Questions tagged [puzzles]

Often, a puzzle type of problem in which a tactical or positional solution is required, like White/Black to move and win”, in what is often a middlegame or endgame-esqe position. But a puzzle can also be a chess riddle, chess math, or any other non-normal chess problem. Questions about solving puzzles, puzzle apps and websites, how to understand the idea behind a puzzle, etc. are also on-topic.

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Why is this the correct answer to chesspuzzle.net puzzle 37161?

https://chesspuzzle.net/Puzzle/37161 [FEN "r4rk1/2p2n1q/1p1b4/3Pp3/2Q2pP1/P1N1B2P/1P4P1/2RR2K1 w - - 0 1"] 1. Ne4 The answer given is Ne4, which is followed by the pawn on f4 capturing ...
Jules's user avatar
  • 153
0 votes
0 answers
35 views

Is double "pure stalemate" reachable in a normal game? [duplicate]

Define "pure stalemate" as a position where the player is not in check, and has no legal moves, even without considering whether a move would place them in check. (So every piece is blocked ...
Steve Bennett's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
156 views

How often can the initial position be repeated under FIDE tournament rules?

Recently a game was played where two GMs swapped kingside and queenside knights and then agreed a draw (and got their just dessert): How often can the starting position be repeated in a game without ...
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
152 views

What is the best move in algebraic chess notation? [closed]

I can't fine the best move with algebraic chess notation. [Title "White to Move"] [FEN "r3n1rk/q3NQ1p/p2pbP2/1p4p1/1P1pP1P1/3R4/P1P4P/3B2K1 w - - 0 1"]
user36777's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
81 views

What are the longest "golden sequences" in chess? (sacrificial middlegame attacks)

Initially, I was interested in the question "what are the longest sacrificial middlegame attacks?" ([Kasparov's Immortal] is one of the most famous sacrificial middlegame attacks). But this ...
Flowy Poosh's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
122 views

"Every" move in long notation

A move here shall be defined as the FIDE super-long notation of a legal chess move: Sg1-f3, O-O, e5xd6 ep, Da8xg8+, Rd1-d6# and whatnot. I.e. starting square, ending square, capture sign, check sign, ...
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
3k views

Most mate options after 6 moves

Found this construction problem from '83 and liked it. I don't know the best solution (yet), and maybe you can top it anyway. Consider the (help) "game" 1.e4 a6 2.Bc4 a5 3.Qh5 a4. Now White ...
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
60 views

Creating a Position with Defined Possibilities within N Ply (for engine testing)

DEFINITIONS The definitions of "cook" and "dual" I'm using (which are the standard definitions if I understand them correctly) are: Cook: A position where the attacking side, on ...
Dave's user avatar
  • 327
2 votes
2 answers
136 views

Max percentage of mating pieces

In the newest SCHWALBE, positions are given where any piece on the board can give a check (any being surprisingly high). A quick dabbling seems to prove that it is not possible that any piece can mate....
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
166 views

Mate in 2 from "The soviet Chess Primer" but wrong

I found this exercise on page 51 of the "The soviet chess primer" and I think there is a mistake. Chess.com analysis says there is a mate in 13 moves. I'm correct thinking there is a mistake?...
Ignazio's user avatar
  • 119
0 votes
1 answer
189 views

How does Chess.com calculate puzzle rating?

How does chess.com calculate puzzle rating? I am curious because today, I managed to gain rating while incorrectly solving a puzzle. Could someone help me out? (Also on puzzles that are already rated, ...
MrChessR's user avatar
  • 240
-2 votes
2 answers
6k views

Best move in algebraic notation

I have no experience in chess, and I tried my best to answer this question myself but am finding difficulties. What is the answer? It's for another game.
Deb's user avatar
  • 11
4 votes
2 answers
2k views

Only Rook endgame!

Is it possible to win (black or white) in this position? [fen "2k5/5R2/8/4K3/r7/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
ShBh's user avatar
  • 151
4 votes
2 answers
516 views

Is there a real version of the chess puzzle from The Yiddish Policeman's Union? If not - can it be made?

I will preface this by saying that the following contains a spoiler for Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union, so tread carefully. Chess features heavily in the book and a major plot point is ...
AKemats's user avatar
  • 477
-2 votes
1 answer
132 views

Castling on King side [closed]

This is a quiz from a chess website. The challenge is to castle on King Side. White to play. How can we do this ?
Manikanth V's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
584 views

Is there any program which I can use to train custom tactics puzzles?

Essentially, I would like to have the following features/workflow: I obtain a .pgn file with (puzzle) positions and moves (the solutions) I load that .pgn into the program and then solve (...
ndbd's user avatar
  • 539
2 votes
1 answer
82 views

Searching games by chess positions

I have a somewhat weird question that is only indirectly related to chess. I am trying to solve a chess-related puzzle in which I have to find games played by Soviet chess players based on positions. ...
Vosoni's user avatar
  • 21
3 votes
1 answer
175 views

Examples of interactive exercises to play chess with nullmoves

I am looking for interactive exercises that involve playing chess against computer which makes nullmoves allowing the learner to attack without thinking of defense. I know of one platform which allows ...
MichalRyszardWojcik's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
123 views

Why would white play Qf5

I was playing the following puzzle on lichess playing the black pieces and found the move Bf5, expecting either Qe2 or Qe3, resulting in me taking the white bishop on c2 and completing the puzzle. The ...
Remy's user avatar
  • 103
4 votes
3 answers
158 views

Do "white to lose in X" puzzles exist?

The most common form of chess puzzle is white/black to win in X. I'm curious whether a form of "white to lose in X" exists. For instance, a position that seems winning for white, but if they ...
Steve Bennett's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
70 views

Good chess puzzle that involves queen running around the board?

Basically title. Ideally not too difficult or too many steps, but if you have any good puzzles where the queen traverses across the board. Thanks in advance!
Tim Ratigan's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
3k views

White to play and win - only moving the rook once

[Title "White to play and win - only moving the rook once"] [fen "k7/8/8/8/8/8/8/K1R5 w - - 0 1"] This is an exercise in using the opposition and outflanking from John Hawkins' ...
Brian Towers's user avatar
  • 96.6k
1 vote
1 answer
92 views

Shatranj puzzle by Aladdin - white to play and win

[Title "White to play and win"] [fen "3qrb2/4k3/2p1NpRp/P3pPpP/2Pp2r1/BP1R1pP1/2Qnpr2/5B1K w - - 0 1"] This is attributed to Ala'Addin (aka Aladdin). Reminder, the rules of ...
Brian Towers's user avatar
  • 96.6k
1 vote
1 answer
158 views

Can a castling checkmate be engineered from this position?

I get the following position pretty often in online bullet as White. It's mate in a few (for instance, 9. Bf4+ Kc5 10. Qd5+ Kb6 11.Qb5#). Needless to say, the setup is dubious. This looks like a prime ...
SE - stop firing the good guys's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
148 views

Hexagonal Chess Puzzle - Black to play and win

Published in Hex Press 4 - September 1977 and taken from the game Armstrong vs Springgay Reminder of the rules here. Hint 1: If black could lure the white queen to g7 then Ne5+ would discover an ...
Brian Towers's user avatar
  • 96.6k
3 votes
1 answer
191 views

Anti-Tactics Chess Puzzles?

Many websites (such as chess.com) provide chess tactic puzzles and I am wondering about the value of "anti-tactic" puzzles. By anti-tactic, I mean a position where if I make a careless move, ...
Zuriel's user avatar
  • 9,033
5 votes
1 answer
218 views

Black to play and win but why was the move played a blunder?

In the position below Minic just had to play one move to reach the time control and, in those days, the adjournment which would have given his team a chance to find the win. Unfortunately he blundered ...
Brian Towers's user avatar
  • 96.6k
4 votes
1 answer
206 views

White to play and win

A really tough one to start the New Year from national master Nelson Lopez [title "White to move and win"] [fen "1rkb4/pNp5/8/2N4p/8/5B2/4K3/8 w - - 0 1"]
Brian Towers's user avatar
  • 96.6k
6 votes
2 answers
735 views

Help understanding lichess puzzle 274165037

Link to puzzle: https://lichess.org/training/274165037 I got the correct solution first try, but I don't understand what it accomplishes. Seems the king can escape via f2 and rook h1 should deal with ...
Jorgen's user avatar
  • 63
2 votes
2 answers
466 views

Why is this puzzle solved [closed]

I did the following puzzle on chess.com: And it shows solved with the following configuration: I do not see why this is a solution. Black can take the Rook, and I don't see how to punish it.
Lot's user avatar
  • 393
0 votes
2 answers
299 views

Chess middle game puzzle online for free

Recently, I was looking for a website where I can find only middle game puzzles. I found the website, I had solved most of the puzzles in less than a minute (If I get enough time, I can solve any ...
Billy Istiak's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
70 views

Are randomly created Queen's Quadrille and Hippodrome puzzles always solvable?

I found two chess puzzles on chessvariants.com, Queens's Quadrille and Hippodrome. I'm thinking of creating random Queen's Quadrille and Hippodrome puzzles with a computer program. My question is can ...
Arda Kaan Özcan's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
148 views

Minority Breakthrough

Consider the following well-known motif: [FEN "8/1k6/5pp1/7p/7P/6P1/8/7K b - - 0 1"] Black wins even with Ka8, but being true Patzer: 1...g5?? 2.g4! Kmoch's crosslever, 1-0. Now in the ...
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
23 votes
7 answers
4k views

Why do chess puzzles need a unique solution?

Why do chess puzzles need a unique solution? This is different from real games, where such situations do occur, but more frequently, there are multiple avenues to success. Contrary to what one might ...
Hauptideal's user avatar
  • 6,172
4 votes
2 answers
203 views

Why trade rook for bishop and knight in this puzzle?

The puzzle https://lichess.org/training/kFzbF has position [Title "Black to move"] [FEN "r3rnk1/1bq2pp1/1ppb1n1p/p2p4/3P1B2/P2B1N1P/1PPQNPP1/3RR1K1 b - - 1 16"] and the solution ...
alphacapture's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
119 views

How can I mate the black king in 4 moves or less (helpmate)

In this helpmate puzzle, it is White to move.
David Meléndez's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
107 views

What is the idea of this rook move in this puzzle?

https://www.chess.com/puzzles/problem/1000668 (Also if anyone knows how to start the PGN player with a black move, please let me know) [Event "Juan Martinez Sola Open A"] [Site "Almeria ...
qwr's user avatar
  • 3,626
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why does Stockfish recommend this queen sacrifice in this puzzle?

[Variant "From Position"] [FEN "r1b1r1k1/pp3ppp/2p5/2Ppn1q1/1P1Q2B1/4P1N1/P4PPP/R4RK1 w - - 9 18"] [Title ""] 1. Bxc8 Raxc8 2. f4 https://lichess.org/training/fRzq3 The ...
qwr's user avatar
  • 3,626
4 votes
5 answers
486 views

Where can I find exercises where the best move isn't always a tactical one?

I know solving a lot of tactics problems has its benefits, but also its limitations. In a real game there is no way to know if a tactic is present — maybe the best move is defensive. I am seeking ...
Ian Olsen's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
141 views

Non-Tactical Puzzles

Its surprisingly hard to find chess puzzles where the solution is not necessarily tactic resulting in checkmate or a heavy win of material. The problem with these tactical puzzles is that they do not ...
Johnny Blaze's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
108 views

Looking for a webpage with chess puzzles in which you had to mentally play a couple moves before an interesting position arised

As per the title; instead of the typical chess puzzle in which a side has to play and find the best move, you were given a couple moves and then were asked about the resulting position. I guess I ...
emdio's user avatar
  • 2,094
5 votes
3 answers
719 views

How do you analyze this position holistically?

So I was solving a puzzle, and I got it wrong in my first attempt, so I checked with the engine and understood the solution. But I think that I am missing some aspects of the puzzle as I'm able to get ...
AyushDwi's user avatar
  • 115
2 votes
2 answers
145 views

Most different mate-in-N depending on black's move

The puzzle (this may have a known answer) is to construct a position such that: If Black makes move A, it's mate in 1 for white. If Black makes move B, it's mate in 2 for white. ... If Black makes ...
Steve Bennett's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
225 views

Find a forced checkmate on dark squares only

In a recent Youtube video, the black player reaches the following position [White "NN"] [Black "Chess Simp"] [FEN "r2r4/ppp2p1k/2n4P/4p3/P3n3/B1P1P2P/P1qPK2P/R6R b - - 0 1&...
eyeballfrog's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
642 views

Which legal positions with White to move are also legal with Black to move (if colours and board are flipped)?

For every reachable position, is the equivalent position for black also reachable? If so, can you prove it? If not, which reachable positions for white are not reachable for black and why? Definitions:...
Steve Bennett's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
857 views

How does white win/get an advantage here?

In the board below, I'm not entirely sure who is winning, black's rook looks dangerous at the moment. Its white to move How does white have an advantage? 4rk2/5p1p/2p3pP/8/p7/PqP1Q3/1P1R1P2/1K6 w - - ...
DialFrost's user avatar
  • 1,123
17 votes
6 answers
4k views

How does Black win this position?

I recently ran across notes I made from a book on endgames (I don't remember the book). According to my notes, Black wins this position regardless of whose move it is. I don't see it, and Stockfish ...
Garnet's user avatar
  • 339
0 votes
1 answer
206 views

How to place certain pieces on a 4x4 chess board without any of them attacking each other?

How to place 2 bishops and 7 knights on a 4x4 chessboard without any of them attacking other pieces? There are no other restrictions.
Josip Maričević's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
3k views

How can I place certain pieces on a 5x5 chess board without any of them attacking each other?

How can I place one queen, two bishops, two knights, and two rooks, on a 5×5 chessboard without any of them attacking other pieces? After placing just queen and rooks, I can't make room for the other ...
Josip Maričević's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
308 views

Explanation of Hard Puzzle #34

Wikipedia defines a chess tactic as: In chess, a tactic refers to a sequence of moves that limits the opponent's options and may result in tangible gain. I'm having a hard time understanding a ...
PaulMorphy's user avatar