Puzzle 1

Place the two kings and two white rooks on the board so that White to play can checkmate in one move – in four different ways.

This seemingly easy yet deceptive puzzle requires you to think in a creative way. How can the pieces be placed to maximise the threats to the king, and at the same time have four different mates in one? There is only one solution – surely you can find it!

Puzzle 2

Magical Chess Endgames Vol. 1 & 2 + The magic of chess tactics

In over 4 hours in front of the camera, Karsten Müller presents to you sensations from the world of endgames - partly reaching far beyond standard techniques and rules of thumb - and rounds off with some cases of with own examples.

H. August, O.Brennert, T.R. Dawson, N. Hoeg, V. Onitiu, Skakbladet 1924

This position is perfectly legal, but your task is to find out what was the last move played. We will not mention whether it was played by White or Black, but there is a unique last move, which would have resulted in this position.

Puzzle 3

Niels Hoeg, Skakbladet 1924

A similar question to the one above: this is a legal position, so what was the last move played? In both positions, you must use your analytical skills and retro analytical thinking (in simple words - think both backwards and forwards!)

Here's a final chess problem, one that is bound to bring a smile to your face:

Here we want you to think about how White can win the game. Actually, he can force a mate! Guess in how many moves. Once you have thought of the strategy that White should employ, you can test it in the above diagram – which will defend for Black. Count the number of moves you need to deliver mate. Clicking on the notation button below the board will show you the moves you have entered. Cross your heart: isn't this the longest forced mate you have ever solved?

Please do not post any solutions in the feedback section below. We will give them to you next week, in a special live solving video with a strong chess player.

Master Class Vol.17 - Boris Spassky

In this video course, experts including Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Karsten Müller and Oliver Reeh, examine the games of Boris Spassky. Let them show you which openings Spassky chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were and much more.

Links

• Five Freestyle Opening Tips!
• Watch them solving: John Nunn | Vera Spillner