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The Hardest chess problem in the world?

hebdenbridgechessclub.blogspot.com

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Re: The Hardest chess problem in the world?

#32
A poorly phrased question that lacks context != cleverness

The "puzzle" relies on an obscure situation which isn't even a rule. You might as well claim that the kings can checkmate each other, or that the rook can spontaneously transform into a queen.

HEY GUYS CHECK OUT THIS FAKE PUZZLE THAT REQUIRES YOU TO IGNORE EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT CHESS RULES FOR IT TO WORK

Re: The Hardest chess problem in the world?

#34
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I, too, was curious about Lady Cynthia Blunderboro. It seems she's a fictional persona prone to hoaxes. https://www.google.com/search?q=lady+cynthia+blunderboro

The fact that she by chance happened to have the very same position during normal play gave it away. The probability would be astronomically low.

Not sure if you're referring to something else. But in the story she is just replaying the game that her grandfather played back in the 1800s. She didn't actually come up with that move from playing.

Re: The Hardest chess problem in the world?

#35
post #4

For an actual legal and cool puzzle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSKtG-8TwI0

Also cool: white to move and NOT mate http://www.chess.com/blog/AaronGo/white-to-move-and-not-mate

I can't figure it out but I'm positive that 12 year old me would have lost from this position.

Fools mate in an inter-school tournament, the only player on my team to lose his game and thus the only one who didn't get ice cream on the drive home. Still hurts.

EDIT: actually it isn't that hard! I really could cock it up from that position.

Re: The Hardest chess problem in the world?

#36

A poorly phrased question that lacks context != cleverness The "puzzle" relies on an obscure situation which isn't even a rule. You might as well claim that the kings can checkmate each other, or that the rook can spontaneously transform into a queen. HEY GUYS CHECK OUT THIS FAKE PUZZLE THAT REQUIRES YOU TO IGNORE EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT CHESS RULES FOR IT TO WORK

Huh? The solution doesn't require you to "IGNORE EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT CHESS RULES". I can't speak for all casual players but this is a rule that seems technically possible but just never executed because it's hard to conceive a situation in which it would ever be used in practice. For those of us who don't know this specific rule, there's no excuse for us not thinking-outside-of-the-box...and learning of the "solution" is enjoyable.

Life is full of rules in which the exception was never addressed or outlawed because the exception was never even considered. [Insert Kobayashi Maru trope here]

Re: The Hardest chess problem in the world?

#37
post #8

> "I first encountered this position in June 1937 [...]" OT remark: Jesus. I work with the elderly, mostly. I would love to have her clarity of thought if and when I reach her age. I've heard before that playing chess retains hair loss and mental deterioration, especially in the elderly.

I, too, was curious about Lady Cynthia Blunderboro. It seems she's a fictional persona prone to hoaxes. https://www.google.com/search?q=lady+cynthia+blunderboro

You ruined everything :-P

Re: The Hardest chess problem in the world?

#38
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also cool: white to move and NOT mate http://www.chess.com/blog/AaronGo/white-to-move-and-not-mate

Would someone like to post a ROT13 of the solution to that, if they have it?

Ebbx gb P fvk

Zbir gur Ebbx gb n fcbg jurer vg eryrnfrf gur cva ba gur bccbaragf Ebbx, juvpu pna gura pncgher gur ovfubc juvpu unf perngrq gur qvfpbirerq purpx.

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