Transcript Chess Merit Badge Chess Problems by Joseph L. Bell © 2011 Types of Chess Problems 1.

Chess Merit Badge
Chess Problems
by Joseph L. Bell
© 2011
Types of Chess Problems
1. Direct mate - Checkmate in one or
more moves
2. Stalemate or force a draw - Eliminate
all legal moves, or force a repetition of
moves
3. Studies - A realistic position where
White is to move with the goal to win
or draw
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Types of Chess Problems (cont’d)
4. Helpmate - Black moves first and
cooperates with White to checkmate
his King
5. Self-mate - White moves first and
forces Black to checkmate the White
King
6. Series-move - White makes several
moves without reply to achieve a given
goal)
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Types of Chess Problems (cont’d)
7. Retrograde Analysis - Find the legal
moves that led to the problem position
8. Puzzle problems - Non-game puzzles
that use chess pieces
– Knight’s Tour, or 8 Queen’s Puzzle
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
1. Look at the “King’s field”, which
includes the square the King is on, and
the squares around the King.
– There are usually squares the Black King
cannot legally move to because one of his
pieces is there, or there is a threat from
the White pieces.
– Find ways to attack the King, and the
remaining squares around the King
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
2. The set of squares that the Black King
can move to often gives a strong clue
to the kind moves that will give
checkmate.
– Bishop, Queen or Knight can cover
diagonal squares.
– Rook or Queen cover squares in a row or
column.
– A discovered check can cover a triangle
next to the King in a single move.
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
3. Look for the flight squares that the
Black King can move to.
– The Black King may be able to move
away, or forcing the King move to another
square could create an opportunity to
give checkmate.
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
4. Look at which pieces are pinned and
where it may be possible to break the
pin on a piece.
– Pins to the King prevent a piece from
moving, and breaking the pin makes it
possible to move that piece.
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
5. Look at possible checks to the White
King from the Black pieces (or vice
versa).
– Harassing checks can slow down or stop a
checkmate attack.
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
6. Composed chess problems are often
designed to hide the solution, so it
may be necessary to look at some
rather odd first moves (called the
“key”).
– Odd key moves that give Black more
freedom to move and open up many
options, or moves that reduce the options
for White moves, are valued by chess
problem composers.
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
7. Analyze options in a methodical way,
so that you do not miss the solution.
– Some first moves may have several
responses, and each one needs to be
analyzed.
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
8. Mate in two move problems can be
solved by looking at all possible
moves.
– For mate in three or more moves though,
you will need to know some shortcuts you
learn from practice in solving simpler
direct mate problems.
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Tips for Direct Mate Problems
9. When no other move seems to work,
the composer may have implied a
move, like castling or an en passant
pawn capture.
– If the King and Rook are on the initial
squares, assume that castling is possible.
– If pawns are positioned on adjacent files
in row 4 or 5, assume that the first move
could be to capture a pawn en passant.
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Problem Theme: Knight’s Wheel
Mate in 2 Moves after
1. R1c7
1. … Nc6 prevents White
playing 2. Nc3#, but
allows 2. R(c7)d7#
1. … Ne6 prevents White
playing 2. Nc3#, but
allows 2. R(e7)d7#
1. … Nf5 prevents White
playing 2. Qd3#, but
allows 2. Re5#
1. … Nf3 prevents White
playing 2. Qxh5#, but
allows 2. Qe4#
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Problem Theme: Knight’s Wheel
Mate in 2 Moves after
1. R1c7 (continued)
1. … Ne2 prevents White
playing 2. Qd3#, but
allows 2. Qxh5#
1. … Nc2 prevents White
playing 2. Qxh5#, but
allows 2. b4#
1. … Nxb3 prevents White
playing 2. Nc3#, but
allows 2. Qd3#
1. … Nb5 prevents White
playing 2. Nc3#, but
allows 2. Rc5#
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Problem Theme: Knight’s Wheel
Mate in 2 Moves after
1. R1c7 (continued)
Other checkmates, that are
not in the “Knight’s Wheel”:
1. … Rc5 prevents White
playing 2. Nc3#, but
allows 2. Rxc5#
1. … Re5 (or Qe4) prevents
White playing 2. Qxh5#,
but allows 2. Nc3#
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Endgame Problems
White to move
What is White’s best
move?
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Mate in 1
Problem #1
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Mate in 1
Problem #2
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Mate in 1
Problem #3
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Mate in 1
Problem #4
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Mate in 1
Problem #5
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Mate in 1
Problem #6
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Mate in 1
Problem #7
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Mate in 1
Problem #8
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Mate in 1
Problem #9
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Mate in 1
Problem #10
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Mate in 1
Problem #11
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Mate in 2
Problem #12
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Mate in 2
Problem #13
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Mate in 2
Problem #14
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Mate in 2
Problem #15
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Mate in 2
Problem #16
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Mate in 2
Problem #17
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Mate in 2
Problem #18
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Mate in 2
Problem #19
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Mate in 2
Problem #20
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Mate in 2
Problem #21
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Mate in 2
Problem #22
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Mate in 2
Problem #23
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Mate in 2
Problem #24
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Mate in 2
Problem #25
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Mate in 2
Problem #26
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Questions ?
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Solutions
Problem #
Endgame
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Solution
1. Rb5 c1=Q 2. Rc5+ Qxc5 ½-½ forced Stalemate!
1
1. Bf6#
2
1. cxb4#
3
1. Qxg8#
4
1. d8Q# (or d8R#)
5
1. Bc7#
6
1. Nf6#
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Solutions (cont’d)
Problem #
Solution
7
1. c5#
8
1. Rh8#
9
1. Ra5#
10
1. Qc6#
11
1. 0-0#
12
1. Rxb7+ Ka8 2. Nb6#
13
1. Qe4+ Kh5 (or Kh3) 2. Rh1#
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Solutions (cont’d)
Problem #
Solution
14
1. Rh7+ Nxh7 2. g7# (or 1. Rh7+ Rxh7 2. g7#)
15
1. Nc7+ Rxc7 2. Nd6#
16
1. Bb2 Bxb2 2. f8Q#
17
1. e8Q Nxe8 2. Bf5#
18
1. g4 Rxg4 2. Rh8# (or 1. g4 Kh6 2. Rh8#)
19
1. Qc8+ Kxc8 2. Nd6# (or 1. Nd6+ Ka6 2. Qa5#)
20
1. Nd6+ Rxd6 2. Rb8#
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Solutions (cont’d)
Problem #
Solution
21
1. Rc8 Qxc8 2. Nf7#
22
1. Rg7+ Qxg7 2. Ne3# (or 1. Rg7+ Kf5 2. Rg5#)
23
1. Rxb5 Rxb5 2. Nc4# (or 1. Rxb5 Nxb5 2. Nc4#)
24
1. Re8+ Kxe8 2. Rg8#
25
1. Rg3 fxg3 2. fxg3# (or 1. Rg3 R(any) 2. Rxh3#)
26
1. g7 Nxg7 2. Ng6#
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