whole board in this time.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

It is really interesting that you drew a 9x9 board. And found a solution where the queens are not attacking each other. I wonder how many solutions are like that, and how many where some queens attack each other, and how many where they all attack each other.

The solution shown in the programme was queens on a2, c4, d5, e6, g8.

[John Clarke]

A few observations.

I had a go at the Five Queens puzzle using pen and paper. Took less than two minutes, and that included sketching out the 8x8 grid. Used the obvious approach of having each successive queen a knight’s move away from all the others.

So far so good.

Then it occurred to me: if the contestants are using only a board and the five queens themselves (no markers or note-taking allowed), how do they keep track of the squares controlled or not controlled? Not easy doing it in your head! And certainly not with only two minutes for the task.

And again: if one or more (or all) of your queens are standing unsupported, as it were, on squares that aren’t controlled by any of the other four, can you be said to have that square “under control”? I rather think not. That’s why I prefer the solution which has all five queens on the a2-g8 diagonal, as shown on one of the very few clips from the programme that I’ve been able to access from NZ (BBC’s iPlayer is unavailable here, as I think I’ve already remarked).

[Mark Hannon]

It occurs to me that the puzzles add a bit of variability and excitement to who survives to the next round. If it was just based on playing standard chess games then the results would’ve been quite predictable especially if one is aware of the Elo ratings of the players.

[Geoff Chandler]

Regarding puzzles, how about a Knights Tour (save that for the final) or that one where a Knight has to capture 16 stationary pawns consecutively.
(Maybe for a piece of fun, what letter comes next: S. L. C. A. E. B. S. T. P. S.)

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Where do you put the 16 pawns, Geoff? Are they on the starting position? And where do you start the knight?

The letter that comes next is 'F'.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

An exciting preview for Episode 7 (next week, Easter Monday, 21 April):

**LOOK AWAY NOW TO AVOID SPOILERS**

[Though to be fair, the BBC put it up there themselves, so they are not exactly keeping it top secret.]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002b9qz

The three strongest players from both heats come face to face for the first time. The six semi-finalists collide, ready to be pushed to their limits and fight for a space in the final.

The Great Hall plays host to the most demanding challenges in the contest so far. They face child prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan in their toughest challenge yet, and two players are eliminated over the course of the day.

As well as featuring Bodhana (they kept that under wraps!) we also learn that there will be four players in the final.

Not quite sure what "The three strongest players from both heats come face to face for the first time" means. It doesn't really make sense, does it? I guess we will find out.

EDIT: Oh, I get it now. "The three strongest players from both heats" means the three that qualified for the semi-final from each heat (I was taking the wording too literally to mean the strongest three from the six ("from both heats") that qualified). So presumably a straight one-on-one pairing to start off with. Three go through to the final. Then two get eliminated from the losing three.

[Roland Kensdale]

Where do you put the 16 pawns, Geoff? Are they on the starting position? And where do you start the knight?

The letter that comes next is 'F'.

F+1=MGP

[Mark Hannon]

My guess is they will play the 3 qualifiers from the first group versus the 3 from the second group then the 3 remaining will play a Simul against Bodhana and the one who either wins or draws (unlikely but not impossible ) or lasts the longest while losing will be the champion.
Thalia did well on the memory test and is probably the favourite on previous chess achievements but I have a feeling that there’s a misleading red herring in the trailer which gives a hint to someone who’ll at least reach the final.

[Mick Norris]

Looks like Navi v Kel, Caitlin v Richie, Thalia v Lula

[Roger de Coverly]

Thalia did well on the memory test

I thought the memory test a little easier for those who see positions as recognisable chunks as it was a bit more normal than the previous Carlsen position.

[Geoff Chandler]

Where do you put the 16 pawns, Geoff? Are they on the starting position? And where do you start the knight?
The letter that comes next is 'F'.

Yes 'F.' (Fischer)
The 16 pawns. Just imagine all the pawns are Black and they cannot move. (this site does not allow illegal fens) The Knight has to capture all the pawns in 16 moves. The pawns cannot move.

k7/4ppp1/4p1p1/4ppp1/1PPP4/1P1P4/1PPP4/2N4K w - - 0 1

That is quite easy but there is another more difficult one. I've seen this mentioned with Leonard as the puzzle setter. http://www.cypresschess.com/p/chessiq.html

Again ignore the Kings.

7k/8/2p2p2/8/8/2p2p2/8/N6K w - - 0 1

It is like a Knight's tour. The Knight has to go from a1-a8, visiting every square bar those controlled by a pawn and you cannot capture any pawn. The pawns do not move. The Knight is not restricted, as in a proper Knight's tour to landing only once on any one square.

Not yet watched last nights episode, have it taped.

[Mark Hannon]

Thalia did well on the memory test

I thought the memory test a little easier for those who see positions as recognisable chunks as it was a bit more normal than the previous Carlsen position.

Yes, good point I thought it was a less irrational so easier position than the first memory test, was surprised some competitors got the pawn formation so wrong

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Did no-one notice the hash post-production editing made of the commentary, failing to match what was being said the the shots they chose to include? It is embarrassing that the commentators talk about one side being a pawn up when the screen shows them the exchange down.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Where do you put the 16 pawns, Geoff? Are they on the starting position? And where do you start the knight?

The letter that comes next is 'F'.

F+1=MGP