The 5 Bishops Chess Problem

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Puzzle FEN:
r3n1r1/2PPP3/4PP2/4P2P/5pp1/5pk1/1B3p2/5B1K w - - 0 1
Puzzle Details:
Zinar, Mikhail Afanasevich
1st Special Honorable Mention
Achalgazrda komunisti, 1983
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[@user-mu1sj1fl1y]

Nelson, you forgot to tell us why Bishop d4 is only winning move and why would the king want to run away!

[@konee0]

Tbh bishop d4 looks more like a waiting move. Its goal seems to be controlling the black diagonal all the time. Not sure why d4 wins but c3 doesn't, though.

[@johndanielbautista587]

@@konee0 It's purpose is that you always have Bxf2 to escape

[@user-iq6rl1qw6b]

@@johndanielbautista587But how would that prevent black from mating you the king would just take and you are still trapped?

[@Sunnernite]

He said it was to defend the h8 square

[@mythbusters866]

White attack Bxf2+ if black move Kh4

[@HarleyMaebry]

Nelson: And that’s why it’s called the 5 Bishops Puzzle! Thanks for watching! Us Chess Noobs: But how does white win? And what the heck was up with Bd4? Bro, you blundered the ending of the video and hung your audience!

[@youssefchihab1613]

just promote, the rook can't stop 3 bishops and a queen

[@RuyVuusen]

There are too many lines to succinctly explain, but in essence, don't fall for the stalemate trick and maneuver the Queen you get from the c-pawn to build a mating attack (or if you get the chance, win the Rook). Also, don't accidentally get mated because you let the rook attack you through the H-file or the 1st row (and especially remember to be careful of pushing the h-pawn, since you could leave the H-file too open for attack-it has to be blocked or guarded with something while the enemy Rook is at play).

[@PotatoChess-we7rj]

Because at the VERY END the bishop on d4 stops Rc5!!

[@etacarinae0]

Bd4 might be to prevent Rc5, stopping the c pawn from promoting.

[@user-ej7sr3ow8b]

Since White no longer has to worry about checkmate and stalemate, white can then promote the c7 pawn to a queen and easily beaten the black rook, then try to checkmate black

[@jackys_handle]

Where's the checkmate though? Also,, why would the black king want to run away?

[@sonicwaveinfinitymiddwelle8555]

I thought it was going to be 3 underpromotions as I saw 2 bishops already at the start of this puzzle. I got reverse clickbaited and there's actually 7 bishops in total in this puzzle. All on the same color.

[@irrelevant_noob]

well, 6 on the same colour and one on the other. 🧐

[@gilliesiut2332]

I don’t understand why the rook would just take out the pesky pawns after the second bishop then launched the attack on the pawn from h7

[@stanimir5F]

I appreciate the random fact at the start of the puzzle. I hope this becomes a tradition :)

[@-guy113]

Same

[@JustAnotherCommenter]

22,000? Damn, that switched me to manual breathing mode for a bit.

[@ponzii6915]

DAMN YOU

[@depagogd1426]

​@@ponzii6915could be worse, you could be blinking manually and be aware that your tongue doesn't fit in your mouth comfortably It could always be worse

[@roblodocus2539]

@@depagogd1426😂

[@ponzii6915]

@@depagogd1426 I came for 5 bishops but I left for a therapist after this

[@vnXun]

@@depagogd1426 Why did you have to ruin me like that

[@jez9999]

I think there's some stuff not explored here. Bd4 is presumably about hitting the f2 pawn if the king moves away, then blocking the remaining black pawns from getting promotion.

[@AdvaithOMGOfficial]

I agree.

[@compiling]

You mentioned stopping black playing Kh4, but I think you forgot to go back and explain what's going on with that line. And at the same time, why Bd4 was the move. The first part is that the bishop needs to stay on the same diagonal or else black plays the same line and checkmates you because you don't control H8 at the end. Black also has the idea of stepping aside with the king, then pushing the g pawn while your pawns are blockaded by the rook. Bd4 stops that because if the king moves you can take f2 with check, then find a way to free up your light square bishop to get a queen.

[@AdvaithOMGOfficial]

Yes, I also do think that Nelson forgot to go back and explain why Bd4 was the move and why we needed to stop the king from escaping. Also, Nelson didn't show us how to win from that position. The four pawns and rook can easily outpower the three bishops.

[@lethalty6055]

If black goes Kh4, Bxf2+ happens, and white king can escape the threat. Since white has a queen, it'll be very easy to use Black's rook to either kamikaze a bishop for it, or have it block a critical square for the king.

[@reubenmanzo2054]

I thought Ba3, defending the pawn on e7.

[@Lxostic]

@@AdvaithOMGOfficial I can't answer the first part of your question, but for the second part, you just promote your last pawn to a queen and the rook cannot stop it

[@OlgaZuccati]

@@AdvaithOMGOfficial the c pawn is promoting no matter what black does. Black has no threats and every move makes their position worse and every last bit of material they have is hanging. I might be dead wrong, but to me, black literally cannot advance the pawns. If you play king to h4, black takes the f2 pawn with check. after g3 you just promote to a queen, their rook is hanging, you're sacrificing the bishops for the pawns and your king is taking the rest of them, with the final material count being you up a bishop, a queen and a pawn.

[@theunidentifiedchangeling9451]

(7:05) What if the rook started capturing the pawns?

[@lethalty6055]

Then white has some breathing room because the c7 pawn is threatening c8=Q, so the rook is forced to stay on the 8th rank unless there's a potential mate in one.

[@lipschitzlyapunov]

Nelson doesn't always do a great job of explaining variations. If rook ever takes the pawn, then c8=Q Rh7, Bxf2+!! Kxf2, Qxg4 This line is not obvious until you actually see the bishop sac

[@lipschitzlyapunov]

Like even in that position it's not obvious because the king will take the other bishop

[@projectnitefall8058]

Underpromoting to a bishop to avoid stalemate lines actually blew my mind 🤯

[@BobChess]

*It seems that justice isn't the option" - Bishops

[@anastasiose4489]

Man you've got some serious explanation skills. You could have been a 5 star teacher

[@NowhereMan7]

Why is that in past tense? The man is still alive lol

[@TheFireflyGrave]

That's - that's good. That's good. Unless, of course, somebody comes up with a 6 bishop problem. Then you're in trouble, huh.

[@RohitKulan]

Seven bishop problem?

[@army1057]

I like the rating climb vids, made me in 2 weeks form 700 to a 1200 player.

[@Kichuplayz]

Almost got a stroke reading this

[@jebbush3130]

impressive

[@nemuonakpoya8592]

😂😂naww....sandbagging?, or bullet

[@VishankBG]

I literally got from 600 to 1000 in a week in rapid

[@army1057]

@@Kichuplayz it's true

[@chessartist]

I feel that this video was ended abruptly. So many things not explained.

[@TomBarrister]

4 Bd4 is necessary, because otherwise, Black plays Kh4, clearing the way for g3. For example: 4.Bc3 Kh4, and now: 5.Bd2 g3 6.Bxf4 Rg8 (Kg4 is a little faster) 7.Bg2 (or 7.Bxg3+ Kxg3, followed by Rg4 and Rh4) Ra8 8.Bc1 fxg2+ (and not Ra1 9.c8/Q) 9Kxg2 Kxh5 followed by Kg4 and Rh8. 5.Bd4 (too late) g3 6.bg2 (6.Bxf2 gxf2, 7.Kh2 Kxh5, followed by moving the King back to the g file and Rh8) fxg2+ 7.Kxg2 Kxh5 followed by moving the King to the g file and Rh8. 4.Bd4 stops Kh4 because of 5.Bxf2+ g3 (if Kxh5 or Kg5, 6.Bb5, and Black no longer can set up a mating net) 6.Kg1 (other moves work, but 6.Bxg3+ loses to Kxg3, followed by Rh8 and Rxh4) Ra8 (gxf2+ 7.Kxf2, and Black can't stop Bb5) 7.Bd4 (protecting a1) f2+ (nothing else works, either) 8.Kg2 Kg4 9. Be2+ with Bb5 coming shortly.

[@wanderlustwarrior]

I miss the chess puzzles and problems! They're my favorite content here. I subscribed to the other channel, but it doesn't update as often, and I don't seem to get notifications often when it does. EDIT: How does White win from there, though?

[@scopeless22]

at 7:56, why does black play rook to f8 and not rook to e6? It still 2 turns from that position to take the white pawn, but the e6 pawn would be removed and white wouldn't have another pawn to bishop to block the h5 checkmate.

[@chaostails7]

That completely random fact in the opening was amazing, instant sub

[@samuelelliott8453]

At 4:49 , why dont you play the white bishop to b5? If the castle goes back to the corner, you promote to a bishop and stop it. The castle cant take the new bishop tho cuz it's protected by the other bishop.

[@ralkadde]

4. Bb5?? will loose. 4. Bb5 Rh8 5. e8=B* Rxe8 6. e7 Rh8 7. e8=B* Rxe8 8. Bxe8 f1=R# (mate). As we see, the bishop is protecting f1 against blacks promotion. *) Queen promotion leads to the same mate. In this way we have 6 white bishops, 2 from the beginning and 4 from underpromotions.

[@samuelelliott8453]

​@@ralkaddeahh I see now thanks so much!

[@vibingowsic2338]

Ok what is the next move? And how it ends?

[@Mielenvapaus]

hahaha.. That's funny and true.

[@kurzackd]

8:30 -- you can also play *Bxf2+* CHECK !! Black King *HAS* to take, and from then on you can actually *QUEEN* your E pawn. :P *EDIT:* nvm, I checked it with the engine... This one turns into a *DRAW...* .

[@victorash9783]

What is the purpose of Bd4? Instead of any other move on the board... It feels like we are missing the end of the movey! :) Thanks!

[@rizka7945]

Indeed.

[@johndanielbautista587]

I think the purpose of Bd4 is that there's always Bxf2 so you don't get mated.

[@IvoB1987]

@@johndanielbautista587 did you mean Bxf2?

[@danielyuan9862]

​@@johndanielbautista587When does that apply? White has stopped all of Black's mating threats without ever using Bd4.

[@lethalty6055]

Bd4 prevents Kh4, because that leads to Bxf2+, forcing the king out of the small space and gives the white king breathing room.

[@user-mh9hr5rt8d]

Lets make 5rooks problem😂

[@tedg1278]

Black's response to bishop D4 should be rook to E7 taking the pawn and breaking the cycle.

[@HuriKhanD]

To answer some natural questions: -The black king wants to run because it reaching the top of the board is a way to disrupt white's pawns and eventually force a mate. -The d4 bishop move prevents this by threatening bxf2+ after black's kh4, which forces black's king up with a check. It also frees white's white-squared bishop, which previously could not make good moves because of black's threat to promote and checkmate. With the dark squared bishop now blocking, white's bishop is free to threaten e8 with bb5. This forces the rook to move, and any move leads to white promoting a queen and eventually mating through standard chess.

[@lethalty6055]

Not only that, but with the 1st rank clear of pawns, the white king can escape going across the rank, and have more maneuverability.

[@hcgreier6037]

In the end we can see why the bishop on b2 has to go to d4, for to cover c5, so the black rook cannot stop the pawn on c7 becoming a queen, finally.

[@mishkamcivor409]

7:52 Rxe6? seems like there might be a way for black to draw from there? idk but if white is gonna promote the C pawn anyway it removes one more piece from the equation

[@prithvisinghpanwar6609]

Why are all chess players turning into VSauce "Average Human takes 22000 breaths a single day" -nelsi Vsauce theme by -levi

[@Danulinda1]

I have always thought that only the queen (or rarely the knight) is worth changing from the pawn, so this is really a fantastic exception!!! :-)

[@felixroux]

-It can also be good to promote to a rook for vertical castling-

[@yureverydaybanana9493]

I was expecting him to say "after this position it will be 5000"

[@jeremy61313]

One move that occurred to me is why white wouldn't move the bishop to B5? At the point where you talk about D4, I was figuring you could move the other bishop to B5. It potentially attacks their rook, while still defending F1, if Black tries to promote. I'm not good enough to map out all the potential plays from it, but it seems like something that could open up other possibilities. I get that you are trying to show the puzzle, but it would have been an interesting thing to see you game out on why it wouldn't work.

[@rakhatthenut3815]

It's not really attacking if it has to defend another square

[@03_thebroyt45]

3:02 why dosent rxh5 work qxh5 rh8 qxh8 and its a stalemate

[@archirayanmondal5408]

Please bring the speedrun video. It helps me a lot 🤠

[@anonym65520]

When the rook moves to f5 you can also sacrifice the blach bishop and promote to a queen

[@irrelevant_noob]

How do you move two pieces before the rook takes the pawn tho?

[@RageDMonkey69FPS]

this is like that everything goes in to square hole type of thing

[@akultechz2342]

As much as i can see Bd4 is winning move since after all the d file's pawns are gone now rook cant checkmate as bishop protects the corner 6:49

[@irrelevant_noob]

the *E file pawns. Also, why aren't Bc3/Ba1 similarly winning? (5:48)

[@manman-yq5eo]

Hey Nelson! Why does black not play Re7 at 7:45? I don't see a way for white to stop the rook from just going h7 and taking the pawn with mate. Especially without getting at least a rook on c8. If anyone sees a way please explain. Love your videos!

[@divyam5935]

very good idea but unfortunately, white simple promotes the c pawn to queen after you move to Re7. Now continuing with your plan after Rh7 the key move is Bf2+ this is part of the reason why earlier Bd4 was the best move and not any other random move. Kxf2 is forced. Now Qc2+ picks up the rook by forking it with the king. Its simply over after that.

[@rakhatthenut3815]

Promote to q, sack the b and fork k and r

[@dastardlydan4022]

My immediate thought was f7 but it had nothing to do with any sort of advanced calculation, I just wanted to fork the knight and rook lol.

[@chessableking]

This guy basically says I am not a human😭 14400 only

[@Tom-dl9kb]

Bd4 was a waiting move maybe

[@Mabb60]

I have a question about minute 6:09. Why black cannot do Rock to e7?

[@drincmusic2769]

the funny thing is that I guessed the right move, but it was because I monkey brained the fork.

[@dominicwegwitz4076]

Two things one what is the rock took the ponds instead of retreating and two what is it in Bishop A3

[@watchaccount]

you forget to explain about bishop to d4. It is important after the last bishop.

[@weshano3878]

In the final position, if the d4 bishop were on any other square, the rook would be able to move to c5, and take the pawn on c7 to secure the draw

[@lethalty6055]

Not only that, but Bd4 prevents Kh4 to avoid Bxf2.

[@WeePee831]

"I've had this position in so many games and now I finally know how to win".... said nobody ever.

[@timtitus1956]

At 6:06 what if the rook took the pawn on e7? No matter whites move rh7 sets either checkmate or stalemate(if c7 promotes to queen and moves to h8)

[@lethalty6055]

Black King can be forced checked by Bxf2, followed by Qc2, forcing the king out of the small space to avoid checkmate and fork the rook. (If black king goes back, Qh2 is checkmate)

[@timtitus1956]

@@lethalty6055 thanks!

[@krunkiesop1785]

7:14 what if the black rook just took the approaching pawn

[@heikaikki4824]

but what if the rook doesn't just constantly try to checkmate like a mindless robot.

[@kailynalysia4750]

I got all the moves except bishop d4

[@catman-du8927]

Why does the rook not take the pawn that becomes the 4th bishop? The rook is on e8. One pawn is on e7 & the other on e5 (7:15 in the video)? Rook takes e7 & moves to h7 on the next turn. How does white stop the checkmate when the rook takes the pawn on the h file?

[@tedg1278]

I actually think rook taking the e7 pawn is the natural response to Bd4.

[@Thfbkgyjg]

there is another way but you will sac the dark bishop

[@come.inside.me.join.now.]

That's enough bishop underpromos for the rest of my life.

[@Thundernoob98]

Why doesn’t the rook just start taking pawns instead of going for checkmate

[@psidrape4525]

Love you videos thanks

[@Kartikvenkatesh-lf9lu]

Its probably a nelson gambit😮

[@lindell7318]

I frickin found bishop to d4

[@randomchessplayer.]

You forgot you had auto-queen on

[@razvans4815]

Yeah but at the last move you can sack the d4 bishop so u can promote to a queen and win

[@massimoosti7242]

why are we assumin that black wont just start taking pawns with his rook like why is he just relentlessly going for the king and ignoring all other options?

[@massimoosti7242]

why does the rook play f8 like are we just assuming black is retarded

[@stevek2340]

Brilliantly creative.

[@Skyluna07]

That was so cool! I would still move my black king and go after that white king with my G4 and then F3 pawns.

[@lethalty6055]

2 problems. First is the Bxf2+, which leads 2 options: Kxh5 or g3. King moves, light-squared bishop moves, and the king escapes. G3 happens, white takes, and if you retaliate with fxg3, the light-square bishop is guarding g2, and the king can move to g1, escaping mate in both scenarios.

[@suvajeetdatta1220]

Why won't the rook take the pawns before they become the 4th or the 5th bishop

[@unoriginalmoniker2625]

What of the rook tries to plow through the C7 or E6 pawn and take down the F1 bishop?

[@aidanvannynatten2787]

e8: Bishop Generator

[@bam38]

More like spawner

[@aidanvannynatten2787]

@@bam38 Seminary, ordination site, whatever you wanna call it

[@bam38]

@@aidanvannynatten2787 yeah

[@chuvabr5879]

7:53 8-e to 6-e

[@kurzackd]

5:44 -- why not Bishop to.. *b5 !!* ?? -- Protecting the Queening square while also defending BLACK's queening square... *EDIT:* nvm, leads to *checkmate in 10 for black...*

[@LJLMETAL]

Cool puzzle!

[@ysfzctn]

It could be also bishop to c3 instead of bishop to d4, even bishop to a1 works.

[@tedg1278]

The D4 placement is needed to threaten black pawn on F2 preventing the black king from stepping away from it.

[@user-zq7hg3og8c]

thx Nelson !

[@maker0824]

3:23 wait huh? I’ll admit I’m not the best when it comes to chess, and only recently learned about stalemates, but why can the pawn not just take the queen? I don’t see any reason why that can’t happen.

[@maker0824]

OHHHHH. I am in fact dum. The pawns are facing the other way lol

[@TheEthikos]

That's a wild puzzle!

[@roblodocus2539]

The fun fact haha. A good addition! This is one of my favourite puzzles so far. This is insane. I tried to make one myself with a load of bishop promotions but failed miserably. This one is genius.

[@Khantia]

And how does the game play out after that? How does white actually win? We went through all this effort not to stalemate, just to not finish this...

[@darkthunder312]

this knowledge will surely get me to 2k

[@AlexGMason]

7:54 shouldn't the rook go to E6 and just take out the pawn?

[@lordmaster6667]

Why wouldn't the rook just take the pawn on e7? We assume black is fine with a stalemate. Bd4, Rxe7, thats game for white, blacks wins Bd3?, f1=Q+, Bxf1 (forced), Rh7, then you cant stop him taking the pawn Bxf2+?, Kxf2 (forced), Bd3, g3, Bf1*, Rh7. *literally any move but Bf1?, g2+, Kh2 (forced), g1=Q+. Kh3 (forced), Qg3# Edit: I saw a reply stating c1=Q, cant find a way out of that one, unless they make a blunder, even if you don't do Re7

[@schwato33]

How is it going, when black doesn't go to h8 at 7:16, but takes the pawn at e7? 🤔

[@Mohammad-vw5mx]

then you promote to queen

[@Mohammad-vw5mx]

with c7 pawn

[@msolec2000]

Yes, but how do you win after the fifth bishop?

[@maxwahlund3235]

You get a queen on c8

[@alexrobinet7576]

Stockfish the whole problem to the end plz.

[@alexrobinet7576]

We want to see the computer play it out.

[@nirmalam5485]

BUT 5:34 THE BISHOP CAN

[@Thatoneballinkid]

Me who tought about Bb5 and he didn’t explain why it doesn’t work : ANGERY

[@johndanielbautista587]

Bb5 doesn't actually have a threat cause that bishop needs to protect the f1 square.

[@lethalty6055]

And h8 when the last pawn moves.

[@MasterSonicKnight]

7:56 this move from black makes no sense to me, y move to f8 when the rook could just eat the pawn at e6? it just feels like a complete blunder. there's nothing protecting that pawn, and even if white made a queen with the c pawn it still wouldn't be fast enough to stop the rook from taking the h pawn. also this would take the same time as doing that dodge he does in the vid.

[@calvindang7291]

if rook isnt on 8th rank, don't need to protect h8 anymore (and you can safely queen the c pawn without capture), so Bxf2 and now you can queen without capture or stalemate.

[@MasterSonicKnight]

@@calvindang7291 ooooh ok, now it makes sense

[@theriddle871]

never let em know your next move : take the pawns

[@davelimbaugh3730]

Nelson, are you back to posting puzzles here instead of on Chess Adventures?

[@danielyuan9862]

This isn't the Bobby Fisherman series.

[@barun9665]

What was the point of Bd4 ,?? Plz explain

[@mythbusters866]

White need play Bxf2 if want win this puzzle

[@prinnydadnope5768]

At 8:10, why doesn't the rook just eat the pawn ?

[@thatoneginger]

Why didn’t rook just gobble pawns?

[@lePirateMan]

7:16 Why wouldn't black take the free pawn while maintaining the ability to do the strat?

[@ShankarSivarajan]

Then you can queen on c8.

[@angadbirsinghsethi5053]

why Bishop d4, why not bc3, whats the difference?

[@johndanielbautista587]

Bd4 so you always have Bxf2 so you don't get mated

[@kirayoshikage8904]

Me who holds my breath everytime I can

[@happypandaface710]

i learned a lot! i will never promote to a queen in my games again.

[@howlscastle3942]

1500 elo after they switch in from a 50 elo player game

[@0Smile0]

8:00 why not rook e7 instead of f8?

[@ukaszmaciejewski323]

after rxe8 bb5

[@davevaebutuoy]

@8:37, you said “fith”! The word is “fifth”. There’s a second F in there.

[@Typical.Anomaly]

Lemme tell you about the third F...

[@YashaswinPathangi-hi4kl]

Instead of f8 8:06 couldn’t black play rook to g8

[@danielbillings1876]

Nelson loves under promotions.

[@rUSTYfrfr]

I would have probably learned a lot more from this video if I played chess more often