Let's play chess! #2

Logic Level 2

Its white's turn. If both sides are playing optimally, what is the minimum number of moves required for white to checkmate the black king?

Check out the set: Let's play some chess!

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Munem Shahriar by Munem Shahriar , 18, Bangladesh

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2 solutions

Stephen Mellor
Oct 24, 2017

Currently, the white queen and two bishops have the king locked in place. Therefore, if we move the rook to b1, the black queen must move to b7, allowing the white queen to take on b7, checkmate.

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I think that's not correct. It's the solution I initially thought worked too, but I changed my mind.

If the white rook moves to b1, the black queen can block at b6, then I don't see a checkmate on the next move. Did I miss something?

I haven't found a mate in 2 moves, but such problems can be tricky. Can someone help out here?

Steven Perkins - 3 years, 7 months ago

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Yes, I hadn't thought of that. Taking the rook to g8 instead, means that the black queen must block, and the white rook can take the black queen on either square to give mate.

Stephen Mellor - 3 years, 7 months ago

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I have changed the image.

Munem Shahriar - 3 years, 7 months ago

Yes. With the small adjustment to the problem, that is the correct solution!

Steven Perkins - 3 years, 7 months ago

The diagonal 3-c, h-8, and d-7 are controlled by white. There are more attackers than defenders. The black pawn at h7 did not move the entire game. It is a won game for white. But according to Emmanuel Lasker, "The hardest game to win is a won game." It is mate in two. Nice puzzle!

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