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  • Chess: Checkmate in Twenty-five moves

    From James Dow Allen@user4353@newsgrouper.org.invalid to rec.puzzles on Tue Mar 24 10:34:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.puzzles



    White to move and mate in 25 moves. While Stockfish occasionally announces "Mate in 23," this puzzle was composed by a human IIUC.


    br . . br . bk bn R

    . . . . . . bp .

    . bp . bq . . P .

    . . bb . . * Q .

    . . . . . bp P .

    bp P . . bp P . R

    . . . . . . . P

    . K . . . . . .


    White pieces are shown capitalized; Black's lower-case with "b" prepended. (Ignore '*'.) If unclear, here is a list of pieces:

    White: King B1, Queen G5, Rooks H3 H8, Pawns B3 F3 G4 G6 H2
    Black: King F8, Queen D6, Rooks A8 D8, Bishop C5, Knight G8,
    Pawns A3 B6 E3 F4 F7

    Solution is easier than you might expect, with most moves completely
    forced. (Black has a few variations which lead to quicker mates.)

    Hint:
    Juvgr cynlf D-X4 (Dr4, gur pryy fubja nf '*') sbhe gvzrf:
    Nf zbir avar, qevivat Oynpx Xvat gb ybjre-yrsg,
    Nf zbir gjryir, qevivat Xvat onpx gb hccre-evtug,
    Nf zbir avargrra, qevivat Xvat gb ybjre yrsg n 2aq gvzr! naq
    Nf zbir gjragl-gjb, qevivat Xvat gb hccre-evtug ntnva.

    Juvgr qevirf Xvat GJVPR orpnhfr ur arrqf gb znxr bar fcrpvny
    zbir orgjrra 1fg qevir naq 2aq.


    Good luck!
    noUb-Anoab!+noe

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  • From James Dow Allen@user4353@newsgrouper.org.invalid to rec.puzzles on Sat Apr 4 16:21:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: rec.puzzles


    James Dow Allen <user4353@newsgrouper.org.invalid> posted:
    ...
    Is this the thread for posting interesting chess games?
    Gotham Chess calls this "one of the most insane chess games he's ever seen."
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwhY4oVEfSM
    White is a top master, took 2nd place in the World Blitz Championship.
    Black is a young boy "on pace to be the greatest chess player of all time."

    I'm not much of a chess player but it is still fascinating to watch this
    game unfold. White sacrifices multiple pieces, reaches ridiculous-looking position, but still plays for the win.


    Good luck!
    noUb-Anoab!+noe

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