English Chess Forum

I have been pondering over various puzzles over the last few days. Then, I had some kind of epiphany on a bus today when I solved two of them in my head within minutes of each other. See how you compare

1) a chessbase puzzle - construct a game which White wins by playing 6 gxf8 = N mate. There is only one possible solution. If you have a line where move order doesn't always matter, you have already gone wrong.

2) a puzzle (among many) sent by my Essex team captain - and it's maths now: a x bc = def. Each of these letters represents a different one of the numbers between 1-6. Which is which? (Or of you prefer, how do you multiply a single digit number by a double digit number to get a three digit number, using each digit from 1-6 once?)

Jonathan Rogers wrote:I have been pondering over various puzzles over the last few days. Then, I had some kind of epiphany on a bus today when I solved two of them in my head within minutes of each other. See how you compare

1) a chessbase puzzle - construct a game which White wins by playing 6 gxf8 = N mate. There is only one possible solution. If you have a line where move order doesn't always matter, you have already gone wrong.

2) a puzzle (among many) sent by my Essex team captain - and it's maths now: a x bc = def. Each of these letters represents a different one of the numbers between 1-6. Which is which? (Or of you prefer, how do you multiply a single digit number by a double digit number to get a three digit number, using each digit from 1-6 once?)

On 2) the digit 1 must be in def (I think!, quick trial and error)

EDIT and probably 5 must be b c or d as well.

Yes, you're on your way.

I wish I had started there!

1) Being a Kings indian player might help! Used to Knights ending up in strange places...

I can do 2) but not 1) time to take up the King's Indian...

I've solved (2), but have not yet proved uniqueness.

The question assumes uniqueness but it can be proved via elimination if nothing else.

Got one (well half remembered it). The h1 Rook figures in the solution.
There is a guy on RHP who sets all kinds of these retro puzzles, this one included.

He drive me mad. I keep saying I won't look, I won't bother and
yet I soon find myself spending ages looking at the bloody thing.

No idea about number two.

Geoff Chandler wrote: The h1 Rook figures in the solution.

Not in my "solution"...

Not?! Pray do tell!

Together, Richard and Geoff have provided very helpful clues.

Oops - mine was 6. exf8=N mate. Always read the question. Apologies. As you were...

As a matter of curiosity, how do you get there with 6 exf8 =N mate?

Thanks for these Jonathan. 2 didn't take long when I worked out where 5 and 1 had to be. 1 took much longer as I couldn't envisage a position which had a unique move order, but I have it now. If you want a clue, Jonathan should give it but I suggest giving Black's first move.

Jonathan Rogers wrote:As a matter of curiosity, how do you get there with 6 exf8 =N mate?

I can see a couple of solutions, each i think with their own unique move orders, one involving 1...e6 and 1...e5 (otherwise basically equivalent). It's a shame because (assuming no other solutions) it would otherwise make just as nice a puzzle as the original question.

Richard Bates wrote:

Jonathan Rogers wrote:As a matter of curiosity, how do you get there with 6 exf8 =N mate?

I can see a couple of solutions, each i think with their own unique move orders, one involving 1...e6 and 1...e5 (otherwise basically equivalent). It's a shame because (assuming no other solutions) it would otherwise make just as nice a puzzle as the original question.

Just to check the solutions are the same as the ones I'm thinking of - the queens are on d5 and h4, right?