jeff@heurikon.UUCP (02/16/84)
I've had several people suggest that the position in the chess
puzzle *must* be incorrect because there doesn't appear to be any
way to even produce a check within three moves, much less a mate
in two. Wrong! The position *is* correct, and is repeated below.
I've had two people come in with the correct solution to Part 1,
but no solution for Part 2.
So, here are some hints. The first is in clear text, because it is
a repeat from the original posting. The second, however, you'll
need to ROT13 because it will really help a lot with "Part 1".
1. The position just previous to the one shown must have been
legal. What possible move(s) could Black have just made?
2. Pbapragengr ba gur Cnjaf. Vtaber gur Xavtugf. Guvax nobhg nyy gur
yrtny jnlf Cnjaf pna zbir. Trg bhg n nal obbx bs purff ehyrf naq
erivrj jung Cnjaf pna qb. Gura ybbx ng gur ceboyrz ntnva.
Just in case you think the board position was scrambled in transmission,
here it is again, Regards, and good luck.
Black (lower case)
.-----------------.
| - * - * k * - * | Part 1: White to play and mate in two.
| * p * - P - * p |
| - * N * P * N * | Part 2: At first blush there appear to be
| * - P p K p P - | two possible solutions. Prove that
| - * - P p P - * | there can be only one.
| * - * - P - * - |
| - * - * P * - * | Solution: I will post it in a few days. (or mail it
| * - * - * - * - | to you sooner, if you beg or bribe me.)
`-----------------'
White (Caps) Caution: Don't confuse the "P"s and the "p"s.
And, just to be sure, White is moving up ^, Black is moving down.
I must admit, I *am* getting a kick out of torturing you.
--
/"""\ Jeffrey Mattox, Heurikon Corp, Madison, WI
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