[Retros] 8th row mates by knight promotion

[andrew buchanan]

Hi Olli,

Thanks for your email, and charitable puzzle. I decided to tackle 2 of
your set:

bxaN
Nnbq1bnr/p1kp1ppp/4p3/3Q4/2p5/8/PP1PPPPP/RNB1KBNR

cxbN
1Nb1qbnr/1p1kpppp/1Q6/r2p4/p7/8/PPP1PPPP/RNB1KBNR

Both are PG in 6.5.

I think you are right that it is better to tackle a smaller group of
problems in a focused way, rather than charging after hundreds of
different records.

I share Francois Labelle's reluctance to leap into producing a PG for
each possible last move. Apart from the sheer scale, the exercise is
also contingent upon the syntax chosen for move recording. I prefer
ideas which are inherent in the chess itself. This is probably
hair-splitting but that's aesthetics for you.

Cheers,
Andrew.

--- Olli Heimo <olli.heimo at luukku.com> wrote:


> Hello!

> I spent some time during Chrismas on Hirakaz's list of

> eighth row mates. I started with knight mates. From 22

> groups there 8 had 6.0 moves or less, so they are optimal

> according to computer analysis. From remaining 14 groups

> I was able to improve 11! Rather than giving my positions

> immediately, I give a puzzle.

> The groups that I improved are:

> b (earlier record 8.0), c (8.0), g (8.5), bxa (7.0),

> axb (8.0), cxb (7.0), dxc (8.0), dxe (9.0), fxe (9.0),

> fxg (8.0) and hxg (8.5).

> I dont give my new number of moves. You are welcome to try

> yourself. Composing is much easier when it is is

> guaranteed that that the old record can be broken. If

> there is something left in 48 hours from now then I will

> publish the remaining. Olli.