a b c d e f g h
+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+
| | | | | | | | |
8 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
7 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ Ralph Betza
| | | | | | | | | March, 1997
6 | | | | | | *r | *p | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
5 | | | HFD | *k | | | K | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
4 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
3 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
2 | | | R4 | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
1 | | RN | | | | | | |
+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+
8/8/5rp1/2(HFD)k2K1/8/8/2(R4)5/1(RN)6/
2#
This problem is a simple mate in two (White must find the best move,
and then give checkmate with his second move).
White has a King on g5, R4 on c2, RN on b1, and HFD on c5; Black has Kd5, Rf6, and Pg6.
As you can see, White is playing with the Remarkable Rookies army and Black has the Fabulous FIDEs.
Because it's considered impolite to tell you the answer before you've had a chance to try, but on the other hand I don't want to have a separate page for the solution, you'll need to scroll down a while here:
1. (RN)b1-b5 Rf6-f5+ 2. (HFD)c5:f5 double check, mate
Kd5-e4 2. (RN)b5-c3 mate
Kd5-c4 2. (RN)b5-c3 mate
Kd5-e6 2. (RN)b5-c7 mate
Rf6-f4 2. (RN)b5-d6 mate
other 2. (RN)b5-d4 mate
This is a pretty good problem, because there are a lot of different
variations, several pretty mates, and all with only 7 pieces on
the board.
The only flaw is that the key (White's first move) is a bit too obvious. You have to set up the discovered check in order to stop the Black check.
Three pieces were added just to make the crosscheck/discovered check possible. Remove them, and you have an elegant microminiature problem, as follows.
Bonus problem: remove the Black Pawn, Black Rook, and White R4, and bingo! You get a mate in two with only 2 pieces on the board besides the Kings:
a b c d e f g h
+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+
| | | | | | | | |
8 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
7 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+ Ralph Betza
| | | | | | | | | March, 1997
6 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
5 | | | HFD | *k | | | K | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
4 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
3 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
2 | | | | | | | | |
+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | | |
1 | | RN | | | | | | |
+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+=====+
1. (RN)b1-b5 Kd5-c6 or Kd5-e6 2. (RN)b5-c7
1. (RN)b1-b5 Kd5-c4 or Kd5-e4 2. (RN)b5-c3