In the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer", Bruce Pandolfini shows
Josh a chess problem. He tells Josh to solve the problem without
moving the pieces. When Josh complains that he cannot solve it without
moving the pieces, Bruce sweeps the pieces off the board and says that
now he must solve it in his head without even seeing the pieces.

I have just replayed the video and figured out the problem. In this
problem, White has a king on c7, a queen on d6, a rook on e6, a bishop
on e8 and a knight on b6.

Black has a king on a7, a pawn b7, a queen on a3, a pawn on e3 and a
bishop on b2.

The problem is mate in four.

Actually, it is not a good problem, because it has three solutions.
One solution is 1. Qxa3+ Bxa3 2. Nc8+ Ka8 3. Ra6+ bxa6 4. Bc6# mate.

Another solution is 1. Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qxa3 Bxa3 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4. Bc6
mate.

Finally, the best solution is Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qa6+ ! Qxa6 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4.
Bc6# mate.

In the movie, Josh says Nc8 is the solution, and Bruce Pandolfini
rewards him by giving him points towards a master's certificate.

I am surprised that the problem is such a poor one. Of course, this is
just a movie and Josh, who is seven years old in the movie, could not
be expected to solve a more difficult problem, but I am surprised that
the real Bruce Pandolfini, who composed the problems used in this
movie, did noit realize that I would take it apart.

I had to freeze the frame where the movie actor playing Bruce
Pandolfini sweeps the pieces off the board before I could see clearly
the pawn on 3e.

The problem has several faults. Not only are there three solutions,
but the black bishop on b2 and the black pawn on e3 serve no purpose.

The problem could have been made much better simply by moving the
black queen on a3 to a2. With this change, only solution number 3
above would have worked.

Sam Sloan

So, I'm guessing you just discovered the "freezeframe" function,
right?

John Harkness

On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 16:32:52 GMT, (Sam Sloan)
wrote:

In the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer", Bruce Pandolfini shows
Josh a chess problem. He tells Josh to solve the problem without
moving the pieces. When Josh complains that he cannot solve it without
moving the pieces, Bruce sweeps the pieces off the board and says that
now he must solve it in his head without even seeing the pieces.

I have just replayed the video and figured out the problem. In this
problem, White has a king on c7, a queen on d6, a rook on e6, a bishop
on e8 and a knight on b6.

Black has a king on a7, a pawn b7, a queen on a3, a pawn on e3 and a
bishop on b2.

The problem is mate in four.

Actually, it is not a good problem, because it has three solutions.
One solution is 1. Qxa3+ Bxa3 2. Nc8+ Ka8 3. Ra6+ bxa6 4. Bc6# mate.

Another solution is 1. Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qxa3 Bxa3 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4. Bc6
mate.

Finally, the best solution is Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qa6+ ! Qxa6 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4.
Bc6# mate.

In the movie, Josh says Nc8 is the solution, and Bruce Pandolfini
rewards him by giving him points towards a master's certificate.

I am surprised that the problem is such a poor one. Of course, this is
just a movie and Josh, who is seven years old in the movie, could not
be expected to solve a more difficult problem, but I am surprised that
the real Bruce Pandolfini, who composed the problems used in this
movie, did noit realize that I would take it apart.

I had to freeze the frame where the movie actor playing Bruce
Pandolfini sweeps the pieces off the board before I could see clearly
the pawn on 3e.

The problem has several faults. Not only are there three solutions,
but the black bishop on b2 and the black pawn on e3 serve no purpose.

The problem could have been made much better simply by moving the
black queen on a3 to a2. With this change, only solution number 3
above would have worked.

Sam Sloan

"I am surprised that the problem is such a poor one. Of course, this is just a
movie and Josh, who is seven years old in the movie, could not be expected to
solve a more difficult problem, but I am surprised that the real Bruce
Pandolfini, who composed the problems used in this
movie, did noit realize that I would take it apart." (Sam Sloan)
============
You're right, it was just a movie. Who cares about the chess problem? Who
cares that the banjo boy in "Deliverance" couldn't play the banjo?

RSHaas

I think you've got to much spare time.

"Sam Sloan" wrote in message
...
In the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer", Bruce Pandolfini shows
Josh a chess problem. He tells Josh to solve the problem without
moving the pieces. When Josh complains that he cannot solve it without
moving the pieces, Bruce sweeps the pieces off the board and says that
now he must solve it in his head without even seeing the pieces.

I have just replayed the video and figured out the problem. In this
problem, White has a king on c7, a queen on d6, a rook on e6, a bishop
on e8 and a knight on b6.

Black has a king on a7, a pawn b7, a queen on a3, a pawn on e3 and a
bishop on b2.

The problem is mate in four.

Actually, it is not a good problem, because it has three solutions.
One solution is 1. Qxa3+ Bxa3 2. Nc8+ Ka8 3. Ra6+ bxa6 4. Bc6# mate.

Another solution is 1. Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qxa3 Bxa3 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4. Bc6
mate.

Finally, the best solution is Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qa6+ ! Qxa6 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4.
Bc6# mate.

In the movie, Josh says Nc8 is the solution, and Bruce Pandolfini
rewards him by giving him points towards a master's certificate.

I am surprised that the problem is such a poor one. Of course, this is
just a movie and Josh, who is seven years old in the movie, could not
be expected to solve a more difficult problem, but I am surprised that
the real Bruce Pandolfini, who composed the problems used in this
movie, did noit realize that I would take it apart.

I had to freeze the frame where the movie actor playing Bruce
Pandolfini sweeps the pieces off the board before I could see clearly
the pawn on 3e.

The problem has several faults. Not only are there three solutions,
but the black bishop on b2 and the black pawn on e3 serve no purpose.

The problem could have been made much better simply by moving the
black queen on a3 to a2. With this change, only solution number 3
above would have worked.

Sam Sloan

On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 19:09:46 +0000 (UTC), "JCCC"
said:

I think you've got [too] much spare time.

On the contrary, I congratulate him on having *enough* spare
time to thoroughly analyze chess possitions. We should all
be so fortunate.

"Sam Sloan" wrote in message
...
In the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer", Bruce Pandolfini shows
Josh a chess problem. He tells Josh to solve the problem without
moving the pieces. When Josh complains that he cannot solve it without
moving the pieces, Bruce sweeps the pieces off the board and says that
now he must solve it in his head without even seeing the pieces.

I have just replayed the video and figured out the problem. In this
problem, White has a king on c7, a queen on d6, a rook on e6, a bishop
on e8 and a knight on b6.

Black has a king on a7, a pawn b7, a queen on a3, a pawn on e3 and a
bishop on b2.

The problem is mate in four.

Actually, it is not a good problem, because it has three solutions.
One solution is 1. Qxa3+ Bxa3 2. Nc8+ Ka8 3. Ra6+ bxa6 4. Bc6# mate.

Another solution is 1. Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qxa3 Bxa3 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4. Bc6
mate.

Finally, the best solution is Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qa6+ ! Qxa6 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4.
Bc6# mate.

In the movie, Josh says Nc8 is the solution, and Bruce Pandolfini
rewards him by giving him points towards a master's certificate.

I am surprised that the problem is such a poor one. Of course, this is
just a movie and Josh, who is seven years old in the movie, could not
be expected to solve a more difficult problem, but I am surprised that
the real Bruce Pandolfini, who composed the problems used in this
movie, did noit realize that I would take it apart.

I had to freeze the frame where the movie actor playing Bruce
Pandolfini sweeps the pieces off the board before I could see clearly
the pawn on 3e.

The problem has several faults. Not only are there three solutions,
but the black bishop on b2 and the black pawn on e3 serve no purpose.

The problem could have been made much better simply by moving the
black queen on a3 to a2. With this change, only solution number 3
above would have worked.

Sam Sloan

I am surprised that
the real Bruce Pandolfini, who composed the problems used in this
movie, did noit realize that I would take it apart.

Yeah, I'm sure he's always worried about what SAM SLOAN might think when he
writes a book or consults on a movie.

Reality is down the corner, dude.

Sam Sloan wrote:
In the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer", Bruce Pandolfini shows
Josh a chess problem. He tells Josh to solve the problem without
moving the pieces. When Josh complains that he cannot solve it without
moving the pieces, Bruce sweeps the pieces off the board and says that
now he must solve it in his head without even seeing the pieces.

I have just replayed the video and figured out the problem. In this
problem, White has a king on c7, a queen on d6, a rook on e6, a bishop
on e8 and a knight on b6.

Black has a king on a7, a pawn b7, a queen on a3, a pawn on e3 and a
bishop on b2.

The problem is mate in four.

Actually, it is not a good problem, because it has three solutions.
One solution is 1. Qxa3+ Bxa3 2. Nc8+ Ka8 3. Ra6+ bxa6 4. Bc6# mate.

Another solution is 1. Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qxa3 Bxa3 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4. Bc6
mate.

Finally, the best solution is Nc8+ Ka8 2. Qa6+ ! Qxa6 3. Rxa6+ bxa6 4.
Bc6# mate.

In the movie, Josh says Nc8 is the solution, and Bruce Pandolfini
rewards him by giving him points towards a master's certificate.

I am surprised that the problem is such a poor one. Of course, this is
just a movie and Josh, who is seven years old in the movie, could not
be expected to solve a more difficult problem, but I am surprised that
the real Bruce Pandolfini, who composed the problems used in this
movie, did noit realize that I would take it apart.

I had to freeze the frame where the movie actor playing Bruce
Pandolfini sweeps the pieces off the board before I could see clearly
the pawn on 3e.

The problem has several faults. Not only are there three solutions,
but the black bishop on b2 and the black pawn on e3 serve no purpose.

The problem could have been made much better simply by moving the
black queen on a3 to a2. With this change, only solution number 3
above would have worked.

Sam Sloan


In the given position, the purpose of the Bb2 is to prevent the immediate
1.Qxa3 mate.

Your improved version, with the queen on a2, could well have been
Pandolfini's original version. But you know how movies are made. They shoot
every scene umpteen times. After every take they would need to set up the
position again. It's not unlikely by the time they were shooting take #22 or
whatever it was, one or more pieces had gotten misplaced. Pandolfini will
not have been present while they were actually filming. You shouldn't blame
him without knowing the facts.

Your comment that "Pandolfini (...) did noit realize that I would take it
apart" is one of the most pompous remarks I ever read.

Ted

I was at a scholastic tournament where a tv news reporter showed up with
a video camera. She had two of the children play a game to give her
material for the news broadcast. Some of the parents and I who were
watching, got a big laugh out of the fact that sometimes she would make
the children stop playing for a moment and rearrange the pieces to make
for a better picture!

I don't think news reporters and movie directors have an overwhelming
respect for the sanctity of a chess game!

Marty

Martin Wilber wrote:

I was at a scholastic tournament where a tv news reporter showed up with
a video camera. She had two of the children play a game to give her
material for the news broadcast. Some of the parents and I who were
watching, got a big laugh out of the fact that sometimes she would make
the children stop playing for a moment and rearrange the pieces to make
for a better picture!

I don't think news reporters and movie directors have an overwhelming
respect for the sanctity of a chess game!

Marty

Yeah! amazing what you can get away with - a press sticker on your tit &
a video camera. The arrogant hussy, astonishing the way a group of you
stood around like sheep & could only laugh at her behaviour..

The arrogant hussy, astonishing the way a group of you
stood around like sheep & could only laugh at her behaviour.

Hardly. Coverage is coverage. What, you're going to put on your geek crown
and complain about the authenticity of the position? You know what that
does? It sends people away ("just forget it, the chess weirdo is going
ballistic") Please. I bet you bitch about "bad astronomy" in movies like
Armaggeddon as well, like every Hollywood entertainment should be a high
school science lesson.

Talk about arrogance....the mirror is in the bathroom.


Yeah! amazing what you can get away with - a press sticker on your tit &
a video camera. The arrogant hussy, astonishing the way a group of you
stood around like sheep & could only laugh at her behaviour..