Do-Si-Do - Futility Closet

Do-Si-Do

do-si-do 4 x 3 chess puzzle

I’m not sure who originated this puzzle. Can the white queen force the black king onto square a1 of this 4 x 3 chessboard?

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Yes, she can: 1. Qa2+ Kb4 (if Kc3 then Qa4, Kb2, Qb4+, and continue from step 4) 2. Qc2 Ka3 3. Qc4 Kb2 4. Qb4+ Kc1 (if Kc2 then Qa3, Kb1, Qc3, Ka2, Qb4, Ka1) 5. Qc3+ Kb1 6. Qb3+ Kc1 7. Qb4 Kc2 8. Qa3 Kb1 9. Qc3 Ka2 10. Qb4 Ka1 11/11/2018 Wait, a reader points out that after 1. Qa2+ Kb4 2. Qc2 Ka3 3. Qc4 Kb2 4. Qb4+ Black has 4. … Qa2 and it’s not clear that White can succeed. (Thanks, David.)