Wednesday, February 16, 2011

CRAZY ROOK CHESS PUZZLE


Introduction
Above diagram refers. Black is winning. Everybody can see it but suddenly, out of blue, white played the confusing 1.Rc6 !


White’s rook is taboo...captured it and the game is draw because of the stalemate...anywhere black king move, white rook is going to give a check. The question now is how...black to play and win after white’s 1.Rc6

Trivia
I first come across this puzzle about 20 years ago. I feed this position to the chess engine at that time (chessmaster, maybe first version of fritz...they cannot find the mate).

Even in early 2000 with mid fritz or Hiarc or Junior, chess engine could not see the mate

Now, year 2011 within second Fritz or Rybka will come up with the announcement, mate in 16!

We (Siraj and myself) once at DATCC showed this puzzle to IM Mok, after a few minute he is able to solve it!

Solution
1. Rc6 d6
2. Rd6 f6
3. Rf6 Kh7
4. Rh6 Kg8


5. Rh8 Kf7
6. Rf8 Ke6
7. Rf6 Kd7
8. Rd6 Kc8
9. Rd8 Kb7
10. Rb8 Kc6
11. Rb6 Kd7


12. Rd6 Ke8
13. Rd8 Kf7
14. Rf8 Kg6
15. Rf6 Kh7
16. Rh6 checkmate!
at

5 comments:

  1. Jimmy LiewFebruary 16, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    In the third diagram the black rook morphed into a king....I submit that the puzzle is flawed and there is no solution. Case dismissed!

    ReplyDelete
  2. hairulov chessmaniacsFebruary 17, 2011 at 4:09 AM

    Correction Ilham..

    After 16.Rh6+ it's not over yet. You miss a move for black 16...Rxh6++ checkmate!

    ReplyDelete
  3. YeohFebruary 17, 2011 at 4:23 AM

    Hi Ilham

    thx for showing your collections on those interesting puzzles

    seng

    ReplyDelete
  4. IlhamFebruary 17, 2011 at 9:13 AM

    Hi Jimmy/Hairulov,
    you eagled eye monster! :) I plead guilty your honour (and blamed it on 6am posting)

    Hi Yeoh,
    Sharing (the puzzle) is caring...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jimmy LiewFebruary 17, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    haha, i too missed what hairul's caught. Very good problem.

    ReplyDelete