Aha. I recognise this one, I think it's from Nunn's Solving In Style. As I recall the key is 1. a7 and the four main lines are promotions on b8 in reply to 1. ... axb1. Brilliantly, the composer arranges it such that White's promotion piece matches Black's.
That is indeed correct and the keymove as suggested is 1.a7!
As it happens my source wasn't Krabbé, but Morgan Daniels of this very blog, who in turn sourced it from Rice, Chess Wizardry: The New ABC of Chess Problems (Batsford, 1996).
Aha. I recognise this one, I think it's from Nunn's Solving In Style. As I recall the key is 1. a7 and the four main lines are promotions on b8 in reply to 1. ... axb1. Brilliantly, the composer arranges it such that White's promotion piece matches Black's.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid you may have to do a little better than that (and it's not from Nunn).
ReplyDeleteThis is in the excellent 'Chess Curosities' by Tim Krabbe (how do you do accents again?). The type of book that has sadly gone out of fashion.
ReplyDeletePG
I have such a strong prejudice for game-like settings that I can't even look at this diagram. Just as well, I would never solve it anyway.
ReplyDeleteAh, that's where I've seen it, thanks PG.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we can do much better than Tim Krabbé's insightful explanation.
That link's not been done properly....
ReplyDeleteAttempt 2
ReplyDeleteGood effort.
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed correct and the keymove as suggested is 1.a7!
As it happens my source wasn't Krabbé, but Morgan Daniels of this very blog, who in turn sourced it from Rice, Chess Wizardry: The New ABC of Chess Problems (Batsford, 1996).