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Coyote · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2002 4:11 am Post subject: 1

Since the UBB board seems to be a bit glitchy at the moment, I thought now would be a good time to try out these little bite-sized problems.

On each of the mini-boards below, Black would be in stalemate--if only it were his turn to move! How many moves will it take to return to a stalemate (with black to move) in each case?

Not all of these are solved in the same number of moves, but each has one unique 'shortest' answer.

[addendum] One of these puzzles has an additional interesting feature; the end position also qualifies as another puzzle of the same sort (and with the same number of moves). Which one is it? [/addendum]

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My inferiority complex is bigger than your inferiority complex.

[This message has been edited by Coyote (edited 03-22-2002 11:20 PM).]

mathgrant · A very tilted cell member

Does White force a stalemate, or are these helpstalemate problems?

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Sometimes life gives you a deck without any aces. Deal with it.

Coyote · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2002 5:12 am Post subject: 3

The stalemates must be forced.

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

i get a whole bunch of not loaded board squares in each puzzle, any way to figure out if they are occupied by any pieces??

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

ok loaded fine this time... these are some weird problems, hmmmm so just a few thoughts.

looking at #2:
white to move has to move his rook (if w moves bishop he loses knight, if he moves knight he loses rook).
so white moves his rook:
rank 2 is instant death for the rook, and so is d1.
if w goes:
1. Rd3 Kc2
2. Rb3 Kc1
3. Rb4 (gotta stay on file b to prevent Kb2!) Kc2
4. Nb3+ (however, white can alternate here with Rb4 - Rb3 and the game be tied on repetition) Kc3
5. Rb1 Kd2
6. Nc4+ Kd3
7. Rc1 Kd4
8. Bb1??? stalemate

couldnt figure a way without a silly mistake by white Cannibal

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

#2 is stalemate in 3
1. Bb3 Kxb1
2. Rc2 Ka1
3. Ba2 (stalemate)

I can't do #1 in less than 5.

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

For #3

1. Bb3 Kb1
2. Na2 Ka1
3. Nc3 (stalemate)

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

In #4 and #5, how exactly do we prevent the black king from moving to the undisplayed e file?

[This message has been edited by quidnunc (edited 03-23-2002 05:38 AM).]

Coyote · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2002 10:43 am Post subject: 9

There is no undisplayed e-file. All the boards are 4x4.

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

Ok ...

for #4

1. Bb4 Kc1
2. Rd2 Kb1
3. Ba3 Ka1
4. Rb2 (stalemate)

for #5

1. Nb4 Kc3
2. Bc2 (stalemate)

... although none of these are correct. Everyone knows that in 4x4 chess the white bishop substitutes as the white king and knights move like queens but only up to two squares at a time

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

why would white move his bishop in move 1 for puzzle #2??

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

The quickest way to force stalemate is by sacrificing the knight.

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

For #1
1. Bd1 Kxd1
2. Rc4 (stalemate)

And this must be the one with the other solution which is, presumably, mate in 2
1. Rb3 Kd1
2. Rc3++

[This message has been edited by quidnunc (edited 03-23-2002 05:00 PM).]

ctrlaltdel · Member of the Daedalians

ooops sorry didnt notice the post about white forcing the stalemate, thought it was the black's goal...

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

Alternate solution for #5

1. Nb2+ Kc1
2. Bd3 (stalemate)

I don't think this is the alternate solution Coyote referred to or he would've removed the reference to a unique 'shortest' answer.
I'm still thinking about the alternate solution to one of the puzzles
1. Rb3 Kc2 mucks up my original answer

[This message has been edited by quidnunc (edited 03-23-2002 08:03 PM).]

Coyote · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2002 1:39 am Post subject: 16

Originally posted by quidnunc:
Member Reply 14 posted 03-23-2002 08:00 PM
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Alternate solution for #5
1. Nb2+ Kc1
2. Bd3 (stalemate)

I don't think this is the alternate solution Coyote referred to or he would've removed the reference to a unique 'shortest' answer.

Errmmm...actually, this is what is known to chess problemists as a 'cook', or in layman terms--'oopsie'. In other words, I overlooked this solution when I made the puzzle.

The 'sixth puzzle' I referred to meant that you take the final stalemate position reached in one of the five puzzles, assume that it is once again White's move, and solve it as before. Since it turns out that the intended ending of #5 was the one that qualified, I guess I'll have to withdraw that part of the puzzle. If you're interested, it boils down to this:

White stalemates in two moves.

All your other answers were also right, with the exception of #3, which can be solved in 2 moves. Good job! (And I definately gotta proofread these things better next time.)

CrystyB · Misunderstood Guy

YAY! I solved one of them (#3)! Bd1 Kb1 Nc2

#6: Bb3 Kb1 Nc2. Saying it can be done in 2 moves sure helps...

[This message has been edited by CrystyB (edited 03-23-2002 08:52 PM).]

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

the new answer to the finishing position for #5 is

1. Bd3 Kd1
2. Na2 (stalemate)

Ghost Post · Icarian Member

CrystyB, your answer to #6 actually looks like the answer to #3