Comments on Bill the Lizard: Solution to A Curiously Clever Chess Puzzle

The algebraic notation is really confusing conside...

2010-02-15T19:15:22.658-05:00

The algebraic notation is really confusing considering the nature of the problem. I did rotate the board 180 degrees before writing the notation in that last comment, so you'll have to do the same before reading it.

William, I'm not sure which position you'...

2010-02-15T19:08:49.000-05:00

William,

I'm not sure which position you're starting from. If we start from the beginning,
1. Nd7 Nf3
2. Nc5

If black advances his pawn at this point, white mates with Nd3, so he won't have time to clear space by moving the bishop.

2. ... b1=Q
3. Nd3#

I think black can do better than that. Using the a...

2010-02-15T18:54:16.220-05:00

I think black can do better than that. Using the actual positions (black's queen is at d1) consider these moves by black:

NF3 b1=Q

Now if black moves the bishop on c1 the black king is no longer pinned and mate isn't possible. Plus that queen can menace white's king.

For one thing if it moves to b5 it checks white's kings and can take white's knight.

It's an interesting puzzle but I'm unconvinced that black can't avoid mate in 4.