Seriesmover
Encyclopedia
A seriesmover is a chess problem
in which one side makes a series of legal moves without reply at the end of which the other side makes a single move, giving checkmate or yielding stalemate, depending on the precise stipulation. Checks cannot be given except on the last move of the series. There are various types of seriesmover:
Thus a serieshelpmate in n moves consists of n legal unique moves by black (all but possibly the last non-checking moves) followed by one move by white that mates black. To the right is a serieshelpmate in seventeen by Thomas Rayner Dawson
(published in Fairy Chess Review, 1947). An effective way to solve long series help mates such as this is to envisage a position in which black could be checkmated, and then to work out how such a problem could be reached. Here, with just one knight, the only way to checkmate black is to have the black king in the corner and another black piece on a2, allowing Nb3 giving mate. It might seem there are many ways to do this, but the need to avoid exposing the white king to check means that there is only one, involving the black king walking half-way over the board and then back again. (As usual, chess problems with unintended multiple solutions are considered flawed; they are often said to be cooked.) The solution here is:
Chess problem
A chess problem, also called a chess composition, is a puzzle set by somebody using chess pieces on a chess board, that presents the solver with a particular task to be achieved. For instance, a position might be given with the instruction that White is to move first, and checkmate Black in two...
in which one side makes a series of legal moves without reply at the end of which the other side makes a single move, giving checkmate or yielding stalemate, depending on the precise stipulation. Checks cannot be given except on the last move of the series. There are various types of seriesmover:
- Seriesmate: a directmate with white playing a series of moves without reply to checkmate black (the seriesmover analogue to the directmate).
- Serieshelpmate: a helpmateHelpmateA helpmate is a type of chess problem in which both sides cooperate in order to achieve the goal of checkmating Black. In a helpmate in n moves, Black moves first, then White, each side moving n times, to culminate in White's nth move checkmating Black...
in which black plays a series of moves without reply after which white plays one move to checkmate black (the seriesmover analogue to the helpmateHelpmateA helpmate is a type of chess problem in which both sides cooperate in order to achieve the goal of checkmating Black. In a helpmate in n moves, Black moves first, then White, each side moving n times, to culminate in White's nth move checkmating Black...
). - Seriesselfmate: a selfmateSelfmateA selfmate is a chess problem in which white, moving first, must force black to deliver checkmate within a specified number of moves against his will. Selfmates were once known as sui-mates.The problem to the right is a relatively simple example...
in which white plays a series of moves leading to a position in which black is forced to give mate (the seriesmover analogue to the selfmateSelfmateA selfmate is a chess problem in which white, moving first, must force black to deliver checkmate within a specified number of moves against his will. Selfmates were once known as sui-mates.The problem to the right is a relatively simple example...
). - Seriesreflexmate: a reflexmateReflexmateA reflexmate is a chess problem in which white, moving first, must force black to deliver checkmate within a specified number of moves against his will - with the added condition that if either player can give checkmate, they must. If this condition applies only to Black, it is a semi-reflexmate...
in which white plays a series of moves leading to a position in which black can, and therefore must, give mate. Further, white is obliged to mate whenever he can, therefore he has to avoid in his series of moves aposition in which he would have mating possibility (the seriesmover analogue to the reflexmateReflexmateA reflexmate is a chess problem in which white, moving first, must force black to deliver checkmate within a specified number of moves against his will - with the added condition that if either player can give checkmate, they must. If this condition applies only to Black, it is a semi-reflexmate...
).
Thus a serieshelpmate in n moves consists of n legal unique moves by black (all but possibly the last non-checking moves) followed by one move by white that mates black. To the right is a serieshelpmate in seventeen by Thomas Rayner Dawson
Thomas Rayner Dawson
Thomas Rayner Dawson was a British chess problemist. He invented many fairy pieces and new conditions. He introduced the popular fairy pieces grasshopper, nightrider, and many other fairy chess ideas.-Career:...
(published in Fairy Chess Review, 1947). An effective way to solve long series help mates such as this is to envisage a position in which black could be checkmated, and then to work out how such a problem could be reached. Here, with just one knight, the only way to checkmate black is to have the black king in the corner and another black piece on a2, allowing Nb3 giving mate. It might seem there are many ways to do this, but the need to avoid exposing the white king to check means that there is only one, involving the black king walking half-way over the board and then back again. (As usual, chess problems with unintended multiple solutions are considered flawed; they are often said to be cooked.) The solution here is:
- 1.Ka2 2.Ka3 3.Kb4 4.Kc3 5.Kd3 6.Ke2 7.Ke1 8.f1R 9.Rf2 10.Ke2 11.Kd3 12.Kc3 13.Kb4 14.Ka3 15.Ka2 16.Ka1 17.Ra2 Nb3#