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Puzzling

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6
  • $\begingroup$ Is it possible with only 4 pieces? $\endgroup$
    – sunfishho
    Commented Jul 12, 2019 at 1:12
  • $\begingroup$ By the way, wanted to say that was a great puzzle, especially the bishop mate :) @RewanDemontay $\endgroup$
    – sunfishho
    Commented Jul 12, 2019 at 2:57
  • $\begingroup$ "2 knights cannot mate a king by themselves if the opposing side has waiting moves." Isn't it the reverse? I understood that 2 knights cannot force mate by themselves (unless they can mate in 1), but in KNN v KP the knights win (unless the P can safely queen & start checking) exactly because the defender has waiting-moves with the P which prevent a stalemate defence. $\endgroup$
    – Rosie F
    Commented Jul 12, 2019 at 5:34
  • $\begingroup$ @RosieF whoops thanks for catching that error! $\endgroup$
    – sunfishho
    Commented Jul 12, 2019 at 5:45
  • $\begingroup$ @RewanDemontay For a knight winning position, one can add a white rook on a5 to im_so_meta_even_this_acronym 's original position (so 5 pieces in total). Then 1.f8=N will be the only winning move (for the very same reason, since white rook has no checks), while other moves do not even give a draw! For the rook winning position, 1. f8=R is definitely the best move (it gives mate in 2), but it's unfortunately not the only one which wins (since 1.Ke7 or 1.Ke6 followed by 2.f8=Q also wins). $\endgroup$
    – trolley813
    Commented Jul 12, 2019 at 7:41