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Have you ever missed a one-move checkmate and immediately realized it after making your move? If you have, you just might have what it takes to crack this problem. Let's take an example:

  1. g4 e5
  2. f4 Be7?
  3. Nc3 Nc6?

enter image description here

In this example, black has already missed two mating moves: one with the queen (2...Qh4#), and one with the bishop (3...Bh4#). The goal is to find the smallest number of moves after which the same side has missed a mate-in-one with both a queen, a rook, a knight, a bishop and a pawn. Whoever finds the smallest number of moves wins.

Rules/clarifications:

  • The piece delivering checkmate is what counts. If you move a bishop to discover a mate by rook check, it's a mate by a rook. Mates by double-check are counted as both pieces.
  • Promoted pawns count as the promoted piece, not as a pawn.
  • You can use any moves from the starting position, not necessarily the same ones as in the example.
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  • $\begingroup$ Do we have to start with the six moves you've provided? $\endgroup$
    – ZanyG
    Commented Mar 21, 2019 at 10:03
  • $\begingroup$ Edited to clarify the rules. $\endgroup$
    – Jafe
    Commented Mar 21, 2019 at 10:18
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    $\begingroup$ I don't think "both" means what you think it means. :) $\endgroup$
    – Rubio ♦
    Commented Mar 21, 2019 at 15:30
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    $\begingroup$ @Rubio Incontheivable! $\endgroup$
    – Brandon_J
    Commented Mar 21, 2019 at 19:34
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    $\begingroup$ I take this is "helpmate", so to speak? $\endgroup$
    – Acccumulation
    Commented Mar 22, 2019 at 14:51

2 Answers 2

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1. f3 e6 2. g4 a5 3. Kf2 a4 4. Ke3 Qe7 5. Kf4 Qb4+ 6. Ke5 a3

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    $\begingroup$ Very nice! So many ways to finish it off. $\endgroup$
    – Jafe
    Commented Mar 21, 2019 at 10:53
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1. f3 e6
2. g4 h5
3. Kf2 a5
4. gxh5 a4
5. Ke3 Rxh5
6. Ke4 Rh4+
7. Ke5 g6??

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