Chess BY PHILIDOR BLACK, 3 men.
As I have carelessly forgotten to put in the Black king, sol- vers must first put this necessary piece on the board in such a position that there is a sound mate in two moves (i.e., a unique one), and then solve their own problem. There are four possible posi-
WHITE, 7 men.
Solution to last week's problem by Shinkman: Q-B 3! waiting. 1 .. . P-B 5; 2 Q-B 8. 1 . Kt x Q; 2 Kt-Q 3. 1 . . . P-R 6; 2 Kt-Q 'g I . . • K-R 6; 2 Kt-B 2. Note `try' Q-Q 3 defeated by K-R 6! Just as every column needs a Loyd, so none is complete without a Shinkman.
CHRISTMAS TASKS A type of problem which perhaps appeals rather more to chess players (as opposed to chess problemists) than the orthodox two or three mover is the construction of a game or a
position to satisfy some prescribed condition. To help readers to waste their time over Christ- mas I give a number of these, together with solutions (on page 880). if you cannot find the best solution, how near can you get? Positions are taken from T. R. Dawson's fascinating pamphlet Ultimate Themes:
1. Play the shortest game ending in stalemate.
2. Same, with no captures.
3. Find legal positions (i.e., positions that could be reached by legal—not necessarily sensible—play from the initial position) to satisfy the following conditions—each is a separate puzzle, of course : (a) Maximum number of mates on move (no promoted pawns in position, though pawn promotions allowed as mating moves).
(b) Same,, promoted men allowed.
(c) Same, with all 32 men on board.
4. (Not in Dawson, source unknown.) White's first four moves in a game (I) were 1 P-K B 3, 2 K-B 2, 3 K-Kt 3, 4 K-R 4. Black gave mate on fourth move: what were his moves?
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