Of course, by "royal row" is meant the row on which the king originally stands at the beginning of a game. Though, if Black plays badly, he may, in certain positions, be mated in fewer moves, the above provides for every variation he can possibly bring about.


[351.—THE CRUSADER.—solution]

White.Black.
1. Kt to QB 3rd1. P to Q 4th
2. Kt takes QP2. Kt to QB 3rd
3. Kt takes KP3. P to KKt 4th
4. Kt takes B4. Kt to KB 3rd
5. Kt takes P5. Kt to K 5th
6. Kt takes Kt6. Kt to B 6th
7. Kt takes Q7. R to KKt sq
8. Kt takes BP8. R to KKt 3rd
9. Kt takes P9. R to K 3rd
10. Kt takes P10. Kt to Kt 8th
11. Kt takes B11. R to R 6th
12. Kt takes R12. P to Kt 4th
13. Kt takes P (ch)13. K to B 2nd
14. Kt takes P14. K to Kt 3rd
15. Kt takes R15. K to R 4th
16. Kt takes Kt16. K to R 5th
White now mates in three moves.
17. P to Q 4th17. K to R 4th
18. Q to Q 3rd18. K moves
19. Q to KR 3rd (mate)
If 17. K to Kt 5th
18. P to K 4th (dis. ch)18. K moves
19. P to KKt 3rd (mate)

The position after the sixteenth move, with the mate in three moves, was first given by S. Loyd in Chess Nuts.


[352.—IMMOVABLE PAWNS.—solution]

1. Kt to KB 3
2. Kt to KR 4
3. Kt to Kt 6
4. Kt takes R
5. Kt to Kt 6
6. Kt takes B
7. K takes Kt
8. Kt to QB 3
9. Kt to R 4
10. Kt to Kt 6
11. Kt takes R
12. Kt to Kt 6
13. Kt takes B
14. Kt to Q 6
15. Q to K sq
16. Kt takes Q
17. K takes Kt, and the position is reached.

Black plays precisely the same moves as White, and therefore we give one set of moves only. The above seventeen moves are the fewest possible.