A Chess Problem That's Hard To Believe

[@hggnigan]

A perfect moment to put Hikaru's "check, check, check, check, check, check" in

[@Player-df7ny]

i promise i was thinking the exact same thing

[@davidjames149]

that really blew my mind the first time I saw it

[@justinwong3540]

Hikaru: Oh! It's a staircase right? We go check check check check check check check Qe7 and that's how you win that's it yeah

[@patosmanh]

Dude I saw that clip a few hours ago and that made me think of the staircase

[@TheMapGod275]

Same

[@tanquangvuong7983]

3:35 its actually a draw Nelson after we trade the queens we can capture the pawn on b5 and attack the a pawn

[@okamtzy]

Yeah but its not a win anyway, so…

[@BigDBrian]

@@okamtzy it's still better to say things correctly. Nelson said it was a loss which was incorrect as it takes only a few seconds to find the draw, which feels sloppy. on the bright side, it does farm comments from people pointing it out over and over, though that's very annoying as a creator IMO

[@stevenfisher7828]

That's what I was thinking

[@luqmaanhay4957]

No because you can play brook to j16

[@nemuonakpoya8592]

Exactly

[@daboffey]

One small point, at the end of the study, Black can avoid Qa7# by making luft... Qg8 or Qh8. This enables the alternate mate, Qb7#.

[@MessLeadingProgramming]

Saw the staircase, unfortunately, went all the way until the king and could not see how to finish it up!

[@mtaur4113]

Me too, lost sight of the problem we needed to solve.

[@loqueestamal3465]

"Knowing what to do is wisdom, but knowing when to stop doing it is freaking genius." (Shakespeare, or Plato, or Confucius, or someone else)

[@gamgamesplayer4506]

Almost same as i found the e7 but delayed by staircasing all the way to d6

[@kaser_fx]

3:25 actually, after the queen trade the king can go down and capture both of the pawns since the black king is too far.

[@sulik682]

Yes but that's still just white to TIE, not white to win.

[@Österreich-f6m]

Its a draw but we want win

[@andreimcallister1365]

3:33 bro that’s clearly a draw. You can take both of those pawns

[@FehAzeved0]

First Study I immediately saw the correct queen move and all correct follow-ups. I am very proud of myself right now.

[@Narufannykulapu-lapu]

You aint the only one

[@FehAzeved0]

@@Narufannykulapu-lapu Good job, dude

[@abdush3268]

I found the maneuver myself when I looked at board at 6:18 and paused the video, put the position against highest level Stockfish and I failed to find the Qe7 move for white after 10mins of practicing.

[@Clodd30]

If trade is accepted then it’s a draw. Check, black king take’s queen and white king takes the pawn which also makes him get closer to the other pawn

[@jamesbell1613]

If black plays for a draw in this position white cannot prevent it?

[@marcojacobs5443]

Love the story with the 3 Fishermen Am curious how you made up the story :) Really a good story 👍

[@yangli6428]

At 3:28, after the queen trade, Kxb5 deaws the game if white plays correctly and white doesn't lose.

[@drziggyabdelmalak1439]

At 8:36, it may not be a win, for White, if Black forced the Queen trade, but you said White would lose. Surely a draw? Q xQ check; K x Q; the K can take both pawns.

[@Herezjush]

Wanted to write same thing

[@xnick_uy]

Nice one! I got them all correct, even the ladder part, but I failed to find the last blow.

[@gamgamesplayer4506]

Almost same as i found the e7 but delayed by staircasing all the way to d6

[@SevenSizzler]

Nice puzzle. I think i need a meme for that moment 8:09 :D "tututututu"

[@geoffsaemann4241]

“Classic right triangle” -Hikaru, probably

[@bhgtree]

This is so practical (and interesting), I found Qh1 when starting considering avoiding the WQ forking and trading. Thanks.

[@hero-gaming_yt8377]

I solved this INSTSNTLY when I looked at it because I am very familiar with this pattern and the qe7 maneuver.

[@Lolllllllllllllllllllzzzzzzzzz]

3:36 its actually a draw after queen takes queen king takes then king takes pawn on b5 and then the a5 pawn as well which is unstoppable

[@Grasstheblock]

this looks like the hikaru game where he ran the king into the corner

[@ivorsimic]

probably the first time i managed to predict every single move

[@gonzalotapia1250]

As a 600 elo player, I can't believe I found the first move

[@Thuxo]

Bruh that was crazy. I saw the staircase in advance after we got partway through the study, but the coolest part imo is when and how it stops. Really impressive stuff

[@misharatkevich9808]

And if black responds with 1... Qf7 (to prevent mate on b7), then 2. Kb6 Kb8 3. Qh8+ and black is a goner. Took a few seconds to see this... anyway, what a position.

[@MaxIronsThird]

found this one straight away happy noises

[@cwalenta656]

Queen showing some elegance in that one.

[@Polish_internet_troll]

I'm glad that I've noticed everything, I'm slowly improving

[@MichaelHarrisIreland]

I was so happy to find the stairs I became a beggar on horseback and rode the thing until it collapsed.

[@arnavnandan]

Im sorry but can someone explain why the staircase is not considered draw by repetition?

[@ryanstejskal1506]

Draw by repetition involves repeating the same _position_ three times (specifically: all the pieces are in the same place, the same player has the move, and any castling/en passant move rights are the same). Although the white queen's moves during the staircase maneuver are similar moves, no position is being repeated because the white queen lands on a new square each move.

[@lucid8015]

Nitpick - at 3:33 after the queen trade white will not lose; it will be a draw since King can take two black pawns.

[@hinyuchin4724]

where is bobby fisherman?? I know people sometimes ran out of story idea but you already the officer going to average joe to give him a puzzle and at bobby fisherman side, there is the competition.

[@teomartini1105]

3:33 I dont think you would lose as after the king takes the white king can take both pawns

[@1a1u0g9t4s2u]

These are great chess puzzles. Just wish I had memories like GM chess players. Thanks for sharing.

[@DaDitka]

One of the things I am learning is that the checkmates in puzzles like this come from ways I never expect, which of course is why it is a puzzle. I was thinking, "Okay, you are going to have to position your queen in such a way so as to skewer the black queen and get it off the board." Stupid me. The way to win puzzles like this is to take advantage of the positioning of the opponent's pieces, not necessarily look for ways to trap their pieces. But I only have a score of 24, so that shouldn't surprise anyone. Lol. Thanks, Nelson. Great puzzle and great job as always. Your channel is so much fun.

[@zsoltbihary3347]

I agree. Most good puzzles are solved by a "paradoxical move", that seems "beautifully weak" at first. But then you start realizing the concept, and that is the learning experience.

[@CT-zd8jn]

Why doesn’t QH8 work? I’m sure it does. Black queen blocks white queen takes black king takes white king takes b 5 and then on to take -a5 (a4)

[@MinhLe-cf5nt]

Because you change a forced mate into a draw?

[@TheEthikos]

Wow, that’s some incredible queen precision!

[@flamingepicgame7097]

Ina time he had quenn a8 for forced stale mate

[@paulfaulkner6299]

I find Nelson's analyses fascinating

[@bhgtree]

The Queen in chess is never happy with a draw.

[@alex_zetsu]

You should have put the Queen on h1 and have black to move and ask people to find the best move. He's ahead by two pawns, has the move, and not in check. And yet despite this, he's still lost. I think you can even put an extra black pawn on the f file and have him three pawns ahead and still doomed.

[@BobChess]

This is why king safety is the most important thing in Chess. In this puzzle, black is up 2 pawns but because of very poorly black's king position. Black loses!

[@andrewwong6500]

Unless if black has 5 more queens guarding your king

[@aronuchukwuezugo615]

Not king safety, king activity in the endgame

[@Kat-dp4rh]

​@@aronuchukwuezugo615 King activity is important, but king safety is more important. Having an active king doesn't matter, if you get checkmated

[@ElPanaCanta]

I actually was able to find all the moves, including the staircase in the end and was really excited about it

[@ThatCozyNoob]

im surprised i actually found the first move instantly

[@arcanum814]

3:36 I am pretty sure you can draw but you said you will loose. Just take their queen, king takes, you take pawn, and then the next pawn. ??

[@Robi2009]

4:42 agadamator's vibes :)

[@kristofferkarlsson4260]

00:09 Imagine playing black, white offers a draw and you arrogantly decline with two passed-connected pawns up, Then your opponent thinks for a while, moves Qh1, and smiles back at you. 🤩

[@zelandakhniteblade5436]

You should never decline a draw offer until your opponent has made a move. The offer remains binding.

[@jamesbell1613]

White can force a draw from this position, which is a fine result.

[@anastasiose4489]

One of the best chess quiz ever

[@shyamsundardharmadhikari4010]

At 3:35 it's a draw. If you have common sense to grab the b5 pawn after queen trade and then to take a file pawn also. NOT EXPECTED FROM NELSON TO SAY LOSS.

[@binnibach5957]

Staircase puzzle, Nice

[@FabioZapata-n4p]

I have always thought of the chess queen as a vampire, because of the kiss of death checkmate, in which she moves directly adjacent to the king, and then she gives him a venomous kiss on the lips, and then she bites his neck and drinks his blood. If the queen is aggressively pursuing the king, then she is a thirsty vampire queen.

[@rssl5500]

The staircase is the hikaru moment

[@peterschreiber8336]

not J. King, B. Horwitz, 1851 but J. KLING, B. Horwitz, 1851

[@sulik682]

Great niche you have, doing these wierd puzzles. Like the content.

[@ankurganju6906]

What about queen to f7 for black?

[@trottedazur5183]

Amazing study !!

[@renerpho]

Here's a fun variant. It looks even scarier, but it's white to play and mate in 5: k7/8/2K5/1p3q2/2p5/1p6/p7/2Q5 w - - 0 1

[@Kat-dp4rh]

But it's totally different then, as Qh1 doesn't win anymore, and you only win thanks to Qa3+

[@kpscjto1237]

Amazing puzzle Nelson. I loved it❤❤

[@renerpho]

Stockfish says it's mate in 12. Amazing. 1. Qh1 Qc8+ 2. Kb6+ Kb8 3. Qh2+ Ka8 4. Qg2+ Kb8 5. Qg3+ Ka8 6. Qf3+ Kb8 7. Qf4+ Ka8 8. Qe4+ Kb8 9. Qe7 Qa6+ 10. Kxa6 Kc8 11. Kb6 Kb8 12. Qb7# The funny thing is, if you put the b pawn on b5 (which looks like an even better position for black), it's now mate in 11: 1. Qh1 Qc8+ 2. Kb6+ Kb8 3. Qh2+ Ka8 4. Qg2+ Kb8 5. Qg3+ Ka8 6. Qf3+ Kb8 7. Qf4+ Ka8 8. Qe4+ Kb8 9. Qe7 Qe6+ 10. Qxe6 a5 11. Qe8# And if you move the paws further forward, it can even become a mate in 10. If you start with the pawns on a4 and b3, Stockfish gives this line: 1. Qh1 Qc8+ 2. Kb6+ Kb8 3. Qh2+ Ka8 4. Qg2+ Kb8 5. Qg3+ Ka8 6. Qf3+ Kb8 7. Qf4+ Ka8 8. Qxa4+ Qa6+ 9. Qxa6+ Kb8 10. Qb7#

[@renerpho]

Moving the pawns to a3 and b3 would be bad for black, as it allows this mate in 5 via a different idea. Same for a2 and b3. Most other arrangements of the pawns are mate in 10 for black(!)

[@ianfiguera3172]

idk if i am missing something but in 8:27 can`t the black queen move to c7 and force a queen trade?

[@scolley0616]

Could Peter Patzer or Average Joe solve this?? Love that series, Nelson.

[@arminulrich2319]

Thanks a lot - great puzzle

[@kuei4604]

Super Mario in the background XD.

[@jmw644]

Queen trade does not lose (3:35), White will win both pawns

[@0638]

my first instinct of Qh1 was somehow correct lolol

[@alyvav.trauma2440]

4:20 Lets dont look at the checks but rather looking at black Qf7. That explanation is missing.

[@jasongoodacre]

Queen to h8 doesn't lose it ends in a draw. Both pawns can be taken.

[@theredalarm1977]

Hell yeah, I calculated everything, im so happy

[@oskar8421]

Why not start with queen h6?

[@danielestrada3390]

I havent played seriously for over 6 months, like, if i didnt start training again a week ago, id prolly miss that move, glad that my effort is paying off again

[@mujtaba21_05]

6:19 why don’t you force a stalemate by Qa8+ ? More funny 😆

[@Kat-dp4rh]

It wouldn't be stalemate, king can take the pawns

[@GoldSite]

@Chess Vibes theres a Rare Alekhine's defence that only happens on 10 games which is called the "Monkele MBembe", can you make a video about that?

[@thatstardewguy3833]

at 3:01 cant black move queen to c8 to stop checkmate?

[@hihihihilll1227]

not optimal move for black, cause white can just take and then its an ez dub for white

[@victorpolyakov3031]

Why we cant go to h6??

[@realteamwall]

i love your puzzle videos

[@jaythanesperon1232]

i would have just played queen a8 forced stalemate

[@comradebagelmuffin7382]

as a 700 it was nice to have a puzzle that I was able to keep up with.

[@HangPham-he4jk]

How about queen c8

[@fantomghost6213]

Another great puzzle

[@barun9665]

Solved everything 😊

[@irar4665]

Great one... And it made me feel good that I immediately saw that the answer had to be Qh1 to avoid the Black's checks , and then I saw the staircase idea seconds later. I did miss the idea that Black could move his king, but once he pointed it out, was able to see what to do in that instance.😎

[@bene2451]

does it make you feel good to blatantly brag in the KZbin comment section

[@Kat-dp4rh]

​​@@bene2451 why do you care, if they are proud and want to share it, good for them. I could ask you a similar question, does going after people in the comment section make you feel good?

[@mdtaj7563]

I immediately beat this puzzle

[@girasol1869]

I'm glad that I found Qh1

[@adnan4757]

Acutally queen h8 would draw

[@LinardsZ]

qh1 I think is first move

[@radmehrhakhamanesh6816]

Is it Qh1?

[@Ramhams1337]

3:32 pretty sure that's not a loss my guy. looks like a draw

[@zerotms5145]

Damn, I feel like I should've been able to see that, but NOPE. Excellent video...

[@qazzaqstan]

It is not a very difficult puzzle because there is nothing else to consider but it is pretty cool that white is winning here

[@GreaterJan]

I was debating between Qh1 and Qh6, why doesn't Qh6 win?

[@GreaterJan]

Idea is that the king walks to a6

[@joachimfrank4134]

It doesn't allow to break the queen checks with a counter check. When the queen is on h1 and black puts the white king in checks, the white king can sidestep. This will be a discovered check (the queen on h1 puts the black king in check). So the black king has to move which prevents black to go on with queen checks.

[@Jan_Heckmann]

I can proudly say, that I figured this one out!

[@sk-sm9sh]

This one was easy. Qh1 the only obvious candidate.

[@valeriykotlov2763]

In case of black defends K with Qc8+, white plays Qxc8, Kxc8, Kxb5 and white is not loosing. Pls be careful, don’t make mistakes.

[@spiroskritikos]

His point is that white is not winning

[@teh_kaczuch]

Got it! My 2000elo is working

[@mbeaulieu22]

I knew the move!

[@Teakbumblbee]

Im 200 elo (i just reached yesterday), and i found out 3 moves that he said, im just better, im just that guy

[@drjukebox]

Nice one

[@epiccrumbs8312]

I found Qh1 so yea. Elo:1800+

[@prasenjitsengupta6123]

Amazing!

[@kingxgameryt4596]

Nice puzzle keep it up ❤❤

[@callofthechickens1666]

4:43 uhm I counted 9

[@samirlofty8899]

Qg1+

[@shaileshraut7590]

Superb