In a 1905 short story by Jacob Elson, Mr. Brown laments that he cannot solve chess problems.

Mr. Pincus wagers $10 that “I can show you a two-move problem with three different lines of play which you would have to solve whether you wanted to or not.”

Brown accepts. After studying the board for 10 minutes, he says, “It’s a humbug, a confounded silly swindling humbug, but I am beat.” Here’s the position: