Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Technical questions regarding Openings, Middlegames, Endings etc.
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Simon Clare
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Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Simon Clare » Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:23 pm

Hello all.

A friend of mine is involved in the production of a film in Ireland. The film is a drama and has a running motif of a game of chess which reflects the storyline.

They have asked if I can come up with a convincing set of moves that they can then film. They don't know anything other than the basics they need to see on screen. I know it's rather contrived and a real game is profoundly unlikely to end up in this situation but I'd be grateful if you would indulge us! This is what they need to see:

1. Three Pieces on each side remain, including the Kings of course.
2. It's white's turn and on this turn they must take one of the black pieces.
3. Black responds harmlessly.
4. White takes another piece, leaving only the King.
5. Black moves the King.
6. White moves to put this poor King into checkmate.

So all in all, White moves 3 times and black twice.

As I said, I know this isn't the way any real game would end up unless you were playing a monkey, and that a more suitable motif for this situation would be a game of draughts, but if the members of this forum could come up with something that fits the above, then there will be a credit for them and the forum at the end of the film.

Preferably some high-value pieces would accompany the Kings so that there can be some dramatic moves rather than just a few pawns jostling each other. It would obviously be more convincing if the three moves were earlier in the game and somebody walked into a clever trap, but the filmakers really do only want 3 pieces remaining on each side.

We'd be most grateful for any help with this!

Alex Holowczak
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Alex Holowczak » Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:44 pm

How about this:

White: Kf8 Qe7 Bb2
Black: Kh8 Qg3 Pe5

The sequence goes: 1. Bxe5+ Qxe5 2. Qxe5+ Kh7 3. Qg7#

Fritz says there is another mate-in-three: 1. Qf7 Qg5 2. Bxe5 Qxe5 3. Qg8#

The first is more obvious to a human eye though.

Simon Clare
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Simon Clare » Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:46 pm

That's great - thanks! I'll check that out later and see what they think and will let you know if they're going to use it.

Simon Clare
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Simon Clare » Wed Apr 07, 2010 7:24 pm

I've just checked that out and unfortunately it's not quite what they're after, sorry. They need white to take a black on each of it's first 2 moves, before making checkmate on the third. So it really needs to follow this script:

1. Three Pieces on each side remain, including the Kings of course.
2. It's white's turn and on this turn they must take one of the black pieces.
3. Black responds harmlessly.
4. White takes another piece, leaving only the King.
5. Black moves the King.
6. White moves to put this poor King into checkmate.

Any more attempts?

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IM Jack Rudd
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by IM Jack Rudd » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:00 pm

WKg6, Qa5, Pd3 (or anywhere else)
BKh8, Ng8, Pe5

1.Qxe5+ Nf6 2.Qxf6+ Kg8 3.Qg7#

David Sedgwick
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by David Sedgwick » Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:11 pm

Well done, Jack - that seems to do the trick. (It's a lot better than the idea I was about to post.)

Alternatively, it looks to me as though the stipulation might be the ending of a helpmate. I can try to pursue that possibility if Jack's suggestion won't do for any reason.

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Andy Burnett
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Andy Burnett » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:30 pm

Not that this fits the criteria at all, but the '3 pieces on each side remain' reminded me almost immediately of the famous ending from a lightning game between Capablanca and Lasker...

WKd7, Rb8, Pb5
BKa7, Nc7, Pb6

White to move and win (with 5 seconds per move!). Of course it's not a mate, but it is beautiful.

Jack's effort fits the criteria, but seems very dull (sorry!). There must be a really clever finish out there which would appeal to chessplayers AND keep the producers happy!?

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IM Jack Rudd
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by IM Jack Rudd » Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:55 pm

Yeah, that's a cute one. 1.Ra8+ is the key.

Ben Hague
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Ben Hague » Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:22 pm

My suggestion would be

W Kc8, Bf1, Bg1
B Ka8, Nc4, Nf2

1.Bxc4 Ka7
2.Bxf2+ Ka8
3.Bd5#

I'm not sure how realistic it is, but at least both side are playing the best moves, and the initial position isn't obviously resignable.

Simon Clare
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Simon Clare » Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:46 am

Oh this is great - I'll put them to the crew and let you know. Thanks for your time on this!

E Michael White
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by E Michael White » Thu Apr 08, 2010 1:06 pm

Here's my effort. Fits all criteria including high valued pieces.
pos1.jpg
pos1.jpg (12.06 KiB) Viewed 2104 times
1.Nxb2 ch Kb4 2.Kxc7 Kb5 3. Qb6 mate
or 2. .... Ka5 3. Qb6 mate

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Ben Purton
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Ben Purton » Thu Apr 08, 2010 1:23 pm

This one above is great.

I love the one in luschin defence film , thats a great finish, am i right in the rumour speelman was on set for this film?

Ben
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Ian Kingston » Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:30 pm

Ben Purton wrote:This one above is great.

I love the one in luschin defence film , thats a great finish, am i right in the rumour speelman was on set for this film?

Ben
Not a rumour - he was credited on-screen as 'Chess consultant'. Sadly, his first name was misspelled as 'John', an error perpetuated in the IMDB listing for the film.

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IM Jack Rudd
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by IM Jack Rudd » Fri Apr 09, 2010 1:07 am

The original for the Luzhin Defence game is Vidmar-Euwe.

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Ben Purton
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Re: Convincing endgame for a film, please.

Post by Ben Purton » Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:56 pm

Its so beautiful because its so real. You see these set up things but they are boring. This one was lovely!
I love sleep, I need 8 hours a day and about 10 at night - Bill Hicks
I would die happy if I beat Wood Green in the Eastman Cup final - Richmond LL captain.
Hating the Yankees since 2002. Hating the Jets since 2001.

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