Three people send in a solution.
Ralph Betza wrote:
He's still my favorite composer.... As is the "Steinitz Gambit" and the "american indian" and "excelsior" weren't enough to make hime everybody's favorite!It is a small flaw in this problem that the Black waiting move 1...a6-a5 is so obvious and prominent. As a result, after you spend a few seconds reviewing where the poieces are, of course the first move you try will be Qh5-a5; but the result of this pleasing long move is so beautiful: Black has 15 legal moves, and 8 of them cause interference.
The problem whose name is "the American Indian" is still my favorite.
Max Bachmutsky, 13 years old, send in the solution: Qh5-a5; if Black Bc5, then White Qa1 Mate , etc.
A detailed solution was sent in by Andy Kurnia:
White moves: 1. Qa5!! and thereby places Black in zugzwang.
Now Black has no checks, no captures and only four mobile pieces:
- If Bc8 moves:
1. ... Bb7: 2. Nf5#
1. ... Bd7: 2. Qd5#
1. ... Be6: 2. Qe5#
1. ... Bf5: 2. Nxf5#
- If Rd8 moves:
1. ... Rd7: 2. Qd5#
1. ... Rd6: 2. Qxb4#
1. ... Rd5: 2. Qxd5#
- If Re8 moves:
1. ... Re7: 2. Qxb4#
1. ... Re6: 2. Nf5#
1. ... Re5: 2. Qxe5#
- And if Bf8 moves:
1. ... Bc5: 2. Qa1#!!
1. ... Bd6: 2. Qd5#
1. ... Be7: 2. Qe5#
1. ... Bg7: 2. Qxb4#
1. ... Bh6: 2. Qxb4#
Last modified: Sunday, April 1, 2012
