White to move. How should white proceed?
8/8/8/5N1K/4N3/8/5npn/7k w – – 0 1
A Loyd classic
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Reminds me of a position in “Secrets of Spectacular Chess,” which is probably why I saw the answer in seconds. 1.Nfg3+ Kg1 2.Ng5!! zugzwang and mate next.
LOL! Took me a while to see the second move. Is mate in 3
1. Nfg3 Kg1
The key of this position is that the black king can’t move on move 2, so a knight will have to move- as long as white doesn’t move the knight at g3 at move 2. Once you notice that, the rest is a piece of cake:
2. Ng5!
And no matter which knight black moves, white delivers mate:
2. …..Nh to anywhere
3. Nf3#
Or
2. …..Nf to anywhere
3. Nh3#
Nfg3+ Kg1 Ng5
if Nf2-anywhere Nh3#
if Nh2-anywhere Nf3#
This seems to be a mate in 2. The advantage for white here is that black can’t give an immediate check.
1.Ng3+ Kg1
2.Ng5!
Here black will have to move one of its knights based on which white can check mate black either from f3 or h3.
1. Nfg3+ Kg1
and after
2. Ng5 Black is in zugzwang. Black can´t avoid Nf3 or Nh3.
this is for people who love knights:
1. Nfg3+ Kg1
2. Ng5 and now if f-knight moves, then Nh3#, if h-knight moves, then Nf3#.
greets, jan
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,this puzzle is interesting but not complex.
For White piece to win – square it with few checks in that process eliminate a Knight & a pawn of the opponent – from thereon its a matter forking fashion combined with king to win the game.
Moves for White Piece to win the game.
=============
1.N*nf2+ kg1
2.Nh3+ kf1
3.Ne3+ ke2
4.N*g2 [ Rest of the moves are child’s fork moves for White piece to win the game but has different combination ]
By
Venky[ India – Chennai ]
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,this puzzle is interesting but not complex.
For White piece to win – square it with few checks in that process eliminate a Knight & a pawn of the opponent – from thereon its a matter forking fashion combined with king to win the game.
Moves for White Piece to win the game.
=============
1.N*nf2+ kg1
2.Nh3+ kf1
3.Ne3+ ke2
4.N*g2 [ Rest of the moves are child’s fork moves for White piece to win the game but has different combination ]
By
Venky[ India – Chennai ]
The perhaps trickiest thing to see here, is that with black king on g1 and one black knight moved, then checks Ng3 or Nh3 would be mates because they cover the escape field evacuated by black knight.
Well, this ought not to be tricky to see. Having seen this, it can all be calculated backwords:
Ng5 must come prior to the mate, and it is zugzwang, enforcing a knight move.
Therfore winning move has to be Nfg3. And it is mate in 3.
Neg3 would be a failure here.
Nice three-mover.
1.Nfg3+ Kg1
2.Ng5 and zugzwang!
if
a) 2…Nf~
3.Nh3#
b) 2…Nh~
3.Nf3#
(Loyd, The Chess Monthly, 1858)
The symmetrical pattern after the second white move was used in a few studies. The list today is
– Sehwers, Rigaer Tageblatt, 1900, #188
– Gurvich, Bakinski Rabotchi, 1927
– Lommer, Problemas (SEPA), 1963, 4th honourable mention
– Steniczka, Die Schwalbe, 1968, #122
– Neishtadt, Shakhmaty v SSSR, 1969, #29, recommendation
– Pogosyants, Shakhmatny Bulletin, 1986
– Rossi, Memorial Euwe, 2001, 4th recommendation.
nf5-g3+ followed by ng5 mates
1N(f5)g3+ Kg1
2 Ng5 if
(a) 2…. N(h2) moves
3 Nf3#
(b) 2….. N(f2) moves
3 Nh3#
Nice symmetrical theme.
1. Nfg3+ .. Kg1 (forced)
2. Ng5
zugzwang:
if Black moves its ‘f’ knight
3. Nh3#
and if moves its ‘h’ one
3. Nf3#
I believe it is Sam Lloyd (two L)
Kerry,
That is what I thought too. But the source I use have it listed with one L. In fact, I have seen him listed both ways.
Best wishes,
Susan
1. Nfg3 Kg1
2 Ng5! and no way to avoid the mate 3. Nh3
What’s interesting about this position is the backwards thought process to know which knight to move first. It’s obvious the first move will be a check and the king has to go to g1. Next one notices that the black knights have no active moves but either of them moving opens up a new escape square for the king. Thus the solution must the that the second white knight needs to to cover g1 and either h2 or f2 and that can only be done from g5.
Nice puzzle
Hi Susan Polgar,
Oooops its a head on toast stumble of my moves(earlier posting for this puzzle) – lol .[ Its a indication that I got to put my mind sincerely – which I will do ]
Brainy minds of this blog whether they have seen elsewhere or they have put their thoughts themselves for solving this puzzle – they all needs appreciation – Which I do. – Good work by others.
By
Venky[ India – Chennai ]