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Questions tagged [problems]

Chess problems consist of a board position and a task. Most ask for a line of play that mates black in a set amount of moves, or a combination that results in a winning position. Many other types exist, including, but not limited to, construction tasks for various positions and proof games that have numerous goals, selfmates, helpmates, and retrograde analysis. Tournaments and championships exist for composing of original problems and for speed-solving.

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White to play and checkmate in two moves

It’s White to play and checkmate in two moves. This puzzle was created by Frank Healey, and published in 5 Family Herald on 7/17/1858. 7R/1B1N4/8/3r4/1K2k3/8/5Q2/8 w - - 0 1
Marinel
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How do you solve vague mate in two problems?

I am a big fan of solving mate in N problems and believe they help tremendously with i.e. visualization. The only issue I seem to face in certain problems are when they are very vague. For example this one from the famous Polgar book. How can one…
miniHessel
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Play a chess game so that at the end you can start a game of checkers

Yes, it is silly. So you begin at the normal starting position and help-play until Black is mated (White shall have the last move since Black begins in checkers) and the mating position looks like the starting position of checkers, with any…
Hauke Reddmann
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White to force the end of the game in two moves

I found this hilarious problem and hope people will have fun solving it: Niels Hoeg, Skakbladet 1907 [FEN "8/8/6p1/5pP1/5P1K/5PpP/4p2p/2Q2Bkr w - - 0 1"] White to end the game in two moves. In this case, that means that white plays moves so that,…
RemcoGerlich
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What kinds of unconventional chess problems exist?

What are some unconventional chess problems that ordinary chess engines can never solve? I'm attaching two examples below so that you can get an idea. My students seem to love these puzzles. I'm researching and learning about it now. Example…
Arun J
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Why is the queen considered lost?

In this game, white just moved the queen from b7 to c6, and the computer marks this as a "critical blunder" (and suggests that the bishop should take the knight). In this position it considers the queen lost, but it doesn't say much how. It says…
Thomas
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Uniquely Satisfying Puzzle

Here is a fun puzzle I found some time ago. It was created by Karl Fabel in 1952 and published in Rätselstunde. Goal [title "White to move and NOT checkmate in one!"] [fen "B5KR/1r5B/6R1/2b1p1p1/2P1k1P1/1p2P2p/1P2P2P/3N1N2 w - - 0 1"] This is…
lbragile
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Euwe-Aljechin Amsterdam 1935 problem

I came across this puzzle that I couldn't solve and after looking at the solution I am still not sure what is going on here. [FEN "5k2/p5pp/r7/2pB2p1/b1P5/6P1/4PP1P/R5K1 w - - 0 1"] The best move apparently is Ra2. The problem says "white to play…
Jacques Gaudin
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A helpmate in 15 moves

I recently came across this ChessBase India article on "engine defying problems." Here's a problem from the helpmate section. We need to reach the helpmate in 15 moves. I thought for a long time but couldn't come up with anything useful. Any idea on…
Abhyuday Vaish
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Self-Solving Chess Problems

Are there any longer "problems" like this, which is white to move and mate in 6? (Namely, where one is actually forced to achieve the "goal".)
Ricky Demer
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What is the most defended structure?

Let's say the opponent has no pieces on the board but you have all of your pieces. In what way should you place your pieces on the board so that you have the absolute maximum of support for each piece? Supporting/defending the king doesn't count and…
Ardeshir Afshari
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Easy mate in three

This time an easy puzzle I made up today. White mates in three. [FEN "7k/4Kp2/P4Np1/6R1/8/R6P/8/8 w - - 1 0"]
Albert Hendriks
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A cool problem by Godfrey Heathcote

I didn't get a thought of a better title :) I am trying to solve a problem which is white to move and mate in 2 moves. To be frank, I am not asking all problems here. On my own I solved more than 50 and stuck up in nearly 15 (don't worry I will not…
Mr_Green
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Need help to solve a puzzle

I have been trying to solve the below chess puzzle for more than 2 days. Can someone help me to solve it? White to play and mate in two moves [FEN "n1N1Kn/2p/P1k/2p1Q/P/2P/7B/6Nq w - - 0 1"] I have tried to do it, but my tries take more than two…
Mr_Green
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Simple mate in 2?

I used to be a problem composer and the thing I loved most about creating and solving chess problems is that you can't just rely on simple patterns. You need to think outside the box. This is one of my earlier chess problems. Can you solve it? White…
Adnan
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