A chess puzzle?

Question

In a chess variant, black's aim is to castle queen-side. If he can do this the game ends and he wins.

White's aim is to stop this (by capturing the QR or forcing the king to move).

If both sides play the best moves who will win? In other words is it possible for black to castle Q-side no matter what white tries?

Answer 1

It is difficult to say who will win. One challenging line is 1. c4 d6 2. Qa4+ Nc6 (to prevent Qxa7) 3. Nc3 Qd7 (If 3...Be6 4. Nb5 a6 5. Na7!?) 4.Nf3 Qe6 and it is anyone's game as white can threaten Qb5 pinning the bishop on c8 or can try Nb5. The game will require lots of analysis before determining whether there is a forced win.

Answer 2

Black will win.

Answer 3

i would say white has got a better chance of making the blacks king move as the king is not a strong peace.

Answer 4

It's not obvious - at least to me. Is this a real puzzle? - in which case there would be a forced win, but it wouldn't be obvious.

White's strategy would be to attempt to get in checks that force the king to move, such as Qxf7 check. Black would have to protect by moves such as Nh6 or block access by moving things in the way.

Another weak point for black is a7, where Qxa7 would force the rook off it's starting square, unless there was a second defender of a7.

Interesting!

Answer 5

one solution is you can not castle over a check... so if any of the empty squars are covered with a possible check the game rules are the king can not cross that square.

example white bishop has direct line over square next to the black king .......rules are the king can not cross over

i hope that helps you out