Countdown #6

A reminder to read the contest rules (http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/2010/11/countdown-begins-soon.html) before attempting to send your answers :)

Countdown #6 - Mystery Image II

Value: 1 point for each correctly identified image

The images below can be found throughout this blog. Find the post containing the image (not including this post), and send a list of dates (of the posts) and a brief description of the content the image was associated with.



Image 1








Image 2










Image 3















Image 4









Image 5

Countdown #5

It seems some people were too busy to have a look at the first few contest puzzles, so instead of adding a new one today, I decided to give everyone an extended opportunity to complete countdown puzzles # 1 - 4. Send in your answers before 11:59 pm EST on Friday December 10, 2010 to receive a bonus 2 points for countdown #5 (you will receive these points as long as you attempt the puzzles, even if some of your answers are incorrect).

Countdown #4

A reminder to read the contest rules (http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/2010/11/countdown-begins-soon.html) before attempting to send your answers :)

Countdown #4 - Piece Scales

Value: 2 points

In a non-standard chess game, there are three types of pieces - pawns, knights and rooks. They have non-standard values which cause them to be in balance in the first two situations (scales). How many rooks are needed to replace the question mark to balance the third scale?

Countdown #3

A reminder to read the contest rules (http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/2010/11/countdown-begins-soon.html) before attempting to send your answers :)

Here's a short one:

Countdown #3 - Pawn Groups

Value: 2 points

On a standard 8 x 8 chess board, how can you arrange all 16 pawns so that each rank, file, and diagonal contains a maximum of 2 pawns?

Countdown #2

A reminder to read the contest rules (http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/2010/11/countdown-begins-soon.html) before attempting to send your answers :)

Countdown #2 - Cryptograms

Value: 2 points for each correctly identified quote (details below)

The phrases below have been encoded, with each number representing a unique letter. Each cryptogram contains a different code, so if A = 1 in one cryptogram, A may not equal 1 in another.

Your job is to decode the quote (1 point each), and find out who said it (1 point each - hint: you can just put the quote into a search engine like Google once it is decoded). Don't forget to send in your answers -your answers can simply be the quote and speaker - you don't have to send a chart of letters/numbers.

Note: click the cryptogram for a slightly better view!

(Sorry the cryptogram below has a title that won't seem to stay centred like the other two - I may have to fix that later :D)

Countdown #1

Happy December! Here is an interesting scavenger hunt to start off the contest. Remember to read the contest rules (http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/2010/11/countdown-begins-soon.html) before attempting to send your answers, and don't forget to have fun!

Countdown #1 - Mystery Image

Value: 1 point for each correctly identified image

The images below were found on various chess-related sites, all of which can be found in the quick links on the side bar. You are to find the image's original location, record the exact web address, and then send me your list of answers (web addresses).



Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Image 4

Image 5

Countdown Begins Soon!

"Checkmate!" Blog's First Contest Coming Soon!!!

Announcing two important initiatives coming up in the next month:

1) Elaine Howie Fund - a reminder to all my friends to help contribute this holiday season! I will be deciding on how the 2010 fund will be distributed soon!!!

http://checkmateupdate.blogspot.com/2010/07/elaine-howie-fund-for-chess-juniors.html

2) Countdown to Chessmas - now for the real fun!

How it will work:

EVERY DAY (well most days) from December 1 through December 25, I will be posting a puzzle, brain teaser, online scavenger hunt, or some other task for readers to do, which will range in difficulty. Your job is to complete the task, then send me the answer by email with subject line marked "Countdown #" followed by the day number (see side bar for my email - please do not leave answers in comments). For instance, if the puzzle was posted December 15, send an email marked "Countdown #15".

Don't forget to include your name, phone number, and mailing address with your email. This information will be kept confidential, and used solely to track points (each puzzle will be worth a certain number of points) + contact winners. The only piece of information that may be displayed online is your name when announcing top results.

Each part of the contest will be posted around 10 am EST, and answers will be considered until 11:59 pm EST the next day. So if I post a puzzle at 10 am EST on Dec. 15, I will read emails that reach my inbox by 11:59 pm EST on Dec. 16. Remember to mark the email based on the day the part was posted, even if you decide to send the answer the next day.

As mentioned earlier, a certain number of points will be awarded for each part of the countdown. Points may vary, so check each day's post for the point value. To be objective, either your answer will be right or wrong. There will be no "part marks".

Whoever has the most points at the end will get bragging rights and a prize on behalf of my blog, which will likely be some sort of gift certificate. I will mention the prize later on, but rest secure that this prize will NOT come out of the Elaine Howie Fund, and is NOT part of any agreement with third parties. Think of it as my gift to you!

Contest is open to Canadian residents. Readers from other countries are welcome to participate for fun, but will not be part of the main prize pool.

All answers will be posted at the end of the entire contest.

Let me know if you have any questions! Countdown #1 will be posted Wednesday!!!