The key here is that a chess board is not an Euclidean space: it takes as many moves for a king to go from H8 to A1 as to go from H8 to H1, even though the first distance is longer. By moving diagonally the white king can both threaten to defend his own pawn and capture the black pawn without losing tempo, black can only choose to take the white pawn or move its own but not both.
I don't get it. I might be very dumb, but white can never draw this. After the white king's first move, the black king will go towards the white pawn. The white king is still 2 moves away from the black pawn. So the black pawn will still queen before the king can catch it.
@kishanpatel2050 No, White draws in that case too. Please see: 1.Kg7 Kb6 2.Kf6, then: a/ 2... Kxc6 3.Kg5 (and the black pawn taken). b/ 2... h4 3.Ke5 (and again 2 ways of draw - White Queen or black pawn taken). Thank you for commenting.
It doesn't matter its just a different move order of solution #2 (but in the end the exact same moves will be made... Just in an other order), it will come down to the exact same result. If black doesn't capture, white will queen at the move after black, or if black captures, white will be able to reach the black pawn.
Odd... Even though its pointed out... Moving the king first, ends up with being the same as solution #2 But here goes, 1:29 white to move... 1. Kg7 Kb6 2 Kf6 Kxc6* 3 Kg5 h4 4 Kxh4 Draw Or... 2 --- h4* 3 Ke5 h3** 4 Kd6 h2 5 c7 Kb7*** 6 Kd7 h1Q 7 b8Q+ Draw Or... 3--- Kxc6** 4 Kf4 h3 5 Kg3 h2 6 Kxh2 Draw Or 5. --- h1Q*** 6. c8D Draw. Those are the variations when Black moves the king first. All, without exception, leads to draw. Its a well known puzzle that has been around for 100 years and you think you spotted something that Petrosian, Fisher, Karpov, Kasparov, Anand, Carlsen (to name a few) missed? And yes, all of them have seen this puzzle, its that well known. If the puzzle was flawed, it would have been spotted 99.5 years ago.
I'll try to explain it so that it's understandable: 1) White needs three moves to either capture or get within range of Black's pawn, if Black doesn't move that pawn. For example, if Black idly moved the King back and forth from a6 to a7, White could play such as Kg7, Kg6 Kxh5, or Kg7, Kf6, Kg5 and be close enough to capture the pawn. 2) White needs three moves to get within range to protect his pawn, if Black doesn't move the King closer to White's pawn. For example, if Black idly moved the King as above, White could play Kg7, Kf6, Ke6, and he can now protect his pawn before Black can capture it. 3) Black needs 2 moves to capture White's pawn and 4 moves to promote the Black pawn. 4) If Black promotes first, without check, and White can promote on the next move, Black cannot force the win of White's Queen. 5) Of course, if both Queens promote normally, the game is a draw. White needs to make moves that get the King closer to both the White AND Black pawns with the same move. The only first move that gets White closer to his pawn AND Black's pawn is: 1 Kg7 This gets White within a range of 2 moves to both pawns. Black has two logical choices. 1 ..... Kb6 Black can also try 1 ... Ka7, 2 Kf6 h4 (otherwise, White can capture Black's pawn), 3 Ke7 (Ke5 and Ke6 also draw), and White can now escort the pawn to the eighth rank. The other main line is 1... h4, which will be analyzed later. 2) Kf6 Again this is the only move that gets the King one square closer to both pawns than it was at the start of the move. White now threatens to catch Black's pawn. 2) .... h4 Otherwise, White plays Kg5 and can capture Black's pawn on the next turn. the move made keeps White's King from getting within range on the next move. 3) Ke5 ! The only move that gets the King a square closer to both pawns than it was at the start of the move. White is again threatening to catch up to Black's pawn. 3) .... h3 Keeping White's King out of range. But now White can protect the White pawn. 4) Kd6 h2 5 ) c7 Kb7 or 5 ... h1/Q, 6 c8/Q 6) Kd7, and both pawns promote. The other possibility for Black is: 1).... h4 This move keeps White's King two moves away from being in range. 2) Kf6 The only move that gets White's king closer to both pawns. 2) .... h3 Or 2) ... Kb6, 3) Ke5, which transposes into the first line. The given move keeps White's King two moves out of range, but it also puts White in range of protecting the White pawn. 3) Ke7 ! Ke6 also draws. 3) Ke5? does not.. 3)... h2, 4) c7 gives Black access to the crucial b7 square ... 4)... Kb7 and Black can stop White's pawn from promoting. 3) .... h2 Or 3) ... Kb6, 4) Kd7 promotes 4) c7 White needs to ensure that the White pawn can promote directly after the Black pawn. 4) ... Kb7 On 4) .... h1/Q 5) c8/Q also draws. Black makes one last attempt to stop White's pawn. 5) Kd7 Or 5) Kd8, but not the silly 5) Kd6? and the King isn't in position to protect the pawn when it promotes. 5) .... h1/Q 6) c8/Q+ And the game is drawn.
What is most interesting about this video is the number of commenters that doubt the ability of white to draw. It's as if, they do a cursory glance and when they don't immediately see the solution have the audacity to assume that they know more than all the other grandmasters that have studied this problem (first published in 1921) and then feel compelled to comment contrary to the established facts and cement their ignorance for all to witness. Now, with that said, in regards to this being the(absolute) most famous puzzle in the history of chess, there is an argument that other positions such as Lucena, Philidor or the beautiful Saavedra are even more challenging and certainly much older and more well known. This position doesn't even have a name and should be called The Reti Position because it was his most famous.
Jim Coady I don't see it so negatively. The genius of this puzzle is that it brings forth all this doubt (and certainty) and teaches those who are mistaken a powerful lesson in chess -- as it did with me.
+Jim Coady I think you've got it right. I had that exact experience. The video isn't clear enough with it's explanations. But those who persist, will gain new insights, as I did.
For anyone that thinks this can be solved by moving the black king first, you are incorrect. Proof: 1. Kg7, Kb6 (opening move designed to threaten the white pawn) 2. Kf6, h4□ (at this point, the white pawn has to move forward or is at risk of capture, try it out. The king moves to Kf6 because it is one step closer toward protecting the white pawn, yet can still capture the black pawn if necessary) 3. Ke5 (at this point, it is black's turn. If black takes the pawn Kc6, White chases down the black pawn. If black tries to race for the Queen...) h3 4. Kd6 (the game now takes turns to upgrade a Queen and becomes a draw).
The idea is to make the white king directly execute the black pawn if the white pawn is executed, or to make the white pawn get the promotion once the black one gets it...Thanks!
@deeptimanb The letters for chess notation do not start from right to left. They start from left to right: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h. You may mean the following: in above moves after 1.Kg7 Kb6 2.Kf6 h4 then?... White must play 3.Ke5 and: a/ if 3... Kxc6, then 4.Kf4 to take the Black pawn. b/ if 3... h3, then 4.Kd6 to promote the White pawn.
I have determined that the reason why the position is drawn is due to three accounts; 1) Black cannot move his king to intercept the White pawn without losing a critical tempo. 2) The fact that the white pawn is controlling b7 forbids Black from making an immediate effort to stop the promotion aside from trying to directly capture the pawn. (In other words, if the Black king were on a7 instead of a6, Black would be winning.) 3) The white pawn's promotion square is sharing a diagonal with the black king, so consequently after 1.Kg7 h4 2.Kf6 h3 3.Ke6 h2 4.c7, Black cannot hope for the tactical idea of promoting to queen and then skewering the white king into his new queen with Qh3+ because the move 5.c8=Q+ is delivering check and therefore negating the skewer.
MrRafterPL no this is wrong. White moves first and goes down to 7, and if black king moves right as a response, white king moves down again to 6. Black king takes the white pawn and what do you know, white king can just capture the black pawn. If you say what if black pawn moves down before black king captures the white pawn, then you have the exact same scenario as this video with two of the moves swapped, same outcome in the end.
Surely when the white pawn goes to c7 at 2:12, it was a waste for the black king to go to b7. Surely black should have played h1 and gotten a queen. When white plays c8 and gets a queen, he doesn't put black in check, and black can then check the white king, and work with that adantage from there.
TO ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY JUST OUTSMARTED A PUZZLE REVIEWED BY MANY TENS OF GRANDMASTERS: Even moving 1...Kb6 will lead to a draw. Assuming black doesn't play some dumb move that contradicts this procedure or gives up the win, you can always use the following procedure to solve the puzzle(black's move is not listed and can vary): 1. Kh7... 2. Kf6 ... 3. Ke5 ... Now, for your 4th move, see if your white pawn is captured yet. If it is not captured: 4. Kd6 ... (Protect pawn and continue to promote) 5. Kd7 ... 6. c7 ... 7. c8=Q (draw) If, on your 4th move, your white pawn has already been captured, simply chase down the black pawn. If the black king has invested two moves into capturing your own pawn, their black pawn won't be far enough along the track to escape the black king. 4. Kf4 h3 5. Kg3 h2 6. Kxh2 (draw) If you don't believe this, get out the chessboard and try out all the variations like the grandmasters did when they saw this puzzle.
Mark Lewis Yes, how did white king get to f6, 2 moves from his starting position at h8, with both black pieces still in their starting positions? But the solution up to that are still valid, I think. I think the king can keep both options open until he must commit to one of them. And I think that position at 2:18 with the 2 queens, is not necessarily a draw.
+Selinor578 Sorry but no... the solution is not valid up to that point. If white plays Kh8 to Kg7 black pushes his pawn. the white king must choose between trying to catch the black pawn from queening or defending his own pawn FROM G7 NOT F6!!! If white goes for the black pawn, white just keeps pushing their pawn... if the white king goes to protect their lone pawn, black just moves their King in to gobble it up and then pushes to promotion and the win. Either way, with proper play, the game is NOT drawable for white! The only way white draws this game is if white offers a draw and black foolishly accepts.
Mark Lewis White is to move first in this puzzle. And king is 3 squares away from the black pawn. So if he goes to take the black pawn and black goes to take the white pawn, both pawns can be taken. I think the crucial point is that if the white king goes all the way to E5, he can still keep both options open.
+Mark Lewis Nope. It's a draw, Mark. White king heads for the e5 square, losing no distance to the black pawn. If black keeps pushing the pawn white can queen his pawn before black can do anything about it, even though black queens his pawn first. If black goes after the pawn, the white king can defend it from E5. If black goes after the pawn before the white king gets to E5, white will advance the pawn, making black take a total of 3 moves to get it. That's enough for the white king to catch the black pawn.
Ok Ok, to all those that are about to say, 'Hey, White won't be able to catch up Black's pawn!' I was just like you!!!!!!!! Get a chess board. Put the pieces on the board. Then move the White King diagonally to the left again and again. Damn, it works! This video is designed for most of you, not to understand, trust me! It's a draw.
Great puzzle. Part of what makes Chess so great is the ability to pull out a draw in seemingly impossible situations. I've done it a few times, myself. Though nothing as fine as this.
And what if Black started by moving it's king after whites first move... Black would still have 1 square lead with his pawn, and the king would either have his futile chase at the pawn, or give the pawn more space by trying to cover his own pawn, but would never make it in time before it got hit.
+Subosi Not actually true. The one move that Black would need to capture the White pawn gives White time to catch up to the Black pawn with his king. And if Black pushes the pawn a square or two in the meantime, White keeps moving diagonally until he reaches e5, at which point he can either go after the Black pawn if it's in reach, or go protect his own pawn if Black hasn't captured it yet. Either way, the path h8-g7-f6-e5 leaves both options open to White.
good thing that you mentioned that this chess puzzle was in chess. otherwise I would have thought it's the most famous chess puzzle in super mario (sarcasm)
Let's say after white king did go to g7, then black king goes to b6, then Kf6 will lead to a draw, because if Kxc6 white can go Kg5 and can catch the pawn, if not Kxc6 but instead h4, white can go Ke5 and it is the exact position shown on 1:55.
It doesn't work, if white king moves to F6, black can move king to B6, then white is forced to move king toward the black pawn else the black king can just take the white pawn. By doing so the black pawn can reach H1 before the king catches up. Edit: Scenerio 2 depicted what I wrote, white moved twice though...
Haha...I see the solution now...assuming the opponent makes the best possible moves (avoiding that the opponent get "close enough" to his own pawn, close enough to protect it, which would result in a draw), white king to g7, king to f6, then the opponent better get to the white pawn, otherwise it will be too late...then king to e5, the opponent better take the white pawn, or it will be a draw when the king gets close enough to the pawn (and doesn't mess up, haha, of course, we're assuming neither side will make a "silly mistake")...then, after the white pawn is taken, the white king can stop the black pawn = draw...haha...neat solution...found it by finding the requirements a solution would need to have and trying to confine the possibilities to those...
If I were black. My first move would be kb6. KF6, h4. If the white king goes after the pawn, he’ll still lose the race. If he goes to protect his pawn, he loses the pawn and the black pawn is free and clear after the white pawn is captured
Do you really think that will work? Let's say we go with your scenario, black king moves right twice to take whites pawn and then starts moving the pawn down. White king moves to g7, black king moves to b5 Kf6 kc5 captures the pawn Now white king goes to g5 and the black pawn goes down to h4 Well what do you know whites move is to take the pawn at h4 and it's a draw! White wins the race.
if black's first move is king beside the white pawn the white king can neither catch the black pawn or save the white one, so this only works if black moves the pawn first
+Jeff Mauldin This is not true. White can force draw no matter how good black plays here. If blacks first move is besides the pawn, the white king just keeps going diagonally down towards the bottom left. When the white king reaches E5 black will have to choose what kind of draw he wants by eighter taking the pawn (then the white king will take the black pawn) or moving his pawn (that means the king will get to his own pawn).
To those of you who saw the drawing maneuver, great. I've had students rated around 800 solve this puzzle, so I believe you. Now change the starting position by putting the Black king on a7 instead of a6. With White moving first, is it still a draw?
black can win when the white move Kg7, black move Kb6 , white Kf6 , black H4. just choose then if white move to takes black pawns ,black will move H3 and black will have queens.. if white moves to deffend his pawns , black's king should take white pawns then go for the queen.. black absolutely win.. thanks
these all depend on black making a bad move. all scenarios follow g7 h4.....if black plays g7 b6, the options that follow would be c7 b6xc7 g6 and the black pawn wins the race. if white plays g6 h4 and the pawn advances. if at any point white hover the pawn, black takes it and we are back to the black pawn advancing
In what world would white EVER do c7 if the white king isn't there to protect it, that scenario depends on white making a bad move, it doesn't actually work. Let me explain. Kg7 Kb6 Whites next move is Kf6 not c7 If black takes the pawn immediately then Kf6 kc6 Then white moves towards the black pawn Kg5 h4 Kh4 DRAW If black moves pawn Kf6 h4 Then white can approach the white pawn with ke5 Here black has two options again, capture e pawn or try to promote If black takes the pawn Ke5 kc6 Then white moves towards black pawn Kf4 h3 Kg3 h2 Kh2 DRAW If black starts moving the pawn again Ke5 h3 The white can protect its pawn and promote at the same time as black by doing kd6 Kd6 h2 C7 h1 black promotes C8 white promotes, no kings in check, DRAW And black king can't kill the protected pawn obviously
Michael Moonie I agree that after g7 and b6, white would not move the pawn. Instead, we would see f6 (or even g6 or h6), h4 Black will advance the pawn before white could catch it. Black would continue to move the lawn until white moves in a direction towards it's own pawn and black takes the lawn immediately. If white moves the pawn, black can take it and we still have the same race between the white king and black pawn.
This is a draw. Play it out on a board and you will find it to be true. It's a counting puzzle. If black goes after the pawn, white does the same and catches it.
Wrong. Whites next move is to go to e5 and it will end in a draw. White f6-e5, now black can do two things, take the pawn or promote to queen, let's see how both play out. KING TAKES PAWN Black king b6-c6 taking pawn White king e5-f4 Black pawn h4-h3 White king f4-G3 Black pawn h3-h2 White king G3-h2 taking pawn PAWN RUNS black pawn h4-h3 White king e5-d6 Black king cannot take the pawn because then white will take the king and win Black pawn h3-h2 White pawn c6-c7 Black king still cannot take the pawn because white can still kill the king if he takes the pawn, so Black pawn h2-h1 promotes to queen The game is not over because White pawn c7-c8 promotes to queen Both players have only a king and a queen and neither are in check, this ends in a draw too. Black gets the queen first but white gets it immediately after so it didn't matter.
yes they are. but the problem is not people don´t getting it, is people being arrogant enough to not only not get it but then claim that the puzzle is wrong and that black wins. IT´S 2017 PUT IT IN AN ENGINE. I mean, this is the fucking reti puzzle, just google reti puzzle fucking god this people are so dense and arrogand and stupid this comment section makes me want to break stuff
I can understand not getting the puzzle though some of the fierce comments claiming it's wrong are kind of amusing. It's a Richard Reti puzzle. One would think that this factor alone would indicate that the puzzle solution would not be so easily refuted.
black king just moves toward white pawn and black always wins.... cant believe this is the most famous chess puzzle.... so many people were fooled! good for you!
+MrGhirbo The only one fooled here is you. If black king moves to take white pawn then white king will take black pawn, simple as that. Find me a way black wins and I'll tell you a way for white to stop it.
+Snake PT Yeah, this puzzle is amazing. It's like the Monty Hall puzzle! That said, BECAUSE it is like the Monty Hall puzzle, it could benefit from a better explanation that doesn't cause a ton of commenters to post that it is incorrect. The very first option explored should have been the one where black's first two moves are b6 and c6. Those two moves together are the equivalent of the "it doesn't matter if you switch" answer in the Monty Hall puzzle :-)
3. Ke5! If ...Kxc6, 4. Kf4 h3 5. Kg3 h2 6. Kxh2 1/2-1/2. If h3, 4. Kd6. Now if ...h2, 5. c7 and both pawns will queen: 5...h1Q 6. c8Q (or 5...Kb7 6. Kd7 h1Q 7. c8Q+) and will draw.
Can some1 explain me why this is a draw and not a potential win for either side?.. As far as I can tell, white can still move afterwards, so technically it isn't over yet. a mistake can still result in a win.
+L4DHistorycanon Because if both sides play perfectly, neither side will be able to win from that point. Sure, if one side makes a mistake the other could win, but I think experienced chess players would just accept a draw.
+Dávid Jakab Then white king goes to f6 anyway. Black pawn has to run then, otherwise will be taken. White king goes to e5, then d6 to defend the pawn, which can be pushed and promoted after that.
Until white's move to E5 the black pawn is in the reach (exactly: at the moment black king captures the white pawn, white king starts chasing the black pawn directly and will catch him). From E5 it takes just one step to D6, from where the white pawn is defended and can be thus pushed to promote.
But what if after white king to F6 Black king to B6? The White king cant save the pawn in this case, and if he tries to chase the black pawn he's too slow.
Funny, there are a lot of good chess players that think Kb6 makes black the winner because they don't see Ke5. On the other hand a lot of bad chess players (and they admit being bad at chess) think the puzzle is easy because they don't really understand the puzzle at all XD
Next, could you please talk about the most famous chess puzzle outside of chess?! I'll be looking forward to it.
wtf does that mean lol
+meddle i love you
+meddle After that, the most famous puzzle in chess. Not just the most famous chess puzzle in chess.
+meddle Yes, it's how to get women to admit men are better, in as many moves as you like.
+Shawn Hartline He's making a joke at the redundancy in the title. That joke flew right over your head lol
Join us next week as we look at the best Pokemon in Pokemon, the best RUclipsr on RUclips, and the best Harry Potter characters from Harry Potter
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That was the best comment from the comments
Best pokemon, Nicholas Cage, best youtuber, Nicholas Cage, and best Harry Potter character, Adam Sandler.
Jackson Wolf I liked that comment from the comments
Nah, I thought it was gonna be the most famous chess puzzle in snakes and ladders.
I don’t know how so many people liked this comment, even when it doesn’t make any sense.
I am going to like it (I made a similar one... look at the video title). But personally the most famous chess puzzle in checkers would be awesome.
@@加州猫主席 its a joke on the title
@@加州猫主席 Read the title once more. Chess puzzle will obviously be played *in chess* , so there was no need to specify "in Chess"
The key here is that a chess board is not an Euclidean space: it takes as many moves for a king to go from H8 to A1 as to go from H8 to H1, even though the first distance is longer.
By moving diagonally the white king can both threaten to defend his own pawn and capture the black pawn without losing tempo, black can only choose to take the white pawn or move its own but not both.
Makes sense. Thanks.
Honestly, I'd spent so much time away from the board, I had totally forgotten about that. It's a visual thing. Thanks.
oneeyednarn I was just about to write this; brilliantly explained!
I don't get it. I might be very dumb, but white can never draw this.
After the white king's first move, the black king will go towards the white pawn. The white king is still 2 moves away from the black pawn. So the black pawn will still queen before the king can catch it.
Michael Trumph there are like a billion explanations and i dont feel like explaining again. just read the comments.
@kishanpatel2050 No, White draws in that case too. Please see: 1.Kg7 Kb6 2.Kf6, then: a/ 2... Kxc6 3.Kg5 (and the black pawn taken). b/ 2... h4 3.Ke5 (and again 2 ways of draw - White Queen or black pawn taken). Thank you for commenting.
At 1:29 after white moves king, black should also move king, instead of pushing black pawn.
It doesn't matter its just a different move order of solution #2 (but in the end the exact same moves will be made... Just in an other order), it will come down to the exact same result. If black doesn't capture, white will queen at the move after black, or if black captures, white will be able to reach the black pawn.
perkalov nope... if black moves the king first instead of the pawn, then white doesnt even have the chance for a draw
Perkalov ?? Seriously. I mean seriously??
Odd... Even though its pointed out... Moving the king first, ends up with being the same as solution #2
But here goes, 1:29 white to move...
1. Kg7 Kb6
2 Kf6 Kxc6*
3 Kg5 h4
4 Kxh4 Draw
Or...
2 --- h4*
3 Ke5 h3**
4 Kd6 h2
5 c7 Kb7***
6 Kd7 h1Q
7 b8Q+ Draw
Or...
3--- Kxc6**
4 Kf4 h3
5 Kg3 h2
6 Kxh2 Draw
Or
5. --- h1Q***
6. c8D Draw.
Those are the variations when Black moves the king first. All, without exception, leads to draw.
Its a well known puzzle that has been around for 100 years and you think you spotted something that Petrosian, Fisher, Karpov, Kasparov, Anand, Carlsen (to name a few) missed?
And yes, all of them have seen this puzzle, its that well known.
If the puzzle was flawed, it would have been spotted 99.5 years ago.
1. Kg7 Kb6; 2 Kf6 h4 and black wins, or am I missing something?
I'll try to explain it so that it's understandable:
1) White needs three moves to either capture or get within range of Black's pawn, if Black doesn't move that pawn. For example, if Black idly moved the King back and forth from a6 to a7, White could play such as Kg7, Kg6 Kxh5, or Kg7, Kf6, Kg5 and be close enough to capture the pawn.
2) White needs three moves to get within range to protect his pawn, if Black doesn't move the King closer to White's pawn. For example, if Black idly moved the King as above, White could play Kg7, Kf6, Ke6, and he can now protect his pawn before Black can capture it.
3) Black needs 2 moves to capture White's pawn and 4 moves to promote the Black pawn.
4) If Black promotes first, without check, and White can promote on the next move, Black cannot force the win of White's Queen.
5) Of course, if both Queens promote normally, the game is a draw.
White needs to make moves that get the King closer to both the White AND Black pawns with the same move. The only first move that gets White closer to his pawn AND Black's pawn is:
1 Kg7 This gets White within a range of 2 moves to both pawns. Black has two logical choices.
1 ..... Kb6
Black can also try 1 ... Ka7, 2 Kf6 h4 (otherwise, White can capture Black's pawn), 3 Ke7 (Ke5 and Ke6 also draw), and White can now escort the pawn to the eighth rank.
The other main line is 1... h4, which will be analyzed later.
2) Kf6
Again this is the only move that gets the King one square closer to both pawns than it was at the start of the move. White now threatens to catch Black's pawn.
2) .... h4
Otherwise, White plays Kg5 and can capture Black's pawn on the next turn. the move made keeps White's King from getting within range on the next move.
3) Ke5 !
The only move that gets the King a square closer to both pawns than it was at the start of the move. White is again threatening to catch up to Black's pawn.
3) .... h3
Keeping White's King out of range. But now White can protect the White pawn.
4) Kd6 h2
5 ) c7 Kb7
or 5 ... h1/Q, 6 c8/Q
6) Kd7, and both pawns promote.
The other possibility for Black is:
1).... h4
This move keeps White's King two moves away from being in range.
2) Kf6
The only move that gets White's king closer to both pawns.
2) .... h3
Or 2) ... Kb6, 3) Ke5, which transposes into the first line. The given move keeps White's King two moves out of range, but it also puts White in range of protecting the White pawn.
3) Ke7 !
Ke6 also draws. 3) Ke5? does not.. 3)... h2, 4) c7 gives Black access to the crucial b7 square ... 4)... Kb7 and Black can stop White's pawn from promoting.
3) .... h2
Or 3) ... Kb6, 4) Kd7 promotes
4) c7
White needs to ensure that the White pawn can promote directly after the Black pawn.
4) ... Kb7
On 4) .... h1/Q 5) c8/Q also draws. Black makes one last attempt to stop White's pawn.
5) Kd7
Or 5) Kd8, but not the silly 5) Kd6? and the King isn't in position to protect the pawn when it promotes.
5) .... h1/Q
6) c8/Q+
And the game is drawn.
The circumstances that make this a draw are remarkable. Many players with White in this position probably would have resigned.
What is most interesting about this video is the number of commenters that doubt the ability of white to draw. It's as if, they do a cursory glance and when they don't immediately see the solution have the audacity to assume that they know more than all the other grandmasters that have studied this problem (first published in 1921) and then feel compelled to comment contrary to the established facts and cement their ignorance for all to witness.
Now, with that said, in regards to this being the(absolute) most famous puzzle in the history of chess, there is an argument that other positions such as Lucena, Philidor or the beautiful Saavedra are even more challenging and certainly much older and more well known. This position doesn't even have a name and should be called The Reti Position because it was his most famous.
Jim Coady I don't see it so negatively. The genius of this puzzle is that it brings forth all this doubt (and certainty) and teaches those who are mistaken a powerful lesson in chess -- as it did with me.
blah blah blah blah blah
+Jim Coady I think they don't take into consideration that it's a draw when white is left with only a king.
Or they assume that somehow the guy who made the video got the classic puzzle wrong - that he put the black pawn on the wrong square or something.
+Jim Coady I think you've got it right. I had that exact experience. The video isn't clear enough with it's explanations. But those who persist, will gain new insights, as I did.
Good lesson. Easy to solve as a puzzle, but harder to realize the principle in a game slightly more complex.
King stretching like a crab
I think this is one of the best RUclips videos on RUclips
What if white moves to k4 then moves across to j4 and then one more to the left and then he would sink my battleship
at least it wasn't the aircraft carrier...
For anyone that thinks this can be solved by moving the black king first, you are incorrect.
Proof:
1. Kg7, Kb6 (opening move designed to threaten the white pawn)
2. Kf6, h4□ (at this point, the white pawn has to move forward or is at risk of capture, try it out. The king moves to Kf6 because it is one step closer toward protecting the white pawn, yet can still capture the black pawn if necessary)
3. Ke5 (at this point, it is black's turn. If black takes the pawn Kc6, White chases down the black pawn. If black tries to race for the Queen...) h3
4. Kd6 (the game now takes turns to upgrade a Queen and becomes a draw).
The idea is to make the white king directly execute the black pawn if the white pawn is executed, or to make the white pawn get the promotion once the black one gets it...Thanks!
"The most famous chess puzzle in chess." Whew, for a minute there I thought he would be talking about backgammon.
@deeptimanb The letters for chess notation do not start from right to left.
They start from left to right: a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h.
You may mean the following:
in above moves after 1.Kg7 Kb6 2.Kf6 h4 then?...
White must play 3.Ke5 and:
a/ if 3... Kxc6, then 4.Kf4 to take the Black pawn.
b/ if 3... h3, then 4.Kd6 to promote the White pawn.
k
I have determined that the reason why the position is drawn is due to three accounts; 1) Black cannot move his king to intercept the White pawn without losing a critical tempo. 2) The fact that the white pawn is controlling b7 forbids Black from making an immediate effort to stop the promotion aside from trying to directly capture the pawn. (In other words, if the Black king were on a7 instead of a6, Black would be winning.) 3) The white pawn's promotion square is sharing a diagonal with the black king, so consequently after 1.Kg7 h4 2.Kf6 h3 3.Ke6 h2 4.c7, Black cannot hope for the tactical idea of promoting to queen and then skewering the white king into his new queen with Qh3+ because the move 5.c8=Q+ is delivering check and therefore negating the skewer.
No shit sherlock.
Damn it. Trump's been reading my comments. I knew it.
Preston Thompson In this case the c8Q+ being a check (=no skewer) is irrelevant, because white can go also Ke7, but you are right
2:17 and it was at this moment White became arrogant and tried to check at Qb6, then losing its Queen and getting Mated
1:34 Black King a6-b6 (instead black pawn h4-h3), so white King is not able defend pawn and catch black pawn before he reaches h1
MrRafterPL no this is wrong. White moves first and goes down to 7, and if black king moves right as a response, white king moves down again to 6. Black king takes the white pawn and what do you know, white king can just capture the black pawn. If you say what if black pawn moves down before black king captures the white pawn, then you have the exact same scenario as this video with two of the moves swapped, same outcome in the end.
Surely when the white pawn goes to c7 at 2:12, it was a waste for the black king to go to b7. Surely black should have played h1 and gotten a queen. When white plays c8 and gets a queen, he doesn't put black in check, and black can then check the white king, and work with that adantage from there.
Credit where credit is due...composed by Richard Reti
TO ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY JUST OUTSMARTED A PUZZLE REVIEWED BY MANY TENS OF GRANDMASTERS:
Even moving 1...Kb6 will lead to a draw.
Assuming black doesn't play some dumb move that contradicts this procedure or gives up the win, you can always use the following procedure to solve the puzzle(black's move is not listed and can vary):
1. Kh7...
2. Kf6 ...
3. Ke5 ...
Now, for your 4th move, see if your white pawn is captured yet. If it is not captured:
4. Kd6 ... (Protect pawn and continue to promote)
5. Kd7 ...
6. c7 ...
7. c8=Q (draw)
If, on your 4th move, your white pawn has already been captured, simply chase down the black pawn. If the black king has invested two moves into capturing your own pawn, their black pawn won't be far enough along the track to escape the black king.
4. Kf4 h3
5. Kg3 h2
6. Kxh2 (draw)
If you don't believe this, get out the chessboard and try out all the variations like the grandmasters did when they saw this puzzle.
Nice puzzle. I would have sworn at the beginning that the situation for white was hopeless.
+Selinor578 it was hopeless white moved twice
Mark Lewis
Yes, how did white king get to f6, 2 moves from his starting position at h8, with both black pieces still in their starting positions? But the solution up to that are still valid, I think. I think the king can keep both options open until he must commit to one of them. And I think that position at 2:18 with the 2 queens, is not necessarily a draw.
+Selinor578 Sorry but no... the solution is not valid up to that point. If white plays Kh8 to Kg7 black pushes his pawn. the white king must choose between trying to catch the black pawn from queening or defending his own pawn FROM G7 NOT F6!!! If white goes for the black pawn, white just keeps pushing their pawn... if the white king goes to protect their lone pawn, black just moves their King in to gobble it up and then pushes to promotion and the win. Either way, with proper play, the game is NOT drawable for white! The only way white draws this game is if white offers a draw and black foolishly accepts.
Mark Lewis
White is to move first in this puzzle. And king is 3 squares away from the black pawn. So if he goes to take the black pawn and black goes to take the white pawn, both pawns can be taken. I think the crucial point is that if the white king goes all the way to E5, he can still keep both options open.
+Mark Lewis
Nope. It's a draw, Mark. White king heads for the e5 square, losing no distance to the black pawn. If black keeps pushing the pawn white can queen his pawn before black can do anything about it, even though black queens his pawn first. If black goes after the pawn, the white king can defend it from E5. If black goes after the pawn before the white king gets to E5, white will advance the pawn, making black take a total of 3 moves to get it. That's enough for the white king to catch the black pawn.
that was actually pretty easy..
Yeah, but no one said it is the hardest, only the most famous.
He didn't say it's the hardest either, he just said it was easy ... :/
you just confirmed what he said: 'no one said it was the hardest', so naturally he didn't say it was the hardest ;)
Gabriel Barile Lmao
+Gabriel I was replying to Mirak; see how he's laughed at you now. Next time pay more attention
Ok Ok, to all those that are about to say, 'Hey, White won't be able to catch up Black's pawn!'
I was just like you!!!!!!!!
Get a chess board. Put the pieces on the board. Then move the White King diagonally to the left again and again. Damn, it works!
This video is designed for most of you, not to understand, trust me!
It's a draw.
khalidmkhan nah if you watched the video carefully you'll get it
Great puzzle. Part of what makes Chess so great is the ability to pull out a draw in seemingly impossible situations. I've done it a few times, myself. Though nothing as fine as this.
Wow.. we have too many grand masters commenting it is easy for them to solve this and this is not even a puzzle.
it was easy
Because it's, just see what happens if you move black king to b6.
Have you ever considered that the puzzle is just easy instead of those people being good?
And what if Black started by moving it's king after whites first move... Black would still have 1 square lead with his pawn, and the king would either have his futile chase at the pawn, or give the pawn more space by trying to cover his own pawn, but would never make it in time before it got hit.
+Subosi Not actually true. The one move that Black would need to capture the White pawn gives White time to catch up to the Black pawn with his king. And if Black pushes the pawn a square or two in the meantime, White keeps moving diagonally until he reaches e5, at which point he can either go after the Black pawn if it's in reach, or go protect his own pawn if Black hasn't captured it yet. Either way, the path h8-g7-f6-e5 leaves both options open to White.
good thing that you mentioned that this chess puzzle was in chess. otherwise I would have thought it's the most famous chess puzzle in super mario (sarcasm)
1:31 what if black plays king b6?
Let's say after white king did go to g7, then black king goes to b6, then Kf6 will lead to a draw, because if Kxc6 white can go Kg5 and can catch the pawn, if not Kxc6 but instead h4, white can go Ke5 and it is the exact position shown on 1:55.
another solution if the black king does not attack the pawn is to use it as bait for the black queen,then take with the white king to draw
It's like checkers when the king needs to go in a diagonal
You should also make the same puzzle as "white to move , black to win"
It doesn't work, if white king moves to F6, black can move king to B6, then white is forced to move king toward the black pawn else the black king can just take the white pawn. By doing so the black pawn can reach H1 before the king catches up.
Edit: Scenerio 2 depicted what I wrote, white moved twice though...
because if both sides play correctly, neither side will be able to deliver mate, thus resulting in a draw.
"The most famous chess puzzle" is sufficient. The puzzle IS astonishing.
What? Yeah, that title is sufficient; what’s your point?
A most famous CHESS puzzle. and that to, in CHESS? Fascinating!
1. k-g7 k-b6
2. K-f6 p-h4
3 K- anywhere...black: Either pawn-h3 or Kxp
Black wins
"The most famous chess puzzle in chess."
As opposed to chess puzzles in checkers, solitaire, and monopoly.
@rahull rai, 1. Kg7 Kb6 2. Kf6 Kxc6 3.Kg5 white takes the black pawn back. Possible to get a draw. Want to see another variation?
Some of those draws are not actually draws when both queens promote that doesn't instantly guarentee a stalemate.
This was probably famous during the time of this match.
Haha...I see the solution now...assuming the opponent makes the best possible moves (avoiding that the opponent get "close enough" to his own pawn, close enough to protect it, which would result in a draw), white king to g7, king to f6, then the opponent better get to the white pawn, otherwise it will be too late...then king to e5, the opponent better take the white pawn, or it will be a draw when the king gets close enough to the pawn (and doesn't mess up, haha, of course, we're assuming neither side will make a "silly mistake")...then, after the white pawn is taken, the white king can stop the black pawn = draw...haha...neat solution...found it by finding the requirements a solution would need to have and trying to confine the possibilities to those...
If I were black. My first move would be kb6. KF6, h4. If the white king goes after the pawn, he’ll still lose the race. If he goes to protect his pawn, he loses the pawn and the black pawn is free and clear after the white pawn is captured
it's a draw
Do you really think that will work?
Let's say we go with your scenario, black king moves right twice to take whites pawn and then starts moving the pawn down.
White king moves to g7, black king moves to b5
Kf6 kc5 captures the pawn
Now white king goes to g5 and the black pawn goes down to h4
Well what do you know whites move is to take the pawn at h4 and it's a draw! White wins the race.
i think it is solved after hours of thinking. good video showing power of king in end game
I hate puzzles in which one side has to lose their ability to see what the other side is planning. I mean, White's plan was pretty transparent.
Cool. I don't play chess but managed to solve this one after a couple of minutes of thinking.
if black's first move is king beside the white pawn the white king can neither catch the black pawn or save the white one, so this only works if black moves the pawn first
+Jeff Mauldin This is not true. White can force draw no matter how good black plays here.
If blacks first move is besides the pawn, the white king just keeps going diagonally down towards the bottom left. When the white king reaches E5 black will have to choose what kind of draw he wants by eighter taking the pawn (then the white king will take the black pawn) or moving his pawn (that means the king will get to his own pawn).
+Marius Minde I was so convinced you're wrong, but you are right.
+John Doe Well. I my initial thoughts was just like yours. Had to try it to realize that it is completely up to white.
Please educate us TucoChannel. Please show us how to play black without fucking up. I'll play white.
kg7Your move.
TucoChannel... the solution is RIGHT THERE IN THE VIDEO.
I want to become proficient at go but only know chess right now. Could you do some famous go puzzles in chess?
THERE’S NO PUZZLES OF ANYTHING EXCEPT CHESS IN CHESS.
Seriously, there are two types of idiots in the comment section.
@@加州猫主席 r/woooosh
If that's not the most redundant title ever, I don't know what is.
Its all ok and nice next time plz most famous chess puzzle of cricket plz...
its funny how such little ammount of peaces can be so complicated
Chess
I can dispute this, black king takes white pawn in 2 or 3 moves anyways
What if after the first move of white king to g7 black goes for king to b5 then black wins 😊
To those of you who saw the drawing maneuver, great. I've had students rated around 800 solve this puzzle, so I believe you. Now change the starting position by putting the Black king on a7 instead of a6. With White moving first, is it still a draw?
...Kb8 and Black wins right?
if the guy moved his king, the other dude should of just focused on capturing his pawn
Black's first move should be towards the white pawn!
Would this be as distinguished from the most famous chess puzzle in backgammon?
Read the comments... then start praying for a terminator style judgement day to happen soon...
Would this be as distinguished from the most famous chess puzzle in hockey?
black can win when the white move Kg7, black move Kb6 , white Kf6 , black H4. just choose then if white move to takes black pawns ,black will move H3 and black will have queens.. if white moves to deffend his pawns , black's king should take white pawns then go for the queen.. black absolutely win.. thanks
The Most Famous Chess Puzzle in Chess that people who play Chess will see that it is really Chess and not something not Chess.
The most famous chess puzzle in New Jersey was famous but there were more famous ones in NY. This is the most famous puzzle in Chevy Chess Maryland
On the second one where black has a rook pawn. White will I repeat WILL force a draw if he/she knows what he's doing.
he/she**
In this challenge, black has the absolute advantage
Nvm im wrong and dumb
Sorry
these all depend on black making a bad move. all scenarios follow g7 h4.....if black plays g7 b6, the options that follow would be c7 b6xc7 g6 and the black pawn wins the race.
if white plays g6 h4 and the pawn advances. if at any point white hover the pawn, black takes it and we are back to the black pawn advancing
In what world would white EVER do c7 if the white king isn't there to protect it, that scenario depends on white making a bad move, it doesn't actually work. Let me explain.
Kg7 Kb6
Whites next move is Kf6 not c7
If black takes the pawn immediately then
Kf6 kc6
Then white moves towards the black pawn
Kg5 h4
Kh4 DRAW
If black moves pawn
Kf6 h4
Then white can approach the white pawn with ke5
Here black has two options again, capture e pawn or try to promote
If black takes the pawn
Ke5 kc6
Then white moves towards black pawn
Kf4 h3
Kg3 h2
Kh2 DRAW
If black starts moving the pawn again
Ke5 h3
The white can protect its pawn and promote at the same time as black by doing kd6
Kd6 h2
C7 h1 black promotes
C8 white promotes, no kings in check, DRAW
And black king can't kill the protected pawn obviously
Michael Moonie I agree that after g7 and b6, white would not move the pawn. Instead, we would see
f6 (or even g6 or h6), h4
Black will advance the pawn before white could catch it.
Black would continue to move the lawn until white moves in a direction towards it's own pawn and black takes the lawn immediately.
If white moves the pawn, black can take it and we still have the same race between the white king and black pawn.
This is a draw. Play it out on a board and you will find it to be true. It's a counting puzzle. If black goes after the pawn, white does the same and catches it.
Black wins,
white H8-G7.
Black A6-B6, wining.
White G7-F6, black H5-H4,
Wrong. Whites next move is to go to e5 and it will end in a draw.
White f6-e5, now black can do two things, take the pawn or promote to queen, let's see how both play out.
KING TAKES PAWN
Black king b6-c6 taking pawn
White king e5-f4
Black pawn h4-h3
White king f4-G3
Black pawn h3-h2
White king G3-h2 taking pawn
PAWN RUNS
black pawn h4-h3
White king e5-d6
Black king cannot take the pawn because then white will take the king and win
Black pawn h3-h2
White pawn c6-c7
Black king still cannot take the pawn because white can still kill the king if he takes the pawn, so
Black pawn h2-h1 promotes to queen
The game is not over because
White pawn c7-c8 promotes to queen
Both players have only a king and a queen and neither are in check, this ends in a draw too.
Black gets the queen first but white gets it immediately after so it didn't matter.
How do so many people not get the puzzle? These comments are crazy!
yes they are. but the problem is not people don´t getting it, is people being arrogant enough to not only not get it but then claim that the puzzle is wrong and that black wins. IT´S 2017 PUT IT IN AN ENGINE. I mean, this is the fucking reti puzzle, just google reti puzzle fucking god this people are so dense and arrogand and stupid this comment section makes me want to break stuff
Nicolás Reyes Your comment actually happens to be exceedingly arrogant lol.
I can understand not getting the puzzle though some of the fierce comments claiming it's wrong are kind of amusing. It's a Richard Reti puzzle. One would think that this factor alone would indicate that the puzzle solution would not be so easily refuted.
Paulo Machado Good! Being arrogant towards retards is a good thing and should be applauded.
Nicolás Reyes You don’t even need an engine to get is a draw. Their are only 2 viable moves for white and you will easily find the best one.
I can't believe I did scenario 3 in my head in less than 20 secs
That was the king that is not so far
Not the black win if black moves the king first? Plz remind me if I'm wrong I'm just a beginner
what about when black comes his king next to the white pawn instead of moving his own pawn at first, then black wins
I didnt even watch the video, i am here to make witty remarks about chess puzzles in candyland.
It’s not witty if it doesn’t make a shred of sense.
Na Zhao can you fuck off now?
1:34 you just move the black king towards the pawn: game won for black
What? This is a draw
I'm probably missing something here... Can't black king just move over to b6 after white's initial move and black will win???
Ke5. What's your next move?
Take out a chess board if you have one and you'll see what you missed
black king just moves toward white pawn and black always wins.... cant believe this is the most famous chess puzzle.... so many people were fooled! good for you!
+MrGhirbo
The only one fooled here is you. If black king moves to take white pawn then white king will take black pawn, simple as that. Find me a way black wins and I'll tell you a way for white to stop it.
+Snake PT Yeah, this puzzle is amazing. It's like the Monty Hall puzzle!
That said, BECAUSE it is like the Monty Hall puzzle, it could benefit from a better explanation that doesn't cause a ton of commenters to post that it is incorrect. The very first option explored should have been the one where black's first two moves are b6 and c6. Those two moves together are the equivalent of the "it doesn't matter if you switch" answer in the Monty Hall puzzle :-)
MrGhirbo in this situation the white king will take the black pawn
That was so simple I thought I had got it wrong. Lol
but what if the white king moves, then the black king moves toward the white pawn? the black king Will hit the pawn, then go get his queen.
yes, white can Queen his pawn or takes black pwan. One of it is sure to happen.
1:46 that's not drawn. There are plenty of moves White can make. 2:20 again, not a draw. So many moves White can make.
??? But white cant win if black dont be stupid
I want to see the best jig saw puzzle in chess
if he does white will be able to take black pawn draw
As soon as white king moves black king should have also moved. This is black vic
"The Most Famous Chess Puzzle in Chess" this title is very strange, i think only chess can have chess puzzles anyway lol
Flip the board so that the white king is on A1. Easy draw:)
what if after Kg6 black plays Kb6?then white king cant capture the pawn..it will march and also black king is not allowing the white paen to march
is this still relevant?
what if black's move is king to A7?
I think it can't work for white to draw:
1 Kg7 Kb6
2 Kf6 a4, and black wins.
3. Ke5!
If ...Kxc6, 4. Kf4 h3 5. Kg3 h2 6. Kxh2 1/2-1/2.
If h3, 4. Kd6. Now if ...h2, 5. c7 and both pawns will queen:
5...h1Q 6. c8Q (or 5...Kb7 6. Kd7 h1Q 7. c8Q+) and will draw.
Sandokiri
You're absolutely correct. I realized later! hahha. Thanks. :)
Can some1 explain me why this is a draw and not a potential win for either side?.. As far as I can tell, white can still move afterwards, so technically it isn't over yet. a mistake can still result in a win.
+L4DHistorycanon Because if both sides play perfectly, neither side will be able to win from that point. Sure, if one side makes a mistake the other could win, but I think experienced chess players would just accept a draw.
Most famous chess puzzle in chess? What's the most famous chess puzzle in checkers, then?
2 types of commenters. The "too easy" or "stupid title"
And the "it's wrong".
yes... specially the ¨it's wrong¨ ... and those are making me crazy.
As opposed to the most famous jigsaw puzzle in chess?
A classic! And well illustrated, though you could improve the look of it a bit!
what if after white's first move black moves not his pawn but his king next to white's pawn?
+Dávid Jakab Then white king goes to f6 anyway. Black pawn has to run then, otherwise will be taken. White king goes to e5, then d6 to defend the pawn, which can be pushed and promoted after that.
+mamlasu w: G7, b: B6, w: F6, b: H4 - white king cant reach black pawn, yet black king can take white pawn anytime
Until white's move to E5 the black pawn is in the reach (exactly: at the moment black king captures the white pawn, white king starts chasing the black pawn directly and will catch him). From E5 it takes just one step to D6, from where the white pawn is defended and can be thus pushed to promote.
I don't see how King b6 immediatly after White king G7 doesn't straight up win the game.
nvm got it
that was interesting, but what's the most famous chess puzzle outside chess?
But what if after white king to F6 Black king to B6? The White king cant save the pawn in this case, and if he tries to chase the black pawn he's too slow.
Still draw
why white moves king 2 times??
Funny, there are a lot of good chess players that think Kb6 makes black the winner because they don't see Ke5.
On the other hand a lot of bad chess players (and they admit being bad at chess) think the puzzle is easy because they don't really understand the puzzle at all XD