Questions tagged [chess]
A puzzle related to the game of chess. Questions about chess which aren't puzzles are off-topic but can be asked on Chess Stack Exchange.
361
questions
2
votes
1answer
134 views
With The Last Man
Here’s a nifty little problem. It’s White to move and mate in 12! Don’t forget to explain the title!
Source: Johann Christoffel Van Gool, Le Journal de Genève 1979
3
votes
4answers
146 views
Hilfe White Rochade!
It’s Black to move. What must Black do in order to help White castle queenside in just 11 moves?
15
votes
5answers
4k views
Princesses covering an 8x8 chess board
What is the minimum number of princesses you need to place on an 8x8 chessboard so that every empty square is attacked by at least one princess?
A princess is a piece from fairy chess that can move ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Knights covering a 9x9 chess board
What is the minimum number of knights you need to place on a 9x9 chess board, such that every empty cell is attacked by at least one knight?
Here is a similar question for a 10x10 chess board: ...
5
votes
2answers
574 views
Knights covering a 10x10 chess board
What is the minimum number of knights you need to place on a 10x10 chess board, such that every empty cell is attacked by at least one knight?
Good luck!
4
votes
0answers
137 views
The Rambling Monster
The Rambling Rook is back, but this time, they are a true monster!
It’s White to move and reach a winning position in 101 moves.
Source: Gijs van Breukelen, Schakend Nederland, 1981, Special ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
In and out, and back in again
With White to move, how long will it take for both sides to cooperate, i.e. this is a helpmate, and checkmate Black?
This is based on a problem made made by Otto Blathy. And yes, I know that the ...
4
votes
1answer
120 views
“Short” And Sweet Math
In the following chess diagram, how many possible chess postions exist?
No looking at the solution!
Source: P1359129 & Andrew Jonathan Mestel,
Retros mailing list, 2/1/2019
6
votes
3answers
1k views
A delve into extraordinary chess problems: Selfmate 2
(Continuing the series from here)
Here is a second selfmate puzzle (also relatively easy, but beware the traps!). It is by C. R. Flood from 1967, and is puzzle 81 in The Book of Extraordinary Chess ...
6
votes
5answers
192 views
Chess Construction Challenge #3-The Inverse Babson
Another day, another task!
Today's challenge is to construct four positions, with White to move and win, such that:
In each position, White's move is to promote to a particular piece, for a position ...
7
votes
1answer
234 views
A delve into extraordinary chess problems: Selfmate 1
[This series continues from a harder puzzle here and continues in this puzzle]
Here we have an easier but still interesting selfmate in 5.
This is a puzzle by A. Rubin found in The Book of ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
Back in time, in my time, all the time
I present to you all a highly interesting problem that I came across awhile ago on Tim Krabbe’s site.
It’s White move and win, i.e. reach a winning positon, in 21 moves.
Source: David Gurgenidze &...
4
votes
1answer
153 views
Attacking queens revisited
Can you place 5 queens on a 11x11 chess board such that they can attack every empty square?
It turns out this problem was answered here:
http://golovolomka.hobby.ru/books/gik/04.shtml
Can you find ...
6
votes
1answer
129 views
Attacking queens
Can you place 3 queens on a 6x6 chess board such that they can attack every square?
Good luck!
11
votes
3answers
535 views
A delve into extraordinary chess problems: Self-Stalemate 2
Following on from a slightly easier puzzle here (this series continues here).
This is a puzzle by W. A. Shinkman in 1924:
White to play and force Black to stalemate him in nine moves. As a ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
A delve into extraordinary chess problems: Self-Stalemate 1
(This puzzle series is continued here)
I found a book that must have been given to me thirty years ago called The Book of Extraordinary Chess Problems: 120 Unusual Puzzles by Stephen Addison. It's ...
0
votes
2answers
188 views
Something Simple
A simple task: It’s White to move selfmate themselves in three moves. White pawns are moving up.
4
votes
1answer
152 views
A Remote Location
Here be a simple problem
For the keen directmate eye
White to move and win
In seven moves, Black shall die
However, I remember now a relative
Long ago did he begin to live
About a two decades or ...
7
votes
0answers
147 views
Forbidden Love: A tale of two kingdoms
Once upon a time there were two kingdoms (bluex and pinksus) separated by a wall of eternal war. The kings of these two kingdoms each had one son and one daughter. Their children sought to end the war ...
5
votes
3answers
491 views
What is my lover's name?
I have a lover, I love her so
She has a special name as we all do
But I wish, from me to you, not to tell
A secret kept is a secret kept well
But if you truly want to know
I shall soon reveal her ...
8
votes
2answers
317 views
Three-player chess on a 7x7 board
This is chess between three players. Short rules:
Black moves first, then blue, then red. The move order is the same regardless of whether any of the players are in check.
Normal chess rules ...
7
votes
3answers
140 views
Playing Chess Game of Chance
I still enjoy playing chess at the age of ninety four.Those contemporary opponents I used to play with have all passed away without me even getting even scores with any of them. On my spare time I ...
3
votes
3answers
260 views
Chess Golf: Peaceful Double Mate
Given the board below, create a checkmate for both sides, ensuring that no pieces are capable of capturing any other piece excluding captures targeted at the kings.
Blue moves south and pink moves ...
2
votes
0answers
152 views
Around The World
It's White to move and checkmate Black in 36 moves. I have slightly changed the original stipulation. Feel free to explain the title if you want to!
Source(Couldn't copy and paste!):
(Oleg Pervakov ...
8
votes
3answers
387 views
So, what's to do?
It's White to move and draw the game. What must White do?
You must provide proof for your claim of what's to be done by any reasonable means.
This puzzle was created by Nikita M. Plaksin, and ...
3
votes
3answers
216 views
A Hearty Warm-up
Sliding-block chess puzzles have gone a little cold, so here be a hearty warm-up! ;D
In the below position that I created, it Black to move, but there is a twist: the stipulation is that it is a ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
The economy of trapping
A queen on the center of the board has 27 possible moves. Sometimes a queen can be trapped, like in the position below.
Note: This is just an example of a what a trap should be like-every possible ...
4
votes
2answers
193 views
The Dropper, But With A Twist
Here's a piece-drop puzzle of my own.
In the below position, a White piece is to be dropped onto the board. This means that, before White can move, they must legally put a single piece on them board.
...
2
votes
1answer
151 views
That Ain't Right… #4
Here's a small head-scratcher for you all today.
In the above position, it is White to play and mate Black in four moves, assuming that Black plays their best moves.
However, there is a catch—there ...
5
votes
2answers
243 views
Tempoverlustspiel
Tempoverlustspiel-A German word that roughly translates to "loss of tempo game." An interesting chess term that I leaned a while ago
With White to move in the below position, how many moves will it ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
A Breeze Through
Here's a small problem for you all to breeze through tonight!
It's White to move and selfmate themselves in 7 turns.
Can you tell me what the special concept is that arises from this problem?
As ...
7
votes
1answer
533 views
Don't bully your little sister at chess
This puzzle was inspired by @RewanDemontay's puzzle De-zephyr The Solution!. Rewan kindly granted me permission for making this puzzle and citing his as my source of inspiration. I thought of naming ...
25
votes
3answers
5k views
A Checkmate of Dubious Legality
Full-size image
Black has just delivered checkmate in the above position - but is the position legal?
If no, explain why.
If yes, give Black's mating move.
FEN: 3r4/2r4b/8/8/8/3Kp3/5k2/8 w - - 0 1
...
6
votes
1answer
175 views
De-zephyr The Solution!
Here's another original chess problem of mine for you all to solve today!
In the following position, White wants to stalemate Black even though they can win, for unknown, unclear, unexplained, and ...
2
votes
1answer
179 views
The Sea Snake's Slithering Problem
Here's a really long chess puzzle, not made by me, that has the "sea snake" theme, which just basically means that it's super long.
It's White to move and checkmate Black in 122 moves.
Please do not ...
5
votes
2answers
94 views
Piece-drop Mate #4
Piece-Drop Mate
Piece-drop Mate #2
Piece-drop Mate #3
Here's another installation of the Piece-drop Mate series!
I'll try to be more explicit about the rules of the puzzle, as recommended by @...
6
votes
2answers
113 views
Piece-drop Mate #3
Piece-Drop Mate
Piece-drop Mate #2
Here's a third one and an interesting one at that:
Your task is to place a piece on the board as White and checkmate Black.
The correct answer is the one which ...
4
votes
3answers
120 views
Piece-drop Mate #2
Piece-Drop Mate #1
Here's a second piece-drop mate, but with a twist.
Just like last time, you may only place the maximum number of pieces allowed on the board in a regular game of chess. You're ...
5
votes
1answer
201 views
Piece-Drop Mate
Find a way to checkmate Black by placing pieces!
You must use as little material as you can(in points).
You cannot place more pieces than allowed in a regular game of chess!
The Position
Good luck! ...
2
votes
0answers
85 views
The Switchup-2.0
This question from last year (which in itself was anticipated on CSE two years prior) has a complete switchup of all non-pawn pieces on the board. The idea is to optimize the amount of moves needed to ...
7
votes
0answers
192 views
An Unusual Amount Of Help
Another day, another helpmate to solve!
Here's a really complicated one!
The Black pawn on Black's first rank moves like a normal Black pawn. It's White to move first.
Given that White moves to ...
6
votes
1answer
516 views
Chess Construction Challenge #2-Check!
Xit's time for round two!
Given that:
-Black has 6 pawns and a king
-White ehas three pieces of any kind you to deduce the identity of and a king
Construct:
-A nlegal position in which both sides ...
7
votes
2answers
231 views
A “Simple” Task
Here's a "simple" task for all of you solvers out there: With White to play first, and with both sides working together to checkmate White, aka a helpmate, what is the quickest way for Black to ...
4
votes
2answers
196 views
Chess Construction Challenge #1-Read First Please!
I'm starting a new series in which I set a very specific goal with a unique (to be more specifically defined here in a bit) answer in which the solver must construct a chess position, sometimes a game,...
2
votes
4answers
206 views
Find Those Chess Notations! #7
It's been awhile, so welcome to my series if you haven't seen it before!
Number Of Moves: 15
Checkmater: Black
Given Game:
? ?
? ?
? ?
? ?
? fxe3
? ?
? ?
? ?
? dxe4
? dxe6
? ?
? ?
? fxe5
? ?
? ...
18
votes
3answers
1k views
Where are the Wazirs?
A wazir is a fairy chess piece that moves like a rook, but can go only one square.
&...
11
votes
2answers
549 views
The Coded Chessboard
"If you're worthy, the secret is found within you," the wise old lady had told you before you had entered the villain's lair. When the townspeople had told you to seek her out for advice, you thought ...
8
votes
1answer
279 views
3D Chess - Stale NBA (kNight-Bishop Assault)
This is my very first chess puzzle. Any constructive feedback is more than welcome. Thanks!
Introducing 3D Chess!
To make things simple for the first time, we are using a $3\times3\times3$ ...
7
votes
4answers
659 views
Tricky Tricky!-Can you find the secret?
Here's a selfmate problem that just might be baffle you! Thus, I name it "Tricky Tricky!"
It's White to move and selfmate themselves in 8 moves.
Can you find the secret?
As always, no computers ...
18
votes
4answers
2k views
White's last move?
You guys have proven to be quite capable chess detectives.
So here is one more mystery for you to solve:
What was White's last move?
