3

It is possible to reach (exactly) #8 after just 3 moves:

[Title "#8 after 3 moves"]
[FEN ""]

1. e3 f6 2. Qf3 Kf7 3. Nh3 Qe8! 4. Ng5+ Kg6 5. Bd3+ Kxg5 6. Qf4+ Kh5 7. g4+ Kh4 8. Qg3+ Kg5 9. f4+ Kh6 10. g5+ fxg5 11. Qxg5#

Is there any longer forced win than #8 that can be reached (and proven) after just 3 moves?

This question is a variant of, and therefore not a duplicate, "The quickest mate in n."

Improve this question
1
  • 2
    Just two minor comments: For a brute force attack, you have to check about 100 million positions (quickly googled that; with some intelligent guessing you surely can bring that down - 1.e~ is probably forced, and likewise 1...d/e/f~). Second, it would also be remarkable if the resulting position would be correct as a chess problem (e.g. here h4+ works as well as f4+).
    – Hauke Reddmann
    May 29, 2021 at 19:58

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
5

After playing around in Lichess's analysis page, I found a mate in 10. Throwing the moves into chess.com's analysis page provides further confirmation. It has a few wholly unique lines, and some dualed ones, making it reminiscent of a chess problem per @Hauke Reddmann's above comment.

[FEN ""]
[Title "#10 After 3 Moves"]

1. e4 d5 2. h3 Kd7 3. Bb5+ Ke6 4. Qg4+ Kd6 5. e5+ Kc5 6. b4+ Kxb5 7. a4+ Kb6 8. a5+ Kc6 9. b5+ Kc5 10. Ba3+ Kxb5 11. Nc3+ Kc6 12. Qa4+ b5 13. Qxb5#

It can be done the other way around as well.

[Title "#10 After 2.5 Moves"]
[FEN ""]

1. d4 e5 2. Kd2 Bb4+ 3. Ke3 Qg5+ 4. Kd3 e4+ 5. Kc4 b5+ 6. Kxb4 a5+ 7. Kc3 b4+ 8. Kb3 a4+ 9. Kc4 Ba6+ 10. Kxb4 Nc6+ 11. Kc3 Qa5+ 12. b4 Qxb4#
Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    Well, in terms of finding "what is the theoretical perfect line of play for Black after 1. e4 we can strike 2...Kd7 3...Ke6 off that list.
    – BaseZen
    May 29, 2021 at 22:00
  • Impressive. (I tried out a few other setups on the queenside, but no luck.)
    – Hauke Reddmann
    May 30, 2021 at 10:28

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.