This Puzzle Will Blow Your Mind

It's known that this study was originally unsound (Black could force a draw), but it's been fixed by the composer. The published correction is to add a white pawn on c4. Then at 11:58, 11.Nc1+ does win because the extra passed pawn makes all the difference, e.g. 11...Ke4 12.Kb2 Bd8 13.Kxc2 Kxf5 14.Kb3 Kxe6 tablebase win. The main variation with all the underpromotions is not affected.

Wow amazing puzzle! I was screaming at my screen when he said that promoting to a queen was wrong and then I was left speechless when I saw the stalemate. Also the overall idea of having to promote 3 times into everything but a queen made this puzzle next level. Not even a hardcore chess fan but that was amazing.

The underpromotions are so satisfying lol but sadly that one black king move makes it a draw. It would be cool if white really wins the game cuz it's like an entire army is trying to stop a dangerous pawn and an assassin bishop😄 Because of this puzzle, I just remember an another chess puzzle that I saved in my files that has a similar situation to this one. The setup is: ⬜[WHITE]⬜ King -> a3 Rook -> f7 Bishop -> f1 and g1 Pawn -> b2, b7, d4, f6, and h7 ⬛[BLACK]⬛ King -> a5 Bishop -> b8 Pawn -> a4 and b3 It is white to play and win. Idk who composed that puzzle. It is just a puzzle I found on a FB page

5:53 Not sure why you didn’t mention that Black can play Bd4 here (If Nxd4, then c1=Q#). I think White’s only move then is Bf4 to defend c1 with a 2nd piece.

It's been a minute since the last Mark Liburkin puzzle...😁😁 I can't get enough of puzzles where you can't queen a pawn because the octo-directional nature of queen moves can cut off so many potential escape squares for the enemy king and create stalemate positions. I felt like the easiest moves to figure out were Ne4+, b8(B) and e8(R), the latter 2 due to what I just mentioned in terms of queening a pawn leading to stalemate.

Now people can understand that less pieces on the board does not mean it’s necessarily simple. Sometimes they are more complicated than it looks on the surface.

Nelson, I'm very glad you enjoyed it and thought it interesting enough to present to your viewers. Cooked or not, I agree, it's a wonderful composition and you did a great job presenting it.

This was a fantastic analysis. Totally enjoyed it, thanks for sharing.

Those 3 under-promotions from the pawn to stop a stalement when you take the bishop, this puzzle was truly adequate

Been playing recreationally for 15+ years. I caught the first under promotion but the other two blew my mind. So many tricks with this one that I could not keep up. I know I’m no master but after this puzzle I’m super humbled and am laughing at myself for how tough this was. Excellent vid.

7:38 Yesterday your puzzle featured every what if which led to every different promotion type possible.

I've seen this puzzle before but I think white has a pawn on g2. That pawn is important for white to win a resulting queen and pawn endgame after Nc1+ Kd2 (Ke4 obviously loses in this version). For the version in the video, black can hold the endgame.

Quick question @ChessVibes, After the black Bishop moves after you play f3, what would happen if you play Bd3 check?

Thats one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing with a 849 🙏🏻 Love the underpromoting and the stalemate forcing. Will integrate these going forward.

The ad appeared on my screen is litterally Rise of Kingdoms💀

I quit chess a long time ago but there's just something about this channel that makes me wanna watch it even if I don't play chess anymore lol.

The study 8/3PP3/8/P6p/b6p/6kP/2P2p2/5B1K by Ernest Pogosyants also features underpromotions to knight, bishop, and rook (unless IT'S flawed, too ...) via: Andy Soltis, Chess To Enjoy

I put the final position on SF when Black plays the correct Kd3 instead of Be5 and the brilliant underpromotions following that line. SF found a way for Black to hold and draw but it's a little crazy. White's best move would be 1. Nc1+ which Black responds with 1...Kd2. Line goes on with 2. Kb2 (and not 2. Nb3??, Kd1 and white is losing as Be5+ cannot be avoided), 2...Be5+ 3. Kb3, Kxc1 4. Nc7!, Kb1! (Both 4...Kd1 and 4...Bxc7 actually loses according to SF, I won't go into detail) 5. b8 = Q, c1 = Q 6. Ka4+, Ka1 and Black holds.

...Kd3 was pretty unfortunate, and pretty clever too. The point is that Black wastes a move with ...Be5 and ...Bxb8 which is 2 moves, so Black plays ...Kd3 first and Black directly takes ...Bxb8 from h2, which is also 2 moves, except Black plonked in an extra ...Kd3. Still, phenomenal study! This small king move doesn't make the study less beautiful! And I'm happy to report I got all the answers right when Nelson asked to pause the video (including the underpromotions!) Thanks for the amazing video Nelson!

at time stamp 11:20 in that position White can play Nc1+ here. If black goes for the pawns with the king then White plays Nc7. Then Bishop takes Knight is met with pawn to e7 or king takes pawn is met with pawn b8=Q