Happy Thanksgiving
!
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This position comes from a composition that Susan Polgar posted on her facebook page and I thought was very amusing. The position is by an unknown author from the year 1792! White to
Play, Mate in 6!
Answer Below Here is the position and solution in PGN
[Event "Composed Problem from Unknown Author 1792"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5B2/5p2/8/4P3/3P4/1pP4B/pP6/k1K5 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "11"]
1. Bf5 f6 2. Ba3 fxe5 3. Be4 exd4 4. Bd3 dxc3 5. bxc3 b2+ 6. Bxb2#
1-0
Answer:
1. Bf5 f6 2. Ba3 fxe5 3. Be4 exd4 4. Bd3
dxc3 5. bxc3 b2+ 6. Bxb2#
The key is to realize that the Black King is stalemated, and cannot move. So any check would be a checkmate. If White moved his King, the Black King could escape, and promote a pawn.
White cannot check the King in the starting position, because his own pawn is in the way, and cannot move.
It is also important to realize that the only Black piece that can move in
the starting position is the f pawn, which could move to either f6 or f5.
White maneuvers his bishops so that Black is constantly given only one option, and is a constant state of zugzwang.
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Happy Tactics and Happy Thanksgiving!
Your Friend, Tim Brennan
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