Can you solve the chess problem which holds key to human consciousness?

[JudyM]

It might look like a simple chess problem, but this puzzle could finally help scientists uncover what makes the human mind so unique, and why it may never be matched by a computer.
...
The chess problem ... has been devised to defeat an artificially intelligent (AI) computer but be solvable for humans. The Penrose Institute scientists are inviting readers to workout how white can win, or force a stalemate and then share their reasoning.

The team then hopes to scan the brains of people with the quickest times, or interesting Eureka moments, to see if the genesis of human ‘insight’ or ‘intuition’ can be spotted in mind.
...
“This chess position is designed to show the difference between artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence (HI) and the nature of human understanding.

“A human looking at it for a short while will ‘see’ what white must, and more particularly, must not do, and use very little energy to decide this.

“But, for a computer, the puzzle requires an enormous number of calculations, far too many for even today’s supercomputers.”

Note: the scientists want you to observe exactly what you experience in your mind when you solve it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/03/14/can-solve-chess-problem-holds-key-human-consciousness/?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pocket-hits

[ymetca]

1. No.

Because life isn't chess.

It may be a game, but it isn't chess.

[SwissTony]

2. White can draw (spoiler)

by moving his King back and forth from e2 to d3. Black can only move his bishops and all three are on black squares whereas all White's pieces are on white squares.

A win for White? I'll have to look further into that.

[SwissTony]

8. White CAN win (spoiler)

but it's absolutely stupid.

For white to win, it has to be through the pawn on c6. But black has to be totally stupid.

So a win would result, if the something like the following took place

P-c7 B-h2????
P-c8 (Q) mate

Maybe there's a smart solution, but it just doesn't feel like chess. Black with a massive advantage, but all locked up in some construction that's hard to fathom, 3 black square bishops. And you're supposed to envisage how White could win?

[True Dough]

3. Why are there three black bishops?

We'd have to assume that black cashed in a pawn for a bishop? It's an odd choice. Why wouldn't that player have taken another queen?

[JudyM]

4. Can't answer that... good question.

[Blue_Tires]

5. It would be easier for me to try figuring out women instead

[JudyM]

6. I wonder how AI would do at that.

Maybe better than most guys.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

7. Computers focus on making quantitative assessments and decisions

Qualitatively, all of white's pieces are on white squares.
Only black's 3 bishops can move.
White may avoid check, by keeping his king on any white square except b7, white will force a draw either by repetition rule or by the 50 move rule.

If white keeps his king attacking the opposing bishops from white squares and black makes a mistake, he may win.

White should not capture either rook nor advance the pawn on c7.

[Thor_MN]

9. If the black bishops ever get so they are not protecting c7...

It's two moves to a white win via pawn to c7. Isn't it?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

10. IMO P-c7 - K-b7...

...which leaves only the option of promoting the pawn.
The black king then takes the new piece.

If the white pawn moves even without a bishop protecting c7, the king is no longer held in place.