mutual Zeitnot
White’s most rational move?
(the players must make all their moves in the allotted
period of time with no increments after each move)
Solution: 1.Ra4! ~ 2.Ra1#. Black’s last move was -1…a7-a6, as a retromove
by the black king is impossible. In his last move, Black could have equally
played h7-h6, had he wished so. Black’s only hope to win the game is that White
loses on time. Under his own time pressure, Black obviously chose the move
closest to the clock, i.e. one which enabled him to press the clock rapidly
after the move was made. This implies that the clock is on Black’s right side /
White’s left side. White wins if he has time to deliver mate. White can mate in two moves in two different
ways. And so he chooses a move enabling him to swiftly press the clock.
Therefore, the choice is the swifter 1.Ra4! instead of 1.Rh4?, which has a greater risk of losing
on time.
However, optimal past play must be assumed, something which is against the usual convention in chess problems. But this problem is a sort of joke anyway.
However, optimal past play must be assumed, something which is against the usual convention in chess problems. But this problem is a sort of joke anyway.
