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Dilaram's Problem

Submitted by DrDave on Sat, 09/10/2010 - 22:58

Oxford Companion states at 109:

"Dilaram's mate, Firdewsi at-Tahihal (b. 1453), a Turkish poet who took 40-50 years to write the world's longest poem (allegedly 890,000 verses containing all contemporary knowledge of history, philosophy, medicine, geometry, etc.), completed a chess book in 1503 and decided to use in a story a famous 10th-century problem attributed to as-SULI. "

"A prince had wagered and lost his fortune to another prince during an intense chess session and in desperation offered as stake his favourite wife, Dilaram (meaning heart's ease). When he seemed lost she called out 'O Shah, sacrifice both rooks and save Dilaram; advance your fil and pawn and checkmate with your horse.'"

[Event "10th Century"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dilaram's problem"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r4k1/8/5PP1/8/K1n3NR/7B/1r6/7R w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]

{The piece on h3 is an Elephant (al-fil), which moves along diagonals two
moves at a time, and, unlike its counterpart in the natural world, it can jump
over other pieces.}

1. R4h8+ Kxh8 2. Bf5+ Kg8 3. Rh8+ Kxh8 4. g7+ Kg8 5. Nh6++ 1-0

1-0

Chess Quotes

"There are two classes of men; those who are content to yield to circumstances and who play whist; those who aim to control circumstances, and who play chess."
— Mortimer COLLINS.