Ponder This Challenge - February 2010 - 5 moves chess game

Ponder This Challenge:

This month's challenge is a famous chess problem. To enjoy it, don't cheat by looking for a solution over the Internet.

What are the five moves in a chess game that starts with the white king's pawn moving 2 squares ahead (e2-e4) and ends with a black knight capturing a white rook leading to a check-mate?

Update 02/03: The games starts with all pieces in their regular place; and by five moves we mean 5 white and 5 black.

We will post the names of those who submit a correct, original solution! If you don't want your name posted then please include such a statement in your submission!

We invite visitors to our website to submit an elegant solution. Send your submission to the ponder@il.ibm.com.

If you have any problems you think we might enjoy, please send them in. All replies should be sent to: ponder@il.ibm.com

Solution

• Click here to view the solution

  This chess problem was first published more than 10 years ago on ChessBase (link resides outside of ibm.com). A possible solution is as follows:

  1. e4 Nf6
  2. Qe2 Nxe4
  3. f3 Ng3
  4. Qxe7+ Qxe7+
  5. Kf2 Nxh1 X

Solvers

• Ioan Marius Popdan (01/29/2010 02:40 PM EDT)
• John T. Robinson (01/29/2010 11:27 PM EDT)
• Joshua Green (01/30/2010 06:18 PM EDT)
• Rickard Björklund (01/30/2010 08:13 PM EDT)
• Dmitry Litvinenko (01/31/2010 01:48 PM EDT)
• Pulsar (H.Nathen) (01/31/2010 05:17 PM EDT)
• Michael Brand (01/31/2010 11:17 PM EDT)
• Robin Chandra (02/01/2010 04:48 PM EDT)
• Patrick Knupfer (02/01/2010 05:34 PM EDT)
• Sevag Papazian (02/02/2010 08:58 AM EDT)
• Federico Felizzi (02/03/2010 07:10 AM EDT)
• Daniel Bitin (02/03/2010 11:36 AM EDT)
• Harold Cataquet (02/04/2010 07:59 PM EDT)
• Clive Tong (02/05/2010 06:10 AM EDT)
• Robert DiMarco (02/07/2010 10:51 PM EDT)
• Fabio Filatrella (02/08/2010 02:12 PM EDT)
• Thomas Rohr (02/09/2010 05:05 AM EDT)
• Chris Becker (02/10/2010 05:02 PM EDT)
• Andrew Buchanan (02/13/2010 10:40 AM EDT)
• Eamon Warnock (02/14/2010 05:07 AM EDT)
• James Carter (02/17/2010 06:47 AM EDT)
• Liubing Yu (02/18/2010 02:01 AM EDT)
• Daniel Chong Jyh Tar (02/21/2010 09:19 PM EDT)
• Albert Stadler (02/22/2010 01:27:59 AM EDT)
• Adriana Clerici (02/24/2010 06:15 AM EDT)
• Nyles Heise (02/25/2010 07:10 PM EDT)
• Ayal Zaks (02/27/2010 08:01 PM EDT)
• Bojan Basic (02/28/2010 02:41 PM EDT)
• Logan Hunter (03/02/2010 01:58 PM EDT)
• Michael D Moffitt (03/04/2010 08:46 PM EDT)
• Don Gosiewski (03/05/2010 02:16 AM EDT)