As only a few astute solvers figured out, this puzzle involved playing chess, but on a Chutes and Ladders board rather than a regular chess board! The rows were numbered 0,1,…,9, and the columns lettered z,a,…,i.

Where the game leaves off, white is in check, and its only move is Kc8 (via the ladder). (Kxi3, via Kh0, is another intriguing option, but it would still be in check by the queen on a0).

Congratulations to Joey Thompson, this month’s randomly-chosen winner of a Jane Street t-shirt!