László Lindner's knight wheel
Solution
László
Lindner, 2nd prize, Palestine Post 1947 
White to
play and mate in two moves
In our presentation of the problem
last week you could move the mouse onto one of the green squares
to see the mating threats. In the above diagram you will see the
threats (red arrows) and the refutations (green arrows). Only
one knight move has none and leads to mate on the next move.
1.Nxc2?
1.Nb3?
1.Nb5?
1.Nxc6?
1.Ne6?
1.Nf5?
1.Nf3?
1.Ne2! |
Threat: 2.Rd4#, Na3#, Nxe3#
Threat: 2.Rd4#, N3xa5#, N7xa5#
Threat: 2.Rd4#, Na3#, b3#
Threat: 2.Rd4#, Nxa5#, Ne5#
Threat: 2.Rd4# and Nxa5#
Threat: 2.Rd4# and Nxe3
Threat: 2.Rd4# and Ne5#.
Threat: 2.Rd4# and b3#
|
But 1...Qd1!
But 1...Bxc3!
But 1...cxb5!
But 1...Qd7!
But 1...Nxe6!
But 1...Nd5!
But 1...Qg7!
no refutation!
|
Note that in every "try" that fails the refutation
is unique, i.e. only one move prevents the mate; and for each
knight move there is a different refutation. Only the last one
on the knight wheel, 1.Ne2! has no refutation (if 1...Nxe2 2.Bd3#).
Click here to replay
and download the puzzle
Note that you can click the notation to follow the individual
lines.
Letters from our readers
Here are excerpts from the many hundreds of emails we received
on Lindner's problem. Note that the selection of letters for printing
is semi-automatic, so some very nice submissions may have been
left out.
Stephan Busemann
Solution: 1.Ne2 Nxe2 2.Bd3#. Looking at the squares that you indicated
as mating threats and searching a move that would cover all of
them helped quite a bit in solving the puzzle. It was also dangerous,
as some defenses open up new threats (1.Ne6 or 1.Nxc6 Bxc3? 2.b3#).
Every threat has a different defense (assuming this helped a bit
:-)! What a beautiful study.
Alex Mendes da Costa
G'day chessbase team! I quite enjoyed this puzzle as it is one
of the few that appears on your site that I am able to solve.I
am a lowly minor player, 17 years old living in Sydney, Australia.
I visit your site (just about) every day and your chess database
is the greatest openings resource in existence! Thank you for
such a wonderful site.
I started off by only being able to find 3 of the 7 refutations,
then I saw the queen move Qd7 and this led me to find the other
two pinning queen moves and I think that solved them all! I can't
find a refutation for Ne2 so I guess thats the winning move.
Dr. Ede Bende, Hungary
Simple logical approach to solve this kind of problems: First,
to check what happens after capturing the piece or (pawn) threatening.
Second, to check the possibilities of controlling all of the 2
or 3 squares under attack from the key move. In spite of that,
the ones who really enjoy the beauty of harmony and perfection
shall highly estimate this problem. Congratulations to "Laci
bácsi" (this Hungarian name means Papa Laci, honourful
nickname in Hungarian of the beloved László Lindner).
Ronny Baekelant
I start to enjoy the problem site more and more. The story together
with the puzzle is brilliant. Keep up the good work! It took me
10 minutes organized thinking. Beautiful! Could you inform us
(readers) where to buy the book of Lazlo? [The source is given
at the end of this article– FF]
Jim Monaghan
Greetings from Canada! A very pretty problem, well deserving of
it's 2nd prize. The abscence of duals (2 ways to mate) adds to
the quality of the problem. I enjoyed working through the logic
of refuting each try of the knight wheel. 1.Nxc6!? almost got
me, as at first glance 1...Bxc3 looked like the refutation. Congratulations
to Laszlo on composing such a fine work of chess art under trying
circumstances!
Lászlo Lindner, Budapest, Hungary
I am delighted that you selected one of my favourite problems,
which is quite easy for amateurs to understand. I have seldom
seen such a beautiful article about my work, with the active diagram,
the analysis and the pictures – all really quite excellent
in the presentation. I was also particluarly happy that you included
the picture of me with Alekhine. Thank you, dear Frederic, for
all you are doing for chess.
Jeroen Medema
I wondered why the problem has the black rook on h6. Can you explain
that, as removal of this piece does not seem to invalidate the
problem. [The rook on h6 prevents the simple 1.Nxa5+ Kxc5 2.Rxc6#
– FF]
Max Devereaux
I'd like to say that this problem, while very straightforward
to solve, did (as promised) give tremendous enjoyment, and an
appreciation for the skill of the composer in ensuring that each
of the seven defences to the trys were unique. It is amazing that
each of the refutations to the seven White tries is not only unique
(in that it is the only refutation), but distinct (in that a refutation
in one line cannot be a refutation in another). The only negative
aspect to this problem from an aesthetic side that I can see is
the slightly irrelevant Rook on h6, which exists (as far as I
can see) purely to prevent the cook: 1.Nxa5+ Kxc5 2.Rxc6#.
Chris Britt
I have to admit that I do not understand the purpose of the black
rook on h6 or the black bishop on f1. They seem to only be there
to confuse the solver but do not actually participate in the solution.
[No. Without the bBf1 there would be a cook: 1.Ne6 Nxe6 2.Bd3#.
– FF]
I really enjoyed the problem and the underlying message of the
author creating this beautiful art while in a concentration camp.
In the darkest pits of man's inhumanity to man, László
Lindner managed to produce beauty and create art while death and
destruction surrounded him. Maybe in some allegorical sense László
is the white knight struggling to find the way out of the trap,
and only when the black army (Germany) traps itself by its own
folly (Bxc3) does the white force deliver the unexpected mating
blow.
Lastly, its mate with a pawn! That's always a fun thing to doThank
you ChessBase for the great problem, and thank you László
Lindner for enduring the camps and producing art for the whole
chess community to enjoy.
Joshua Green, Phoenix, Az
Although I set up the position on my chessboard, I actually solved
the problem by staring at your animated diagram. It was unlikely
that Black could gain any flight squares, so most of the defenses
had to be direct guards. Of course, even after the key, Black
can defeat the threats, but only by allowing yet another mate.
For comparison, I offer the following classic:
G.P. Latzel, 5th Honorable Mention, Die Schwalbe,
1956 
Mate in two moves
Once again, seven knight moves are tries and one is the key.
1.Nc3? Threat: Qe4# 1...Kd4!;
1.Nc5? Threat: Qe4# 1...dxc5!;
1.Nxd6? No threat;
1.Nf6? Threat: Qe4# 1...d5!;
1.Nd2? Threat: Qe4# 1...Ke6!;
1.Nxg3? Threat: Qe4# 1...Kf4!;
1.Nf2? Threat: Qe4# 1...gxf2!
1.Ng5! d5 2.Qf6#
[1...Kd4 2.Qe4#;
1...Kf4 2.Qe4#;
1...g2 2.Qe4#]
Michael Becker
Again a pleasure to puzzle – and now even more, with this
great mouse feature :-) Without this feature, a chess amateur
like me most probably would have failed to find the solution.
Ioannis Giakoumis, Greece
This nice problem has the trap that at first look it seems that
no move leads to mate in 2 and this is really what makes it beautiful!
Geir Sune Tallaksen, Norway
Not a very hard problem to solve, but it must have been a hard
problem to compose – a great achievement by Lindner. White
has eight knight moves that each present 2 or 3 mating threats,
Black always has exactly one move to stop both/all (and none of
those moves are seen in more than one variation), but in one of
the eight cases White has another, new, mating move. Incredible!
Ilya Yudin
Well, after you gave 8 specific possibilities to work with, it
was relatively easy to eliminate 7 of them. And the animated diagram
helped a lot, thanks! The really amazing thing is the mind of
the composer and the power of chess working together not only
to survive the moment, but to gain the only true immortality possible.
This is what art is.
James Sweet
First off, I would like to object to your implication that a dog
could never appreciate a caviar sandwich. On the contrary, domestic
animals are quite capable of appreciating fine foods! While I
admit my cat is not partial to caviar (it seems the flavor may
be a bit too strong for her liking), she is quite a fan of Brie.
When I bring home a good French cheese for myself, you can hear
her pleading halfway down the block!
This problem seemed quite daunting at first, but because the
mate threats for each move are provided (thank you!) it was merely
a matter of going through each line with pen and paper and a chessboard.
It took me about 45 minutes to find all of the refutations, although
that included a full 15 minutes where I was looking at the position
backwards and stupidly thought that 2.Rd4+ could always be answered
by 2...exd4. A pawn capturing backwards? I wish!
Overall, this was quite a beautiful problem and extremely entertaining
to solve. The only thing that would have made it even better is
if every move required a different refutation (I got a little
tired of the 1...Bxc3 trick after a while). Yet this is still
a brilliant problem nonetheless. Having the mate threats already
listed made it a joy to solve – - more like listening to
a symphony rather than doing math homework. Thanks!
Niraj Desai
I greatly enjoy and appreciate the Chessbase website, it is simply
the best in both chess entertainment and education. Please keep
up the great work! I am amazed at Lindner's creativity under such
harsh conditions, and I found the problem challenging but not
too hard... maybe that means my solution is wrong! But right or
wrong, it was fun!
Gillard Family
Hi, my names Peter Gillard and im a 17 year old male from Melbourne,
Australia. I visit the chessbase website frequently and saw the
puzzle. After taking a look at it, i decided it would be fun to
sit down and try to figure it out.
I solved (I think) the Lindner's knight wheel puzzle by moving
the knight on the screen to each of the eight squares, going through
each of the mating threats and attempting to find a piece in which
to intercept/block/capture the opposing piece on the next move.
I got down to Nb5 and Ne2 so i looked at each move carefully again,
having assumed that Ne2 was more likely to be able to be countered
as there were only two threating mates as opposed to Nb5 which
threatened mate in three different positions. And consequently,
found the move to stop mate if Ne2: 1...Nxe2. 3.Nb5 seems to lead
to mate (well, at least the other seven do not).
Thank you very much for the Lindner's knight wheel problem. It
was an entertaining challenge and i thoroughly enjoyed trying
to solve it. Looking forward to the next chess puzzle that crops
up.
Jindøich Pavelka, Prusinovice, Czech Republic
Hello Chessbase. Alright, it wasn't too difficult to find the
solution (I did not use a computer), 1. Nf5 and Black is helpless,
but the refutations of other knight moves are really nice –
especially those when the black queen pins the white knights...
That brought me to the correct solution: 1.Nf5 and Black can't
prevent both mate threats 2.Rd4# or 2.Nxe3#
Niel Blackburn
Solution: 1.Ne2. I don't normally do problems! On the 2 captures,
the pin is obvious, as are the 2 line where Black just takes the
knight. The line which gave me the headache was 1. Nf3, as I couldnt
see a move to defend both e5 and d4 for a while.
Aidan Ellis, England
I enjoyed the problem a lot – it gave me a good break from
revising for my finals. I particularly liked the parallel queen
defences Qd1 and Qd7 pinning the knight.
Eduardo R Waghabi
Well, that was tough! At first I thought 1...Bxc3 was the black's
answer for all mate threats in the a5-e2 and a1-h8 diagonal, AND
1...Nxe2 would stop all mate threats of Ne2. So there was no right
answer plus, as Bxc3 was the reply to several moves, not all the
black's moves were unique. The problem was a joke! Only after
I got sure it wasn't April 1st, I started double checking. After
a long time, I saw 2.b3# as reply to 1.Nxc6 2.Bxc3, and it wasn't
in the threats you listed because it was a new threat, created
by the move Bxc3. Then I realized Bxc3 WAS the correct answer
for Nb3, as the white knight blocked the b2 pawn. I came, then,
with 1...Qd7 as reply to 1.Nxc6 (similar to 1.Nxc2 Qd1) and 1.Ne6
Nxe6 (duh!). So I got no answer to Nf3, and 1.Ne2 was "met"
by 1...Nxe2 (eliminating your "listed" threats of b3#
and Rd4#). I was writing my answer – Nf3 – when I saw
Qg7 defending it. Then I freaked out once more. Only using the
same thinking – new mate threats created by black's moves
– I realized 1....Nxe2 blocked the f1 bishop AND leaved the
d3 square unprotected, thus allowing Bd3#. So, Ne2 hadn't answer!
Vivek
I am Vivek, 24 from India. I enjoy your site a lot. Thank you
for all those interesting articles which keeps the chess fraternity
lively! My only suggestion to Chessbase is: Please find out where
Bobby Fischer is ! :-)
Riyath Mallahi
The solution to the problem is 1.Nf5. Black has no possible refutations.
1...Qxf5 2.Rd4#; 1...Bxc3 2.Nxe3# ; 1...Rxd6 2.Nxe3#. Any other
move fails, for example: 1.Nc6 Bxc3 and White cannot mate if the
b pawn recaptures because now the Black king has a flight square.
If 2.Na5+, then 2...Bxa5 3.Nxa5+ Kxc5. If 2.bxc3 Kxc3 3.Rd3+ Nxd3.
1.Nb5 cxb5+( the pawn takes the knight with check) 1.Nb3 Bxc3
2.bxc3 Kxc3(the Black King now has a flight square and can escape
the White attack) 1.Nxc2 Qd1 2.Rxd1(the knight is pinned) and
White does not mate in two. 1.Ne2 Nxe2(protecting d4 so the rook
cannot mate) 2.b3+ Kxc3 1.Nf3 Qg7(now if the rook comes to d4
with check it can be captured by the queen while if the knight
comes to e5, it can be captured by the queen also). If 2.Ne5+
Qxe5 ; 2.Rd4+ Qxd4 This was an interesting but easy problem to
solve. Lindner's problem is one of the more fun ones I've come
across though. Very nice.
Mik Gunn
The solution to Lindner's knight wheel puzzle is: 1.Nb5! The extra-threat
as compared to 1.Ne2 makes this one the winner. It is impossible
to stop more than wo threads at one time. It was quite easy to
solve with your interactive diagram that shows all the threads,
but it is a truly amazing piece of art.
Ken Blake
I liked the problem very much, but would have liked it even more
if no two refutations were the same: 1.Ne6 Bxc3; 1.Nb3 Bxc3; 1.Nxc6
Bxc3.
Luiz Camargo de Miranda, Brasilia
I really liked the problem. I used the board in the chessbase
site to solve it. The clues about the threats were very useful,
making an almost unsolvable problem not that difficult.
Edwin Wong
I originally found all the tries except against Nxc2 and Nxc6.
By chance, I spotted Qd1 with the pin against Nxc2. Of course,
this naturally suggested Qd7 against Nxc6. A bit of tunnel vision
set in here as I was convinced (for no good reason) that one of
these positions must be the mate. I then went through each try
again to see where it failed, but after going through all of them
3 or 4 times I still couldn't find the solution, until by chance
I spotted Bd3 in response to Nxe2, just when I thought there might
not be any solution. Strange blind spot, as I was looking at Bd5/Bd3
mates in other positions. Overall, a fun problem, the active diagram
was helpful, otherwise I probably wouldn't have bothered with
the problem.
Proloy Coomar Pramanik, Hyderabad, India
The problem was indeed lovely. I wonder what approach one has
to take to conjure up such things. The approach to solution was
simple: for every knight move one has to find a black move that
prevents each of the mate threats at the same time. Since a hint
was already given that there exists only one such move for every
knight move, no need to look for a second black move that may
'also' prevent mate in the next move. (Though I felt for a long
while that both Nf3 and Nxc2 were also winning). Chessbase is
always such a pleasure !
David Wiltsee
The right move is 1. Ne2! as black does not have time to take
the menacing rook at d6, since 2.b3 mates even without it. In
fact, it would seem that black's only try to stave off mate is
to take the knight on e2 with his own knight, therefore protecting
against both the mate at d4 with the rook and the mate with b3.
White, however, has a third mating possibility which becomes available
after due to interference 1...Nxe2, which is the beautiful little
bishop move 2.Bd3#. Most of the other lines also lead to mate,
but not in 2, and two lines actually lose for white (1.Nb5 and
1.Nf3). 1.Ne2! Nxe2 2.Bd3# or 1...Bxe2 2.Rd4#; 1...Qxe2 2.Rd4#;
1...Rxd6 2.b3#. Not a particularly hard problem, but elegant none
the less.
Themis Argirakopoulos, Athens, Greece
Great problem! For a while, I think that something was wrong.
Black was able to refute all threats. Actually, this is true for
20 threats, but the 21th is the deadly one. BlackJack!
Allie Yekta
I am a Computer Science Graduate from the Carleton University
in Ottawa-Canada. I really did like the problem. It is very complex
and it needs a great imagination to come up with such chess puzzles.
Believe it or not, I solved it (I think I have solved it) in less
than 10 min. I love playing Chess, if time permits I'll be studying
Chess in near future. As of now, my rating should be something
around 2100. Thank you for taking your time and reading this e-mail.
Aaron Jagt
This is one of the most interesting puzzles I have ever come across,
and I thank you very much for posting it. How did I solve it?
Just old fashioned patience, and taking one thing at a time till
I found the only answer. Thanks once again!
Joel Hagans, Coral Springs, FL
Good puzzle. It really makes you think about each of the pieces
and the response to them. After a short look at the puzzle, I
thought one of the refutations would be a pawn promotion on c1,
but it didn't turn out that way. I solved it just by going over
the various moves that Black would have after each move.
Chris Callahan, Charlotte, NC
This was the first composition that I seriously tried to solve,
and I enjoyed it very much. My tournament hardened mind refused
to consider moves like Qd1 or Qd7 in calculation as the both hung
a queen. And I had to solve the problem systematically by writing
down on paper all the possible ways to prevent each threatened
checkmate, (i.e. after 1 Ne6, 2Rd4# can be prevented by Qg7, Bxc3,
Ne2, etc.) then looking for matches among the other 2 or 3 lists.
Rob Morrison, Toronto, Canada
I hereby swear on my honour that I did not use a computer to solve
this.
Shridhar Deuskar
I really loved this problem. I don't normally look at problems,
only when I encounter them in an article on chess that I am reading.
I solved this in about 20 minutes by using the diagram on your
web-site. By moving my mouse onto a green square, I was able to
look at a particular position and find the refutation to the threatened
mates. I sincerely hope that this will not be looked upon as cheating.
Oh well, I enjoyed solving the problem anyway! Thank you for an
enjoyable and truly excellent problem.
Jeffrey L Extine, Salem, OR
A very interesting problem, I haven't seen one like it and I really
enjoyed solving it. Thanks for posting it.
Jason Mrdeza
I solved this problem when I woke up, by sitting in front of the
computer with a piece of paper, and writing down my response to
all the moves. I didn't even realize we could play the options
on the Java board! I didn't have too hard of a time, and I liked
it a lot because I could find the solutions quite painlessley...
I'm used to wondering the answers to your problems for extended
periods of time, before just giving up. I guess I only started
checking your site 5 or 6 months ago when I started to play chess
seriously, but now I check everyday and ussually find the level
of the trivia quite difficult. Thanks for checking through, and
hopefully I got this one!
Ruwan Fernando, Wellington, New Zealand
I think it was quite a nice problem, seeing as the object was
to prevent mate or stall it for more than 2 moves as opposed to
just finding mate.
Charles Phipps
I quite enjoyed this puzzle. Elegant and clean. Tough enough to
be fun, but not too tough so as to be a headbanger. My only wish
is that one of the "tries" was refuted by c2-c1N or
something similar
Mnn-Grace Hse, Zabbar, Malta
This is my first puzzle that I tried to solve, and I am quite
satisfied with the results (I hope they are correct), although
it caused me a little headache :). The puzzle is an intersting
one, especially if considering that the author composed it in
a concentration camp. Well keep up the job, I think you are doing
an excellent job for chess, as it keeps fans like me updated all
the time.
John Timm
Interesting geometric motifs, but easily solved once you see that
the basic idea is to find a defensive move which covers all the
mating squares (example: 1 Nb3, B:c3 covers a5 and d4). If that
isn't possible a second idea is to cover one of the mating squares
while physically blocking access to the other mating square (example:
1 Nf5, Nd5). Finally, in one instance Black prevents mate by giving
check (1 Nb5, cb5:+). If none of these methods works (1 N:c2 ),
you have the solution.
Christopher Hume
Thanks for sharing this problem with the Chessbase readers. Your
nice little Flash presentation makes this seem a relatively easy
problem to solve.
Joe Chapman, Martinez, CA
A great problem and a good reminder that in these types of problems,
coming up with an answer for the threatened mate(s)s does not
necessarily mean you have refuted a threat. In other words, the
threatening pieces aren't always the mating pieces in the solution.
In this case, I was too hasty the first time around and didn't
see the check with the bishop.
Dennis Cesar Caluban, Kuwait
It took me about five hours to convince myself that there is only
one right knight move! Since it is mate in two, the method of
Black's defence is to cover all possible checks on move #2 in
one single move and 1. Ne2! is the only move which provides two
simultaneous mating treats that cannot be parried by a single
Black move. The arrows provided on the diagram helped me a lot
in finding the solution of putting the right Black piece on the
right square for defence. The puzzle is very good and without
the knight move hint, it might even be more difficult to solve.
To compose a problem (in concentration camp) like this is by no
means an easy task.
Soni Joseph
I must say that the problem presented is definately classic one.
Worth gem quality.
Tim James
Fun problem. Something interesting to think about during the workday.
The arrows helped me solve the problem because I could visualize
which diagonals, ranks, or files I had to defend. I'd be happy
to see more problems like this.
James Caldon
I despise these types of problems in general, but I must admit
I enjoyed this particular one.
Scott Guthrie
I usually don’t like contrived problems but this problem
had an unmistakable charm that I couldn’t avoid, it was nominally
difficult but not a real cracker, (if I got it right). I just
started with the b5 square and worked around the wheel.
Kishore Pudipeddi
I solved this puzzle without the use of any computer program or
books, within like half an hour. Chess is my hobby, and I just
play chess on the internet.
Thilo Mohr, Göppingen, Germany
Eine wunderschöne Stellung! Ich bin gestern echt in Verzückung
geraten. Nebenbei bemerkt auch eine gute Präsentation auf
der Website, die on_mouse_over-Idee ist ideal zum Lösen dieser
Aufgabe! Wunderschön! Danke!
Subbi Swaminathan, Kendall Park, NJ
This is simply an outstanding problem. It's a pure work of art.
I would like you to explain/discuss in an article as to how to
compose a chess problem. Where does one start ?
Gyimesi Zoltán
I liked the problem very much. Although I think my solution is
correct, I do not want to compete, because I already have the
book with Lindner's signature!
Greg Hamer, Thousand Oaks, California
That was fun. It took me about 10 minutes. When stuck on one refutation,
I went on to another one which was eventually helpful for the
ones that I had the most trouble with. The hint that there was
only one refutation for each move helped me realize that Bxc3
was not the panacea that I first thought it was.
Jon Morten Berg, Meldal, Norway
I must admit I don't really like constructed chess problems. László
Lindner' s Knight Wheel, as presented on you website, however,
was different. Perhaps it was the symmetrical simplicity, with
which such a difficult construction presented itself, as if it
had come on its own, rather then having been geniusly laboured
forth, or perhaps it was the story behind, a witness to both the
greatness and the littleness of humans, or perhaps it was both,
but I liked it.
Rafal Szwemberg
A master-piece by Laszlo. Truly remarkable problem, interesting
and challenging.
Leonard S. Dickerson
I solved the puzzle but planning to use it as homework for one
of my students. Because he was unsure of the concept, I told him
that we would quickly work two of the tries so that he would not
be so intimidated by the multiple possibilities. The introduction
of the puzzle to him considerably shortened my time in finding
the solution! Both of us liked the puzzle, especially since it
closely resembles a "real" situation. He plans to memorize
the piece placement to amaze his friends while berating their
mis-tries! I have been inspired enough to consider submit a composition
of my own to Pal Benko. Good entertainment!
Enrique Arce, Salt Lake, UT
I enjoyed Lindner's knight wheel problem and your website. I am
training to become a master and devote several hours a day to
chess. Thank you for the excellent humor and software you provide.
John Gillespie
I really did enjoy the puzzle, the history of its origin in a
concentration camp is a wonderful story.
Léonel Bourque, Canada
I came back to the puzzle several times to solve!!! I like your
web site, keep up the Great work. I check every day for new storys.
Shreeraj Sutaria
This puzzle was quite enjoyable. It forced me to think of the
various abilities of the individual pieces and of the ways a mate
can occur. The mate itself was difficult to find at first because
the piece that mates, the bishop, is not orignally a threat. Overall,
this puzzle was very pleasing.
Chris Berdoll
Great puzzle! Not only intriguing, but very instructive on the
topic of square coverage by different pieces. It really made me
see the board in a different way. It seems impossible at first
glance that some of these threats could be met by only one move.
My brain hurts, in a good way! I solved it by simply looking for
the move that did one of four things: Defended the checking squares,
provided a means of escape for the king, prevented a piece from
moving to the checking square, or provided an in-between move
(ex: 1. Nb5 cxb5+).
Billy Willson
Thanks for providing such an entertaining puzzle!
Bolivar Gonzalez
I find the very good problems for us to improve the analysis power
and calculation of variants. Danke.
Lim Shueh Hann, Melbourne, Australia
I solved problem by browsing and analysing through the possibilities.
I also realised that Black could sacrifice it peices to counter
the checkmate. I like the problem because it improves the way
and speed I calculate chess possibilities and moves, making me
think sharper and more accurate.
Torsten Schwalm
I am a mathematics student living in Heerlen, a city in Holland.
I liked the problem, mainly because it wasn't too difficult to
solve. Being only a hobby chessplayer, I often have problems to
solve the other puzzles you present on your website. This problem
was a wonderful example to me that also not so difficult problems
can be very nice to solve. I solved the problem within 30 minutes
after reading it. I just played every key move on a chessboard
and stared a few minutes to the board till I found a black refutation.
The black refutations always paried the white threats and so I
went on till I found the single white move that couldn't be paried.
But now
The puzzle is amazing. I showed it to couple of my friends who
are excellent puzzle solvers and they all fell on the traps time
after time. I myself used elimination to find the right move.
It was really hard to find the refutation for each white move
since there were many threats. In the end after a long thinking
i succeeded to stop all the 8 moves! I got really dispressed.
It took me a long time until i found 1...Nxe2 is not enough and
announced to my friend i solved it!
Paul Ruffle
The more you look at the position the harder it becomes. Very
absorbing!
Charles Zupanic III
I loved this one as all the other great puzzles you present. I
still have yet to solve the knight takes rook mate in 5 and sometime
ago requested a hint after spending perhaps 2 hours a night for
two weeks on it. Never heard back on that one and it is still
a mystery to me, lol. The knight wheel was solved at work in only
a couple of minutes, so perhaps a bit easy but fun like the rest
and a nice forced mate. Thank you so much for all you to to promote
the game.
Robert Offinger, Magdeburg, Germany
Nice problem. Not to difficult (even if I stumbled first), nice
little geometry motifs and – at least for me – a different
kind of chess problem composition. By the way, most of these "ordinary"
compositions I do not like too much so that's a positive thing
for me. So that was the first of your puzzles I solved and I have
to say I
will try to solve another one soon!
Skip Agen
A delightful puzzle. I thoroughly enjoyed working on it. And I
will be vastly amused if my answers are on the money. As you requested,
I didn't use any outside help whatsoever – no computer, books,
person or thing. Only that pitifully limited thing that resides
between my ears and calls itself my brain. I did it by moving
the Knight to one square, finding the refutation, then moving
it to another, etc., I think Ne2 was the third square I tried.
The
winner of the contest was drawn from all the entries we receive.
It was Richard Maclannan of Middlesex, UK, who will receive
a copy of László Lindner's book Mattbilder eines
Lebens, signed by the author. The book contains the knight
wheel problem and the story surrounding it. It is basically in
German but has extensive passages in English as well.
For the others there is good news: Lindner's book is still available
and can be purchased from the publisher, Nightrider
Unlimited. The price is € 23.- for paperback and
€ 30.65 bound (about $25 and 33).
Frederic Friedel
