Each week I go to great lengths to try to find you a new position, hopefully something a little bit different, so I hope that you haven’t seen this position before. (See Diagram). It looks vaguely familiar to me.
I used this position in one of my classes today. The students’ task was to find a way for Black to mate in 6 moves by promoting a pawn to a R. One rotter managed to do it in 5 moves so I had to come up with something a little harder. I went back to an old 19th century game where White had lost in 7 moves with the checkmating move being a pawn promoting to a N. Could they replicate this mate? Fortunately this one was too hard for them, but, perhaps dear reader, not for you? Have a go and see.
ANSWER:
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.b3 Qh4+ 4.g3 fxg3 5.h3 g2+ 6.Ke2 Qxe4+ 7.Kf2 gxh1(N)#
rnb1kbnr/pppp1ppp/8/8/4q3/1P5P/P1PP1K2/RNBQ1BNn w kq – 0 8The final position.
A pretty finish to be sure.
That’s a very nice little game, with moves that could plausibly be played. I have a much less plausible (Sherlock Holmes Chess style) solution in only 6 moves.
1. e3 a5
2. Qg4 a4
3. Ke2 a3
4. Qc4 axb3
5. Qc3 Ra4
6. Kd3 bxc1(N) mate
Do I get a rotter award?
There is a way to do it in 5 moves to.
Anon, since I saw your comment I have been trying to find a 5 move solution. I have failed to come up with one, so if you have worked one out please share it with us. I’m sure Jammo would like to see it too!
[In the process I did find a 5 move mate with a pawn promoting to a bishop, if anybody would like to try that one!]
Eureka, I have finally found the 5 move knight promotion mate!!
1. d3 e5
2. Kd2 e4
3. Kc3 exd3
4. b3 dxe2
5. Kb2 exd1(N) mate!!
The bishop on f8 (of all things) is the key!
I was thinking of a one that checkmates on 5…gxh1#, but yours works too