1. 54 55
2. 234 235
3. 1785 1466
4. 172567 #

I win!

What process was used?

From the "I win!" it looks like a game.  In fact, the two-column format with numbered steps looks like it encrypts a chess notation.

A win after so few moves reminded me of something called "Fool's Mate", so I did a Google search on that term. This led to http://www.chesscorner.com/tutorial/basic/scholars/scholars.htm. While Fool's Mate didn't match the puzzle, another listing there did: Scholar's Mate: 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Qh5 Nf6 4.Qxf7#

That can be encrypted by replacing each letter by its numeric position in the alphabet.  With each pair of moves put on its own line, it is the cyphertext in the puzzle.

Posted by Charlie on 2006-02-20 10:16:39