Mirror Chess

Logic Level 3

White and Black start at the beginning of the game. Black is to mirror the moves with the same type of chess piece that White makes. For instance, if White plays a4, then Black plays a5.

It's White's turn. What is the minimum number of moves to win the game?

Bonus: How many different mirror mates with the minimum moves are there?

2 3 4 5 None of these choices

3 solutions

Sharky Kesa
Jan 2, 2017

Here is a list of moves which give 4 move mates:

1. d4 d5 2. Qd3 Qd6 3. Qf5 Qf4 4. Qxc8#

1. d4 d5 2. Qd3 Qd6 3. Qh3 Qh6 4. Qxc8#

1. c4 c5 2. Qa4 Qa5 3. Qc6 Qc3 4. Qxc8#

These are all 3 different possible mirror checkmates.

Looks like you win this one. :)

Michael Huang - 4 years, 5 months ago

Shouldn't 3 moves be enough? White moves, Black Mirrors D2-D4 Black Mirrors E2-E4 black mirrors F1-B5 (checkmate since Black must mirror white's move) Is it invalid?

Arctic Wolf - 4 years, 5 months ago

No, that would just be check, and then black must play a legal move. Here, it is checkmate, so there are no legal moves for black.

Sharky Kesa - 3 years, 6 months ago

Dhanvanth Balakrishnan
Dec 28, 2016

For the shortest mate

White	Black
Pe3	Pe6
Bc4	Bc5
Qh5	Qh4
QxPf7

Checkmate

Can you find other checkmates? :)

Michael Huang - 4 years, 5 months ago

Well, if one assumes that Black is a ridiculously incompetent player, we can have

White	Black
Pd4	Pd5
Qd3	Qd6
Qh3	Qh6
QxBc8

Checkmate, you ninny!

Dhanvanth's game is based on the classic "Mate in 4 opening moves" that experienced players use to sucker inexperienced ones.

Michael Mendrin - 4 years, 5 months ago

Lol! Actually, Black is incompetent. Let's see how many possibilities the community can come up with. :)

Michael Huang - 4 years, 5 months ago

@Michael Huang – There is only a total of 3 possible ways. :P

Sharky Kesa - 4 years, 5 months ago

But it isn't Scholar's mate (the one you are referring to) since the e-pawn is blocking bishop.

Sharky Kesa - 4 years, 5 months ago

This isn't a checkmate since the e6 pawn stops the bishop from protecting the queen.

Sharky Kesa - 4 years, 5 months ago

No exactly! When QxPf7, there's a Check at this point but still not mate. There are two more moves after that - King on D8 and only then mate by capturing the Black Bishop on F8.

Rosen Tenev - 3 years, 6 months ago

Dan Ley
Dec 30, 2016

Arguably, if Black is only capable of mirroring White's move, White can win in 3 moves by taking one of Black's pieces;)

For example 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5 Qh4 3. Qxh4 (Black is forced to resign)

Siva Budaraju - 4 years, 5 months ago

Exactly, haha! I'm fairly sure it can't be done in 2 moves?

Dan Ley - 4 years, 5 months ago

Sorry, I didn't think while writing my post. I meant that it can't be done in 2 moves.

Siva Budaraju - 4 years, 5 months ago

That's alright! I agree:)

Dan Ley - 4 years, 5 months ago

It's my fault actually, I didn't realise I was talking to the same person, sorry!

Dan Ley - 4 years, 5 months ago

No, I don't think so.

Siva Budaraju - 4 years, 5 months ago

To 2 moves or the post?:)

Dan Ley - 4 years, 5 months ago

Mirror Chess

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