WINTON
BRITISH CHESS SOLVING CHAMPIONSHIP

There were 472 entries, of which only 262 were correct. The number of entries was amazingly high considering that the starter problem was not published by four of the national newspapers it was sent to - The Daily Telegraph, The Financial Times, The Guardian and The Evening Standard.

Johh Rice

1.Bb1!      ()

1...Sxe2    2.Sxe2#
1...Rxg3    2.d4#
1...Re3     2.dxe3#
1...Rc3     2.dxc3#
1...Rb3,Ra3 2.d3#
1...R else  2.S(x)d3#
1...e4      2.Qc7#
1...Se any  2.S(x)d5#
                

The following moves, all of which fail as indicated, were given by unsucessful solvers:

1.exf3? (giving bK a flight at f3) by 1...Sc8! and other moves.
1.Be4? by 1...Sxe2!
1.Sf1+? by 1...g3!
1.e3+? by 1...Rxe3! giving bK a flight at f3.
1.Qf1? by 1...Rxf1! and other moves.
1.Kh4? by 1...Sg6+! and 1...Sxf5+!
1.Qc6? by 1...Re3!
1.Se4+? by 1...Kxf5! and other moves.
1.Sh1+? by 1...g3!
1.Bxb5? by 1...Rxg3! and 1...Sxe2!
1.Bc2? by 1...e4!
1.Kh6? by 1...Sg8+! and other moves.
1.Qxg1? by 1...e4!
1.Sd5+? by 1...Sxd5!
1.e4? by 1...Rxg3! and other moves.
1.Qc3? by 1...Rxg3! and other moves.
1.Qc4+? by 1...bxc4!