[353.—THIRTY-SIX MATES.—solution]
Place the remaining eight White pieces thus: K at KB 4th, Q at QKt 6th, R at Q 6th, R at KKt 7th, B at Q 5th, B at KR 8th, Kt at QR 5th, and Kt at QB 5th. The following mates can then be given:—
| By discovery from Q | 8 |
| By discovery from R at Q 6th | 13 |
| By discovery from B at R 8th | 11 |
| Given by Kt at R 5th | 2 |
| Given by pawns | 2 |
| Total | 36 |
Is it possible to construct a position in which more than thirty-six different mates on the move can be given? So far as I know, nobody has yet beaten my arrangement.
[354.—AN AMAZING DILEMMA.—solution]
Mr Black left his king on his queen's knight's 7th, and no matter what piece White chooses for his pawn, Black cannot be checkmated. As we said, the Black king takes no notice of checks and never moves. White may queen his pawn, capture the Black rook, and bring his three pieces up to the attack, but mate is quite impossible. The Black king cannot be left on any other square without a checkmate being possible.
The late Sam Loyd first pointed out the peculiarity on which this puzzle is based.