Forerunners of The Babson Task
Wolfgang Pauly, 1912| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
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This 1912 problem by Wolfgang Pauly is, as it were, a three-quarter Babson task — three of black's promotions are matched by white. White to move and mate in four:
The key is 1.b3, after which there are the following lines:
- 1... a1Q 2. f8Q Qb2 3. Qa8 Qxc1 4. Qf3 mate
- 1... a1R 2. f8R (2. f8Q? a2 3. Qf6 stalemate) a2 3. Rf6 Kxh4 4. Rh6 mate
- 1... a1N 2. f8N a2 3. Ng6 Nxb3 4. Nf4 mate
However, this is not a full Babson, because 1... a1B 2. f8B does not work — white must instead play 2. f8Q, with similar play to above.
Read more about this topic: Babson Task
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