My answer to the chess-problem in "Through the looking-glass and what Alice found there"
[summary]
The chess-problem in "Through the looking-glass and what Alice found there" is a well-constructed puzzle.
The answer moves are related to many factors of the story.
Readers have to guess the empty chess moves with the texts of the story, the chess game rules, and the author's preface.
My answer is "Mate in 21 moves".
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[answer]
1. Nd4 Qh5
2. Nf5 Nf6
3. d4 Nd5
4. Qc4 Nf4
5. Qc5 Ng6
6. d5 Nh8
7. Qf8 Ke5
8. d6 Ng6
9. Qc8 Kf6
10. d7 Ne7+
11. N×e7+ Kg7
12. Nf5+ Kf6
13. Ne3+ Ke5
14. Nc4+ Ke4
15. Nd6+ Kd4
16. Nf5+ Kc3
17. Kd6+ Kd2
18. Rf2+ Kd3
19. d8=Q Qe8
20. Qa6+ Ke4
21. Q×e8#
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Author's preface
(the part of the chess-problem)
As the chess-problem, given on page ×××, has puzzled some of my readers, it may be well to explain that it is correctly worked out, so far as the moves are concerned. The alternation of Red and White is perhaps not so strictly observed as it might be, and the "castling" of the three Queens is merely a way of saying that they entered the palace: but the "check" of the White King at move 6, the capture of the Red Knight at move 7, and the final "checkmate" of the Red King, will be found, by any one who will take the trouble to set the pieces and play the moves as directed, to be strictly in accordance with the laws of the game.
Christmas, 1896.
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[reasons]
1. Nd4① Qh5
2. Nf5 Nf6
3. d4 Nd5②
4. Qc4 Nf4
5. Qc5 Ng6
6. d5 Nh8
7. Qf8 Ke5③
8. d6 Ng6④
9. Qc8 Kf6
10. d7 Ne7+⑪
11. N×e7+⑤⑪ Kg7⑥
12. Nf5+⑦ Kf6
13. Ne3+⑦ Ke5
14. Nc4+⑦ Ke4
15. Nd6+⑦ Kd4
16. Nf5+⑦ Kc3
17. Kd6+⑧ Kd2
18. Rf2+⑨ Kd3
19. d8=Q Qe8⑩
20. Qa6+ Ke4
21. Q×e8#⑫
①"The White Knight is sliding down the poker. He balances very badly"(chap. 1)
A willow-tree growing in the middle garden could bark "Bough-wough!"
(chap. 2)
②The black bird in gale looked like a night had come→a nightingale→a Red Knight in gale
Alice couldn't go ahead
(chap. 4)
③Alice saw a wood in the sheep's shop
(chap. 5)
④The R.N. attacked the W.Q.
The White King said "There's some enemy after her'"
(chap. 7)
⑤The White Knight said "Ahoy! Ahoy! Check!"
(chap. 8)
⑥Alice saw black shadows of the forest behind
(chap. 8)
⑦—, and the Knight tumbling off, first on one side and then on the other. After the fourth or fifth tumble he reached the turn, —
(chap. 8)
⑧The Wasp appeared behind Alice
(The deleted chapter called "Wasp")
⑨The White Queen's word
"And part of the roof came off, —"
roof→rook
(chap. 9)
⑩W.Q. couldn't take R.Q.(stalemate)
(chap. 9)
⑪check(author's preface)
(chap. 9)
⑫checkmate(author's preface)
(chap. 11)
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[relations]
①Alice Liddell's life:
1 move=1 year
21 moves→1852–1872
②Lent:
1 move=1 day
21 moves→from the 4th Sunday of Lent to the Easter's Eve
↓
Ash Wednesday(the White King in ash) ~ 21 days ~ Easter Day(Alice's waking)
③rhymes:
"Walrus and Carpenter"
18 stanzas+3 pictures→21 moves
"Jabberwocky"
the second stanza to the sixth stanza(20 lines)→21 moves
"Callooh! Callay!"→castle, carry
(19. …Qe8, 20 Qa6+)→2 lines
…and other rhymes
④The White Queen's question "1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1=?"
This meaning is there are 9 checks(+) and 1 promotion(=) in the answer moves.
⑤"win in 11 moves"
→White Knight in 11 moves
(11. …Kg7→1862; the year of the Golden afternoon)
…and so on.
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