Funny problems with discovered checks (easy for engines and surely easy for people).

Discussion of anything and everything relating to chess playing software and machines.

Moderator: Ras

User avatar
Ajedrecista
Posts: 2103
Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:04 pm
Location: Madrid, Spain.

Funny problems with discovered checks (easy for engines and surely easy for people).

Post by Ajedrecista »

Hello:

I come with an idea that is probably not new, but which I have not found in a brief search: it consists of giving a series of discovered checks until the checkmate (or almost), or to have a winning position, starting with a heavy material disadvantage. We all can produce thousands of such positions like 5K1k/b6b/6P1/8/4q2r/3qq2r/2qqq2n/1qqq3n w - - 0 1 (g7# in K+P versus K+9Q+2R+2B+2N). However, I bring some positions that I composed in good moments (there can be more with different subtleties).

------------------------

The first one is more straightforward, with discovered checks here and there until it the moment of giving checkmate arrives:



------------------------

The second one is a bit more elaborated, with a tempting avoid move at some point only adding two pawns, one of each colour:



It should be a checkmate in 23 moves from the starting position.

------------------------

The third one is a variation of the first one, adding one black passed pawn that threatens queening and initially blocks the checkmating diagonal:



It should be a checkmate in 13 moves from the starting position.

------------------------

There can be many more variations: for example placing other pawns, knights, rooks (neither bishops nor queens) or nothing to b3, c4 (depending, not a rook if it gives check to the white king), d5 and e6 squares; replacing the black queen on a2 with other black piece; putting a black piece (except a pawn) or not on g8; adding some pawns elsewhere to add subtleties to the main idea of the first position; and so on.

If you try them by yourselves, do not get fooled by the stalemate carelessness in the second problem!

Regards from Spain.

Ajedrecista.