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.
375
questions
2
votes
1answer
179 views
A challenge-find the shortest solution!
I come here with the challenge today-find the shortest solution!
Recently, I set out to created the longest helpmate possible, not caring for legality or duals I have created this monster as a result....
12
votes
1answer
446 views
White to mate in 2
This is a cryptic crossword puzzle. Clues are normal, however some entries clash with one another. Each such clash is resolved by adding the clashing letters using the standard A1-Z26 numerology, ...
12
votes
3answers
2k views
Only one square for the white king
Consider this position.
It is white's turn to move. Your job is to place the white king so that white have an overwhelming (winning) advantage. Where is it?
Please note that:
While Queen usually ...
5
votes
1answer
838 views
And another one bites the dust
I recently found an extraordinary moremover online today. Have fun finding the solution!
It’s White to move and mate in 19 moves!
Bonus: Explain the title in relation to the solution!
Jozef Lozek, ...
13
votes
1answer
189 views
Queens of the Square Sudoku Table
. 6 . | 8 . 3 | . 7 .
. . 1 | . . . | . 6 9
7 . . | . . . | . . 5
---------+---------+--------
. . . | 9 . . | . 1 .
. . . | . . . | . . 4
. . 5 | . 1 . | . ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
A Plethora of Puzzled Pawns
Inspired by this question
According to FIDE rules,
the pawn may move to a square occupied by an opponent’s piece diagonally in front of it on an adjacent file, capturing that piece.
So, what's in ...
7
votes
1answer
254 views
The Newest Cycle
A wonderful new chess problem has appeared lately that is most wonderful. I am here to share it with the world today. But you must solve it in order know about it’s glory!
It’s White to move and ...
3
votes
1answer
162 views
Peaceable Bishops on a 10x10 grid version 2
Can you place 42 bishops with 6 bishops for each of the 7 colors on a 10x10 grid, such that no two bishops of different colors attack each other?
Here are some similar questions:
Peaceable Bishops ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Peaceable Bishops on an 10x10 grid
Can you place 22 red, 22 white and 22 black bishops on a 10x10 grid, such that no two bishops of different colours attack each other?
Here is a similar question for 8x8 grid: Peaceable Bishops on an ...
7
votes
2answers
635 views
Peaceable Bishops on an 8x8 grid
Place an equal number of red, white and black bishops on a 8x8 chess grid, such that no two bishops of different colours attack each other. What is the largest number of bishops you can place? Bonus ...
2
votes
1answer
168 views
Judge this position
An odd chess crime has occurred. The below position, a criminal one, was on the board when it was intercepted.
Is it a legal or illegal chess position? Give reasonable proof as to why. You are to ...
4
votes
1answer
100 views
You Tell Me What To Choose
I found this nice problem in A.C. White’s 1912 book “The Theory Of Pawn Promotion” the other day. Enjoy!
It’s White to move and checkmate Black in 5 moves, Don’t forget to explain the title!
...
7
votes
3answers
684 views
Fewest Chess Pieces
What is the least amount of chess pieces you can use to cover the board with their possible moves and what is their placement? You can only use the pieces that are found on the chessboard (from the ...
11
votes
2answers
384 views
Checkmate with two knights, but with a twist
It is well known that two knights and a king alone cannot force a checkmate. But that it on a 64-sqaure board.
According to Edward Winter’s C.N. 5449, William Shinkman found a way to give mate in a ...
2
votes
1answer
155 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!
Johann Christoffel Van Gool, Le Journal de Genève 1979
3
votes
4answers
164 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
601 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
170 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.
Gijs van Breukelen, Schakend Nederland, 1981, Special Honoring ...
2
votes
1answer
117 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
132 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
209 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
251 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
180 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.
David Gurgenidze & ...
4
votes
1answer
158 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
133 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
552 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
214 views
Something Simple
A simple task: It’s White to move selfmate themselves in three moves. White pawns are moving up.
4
votes
1answer
155 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
163 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
541 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
334 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
153 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
267 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
168 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!
*Oleg Pervakov and Karen Sumbatian, Shakmaty v ...
9
votes
3answers
429 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. No looking up the solution please!
Nikita M. Plaksinm ...
3
votes
3answers
225 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
202 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
165 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
268 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
123 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
543 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
183 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
202 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.
Миљанић, ...
5
votes
2answers
100 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 @...
