Puzzle Challenge 2 – Solutions

by Anirudh Daga
3/31/2024 – In our second ChessBase Challenge instalment we gave you a set of puzzles that were meant to challenge your mind. Were you able to solve the positions, each with a mind-boggling idea required to reach the goal? You had two weeks to do so. Today we provide the solutions.

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Puzzle 1

Hannes Baumann, Schweizerische Schachzeitung 2017
White to play and mate in seven

Solution: 1.Nf2+ Kg1 2.Ng4 Kh1 (2...h1Q? 3.Ne2#) 3.Na2 Kg1 4.Nc3 Kh1 (4...h1Q? 5.Ne2#) 5.Ne4 Kg1 6.Ng3 h1=Q 7.Ne2#

As many readers pointed out in the comments, this was indeed a “more-mover” rather than a study, with the stipulation needing to be a mate in seven. Nevertheless, the idea of the composition can be seen where the white knight (starting from c1) makes a very long round-trip, to finally come to e2, a place where it could have reached four moves ago! The intention behind this is interesting, since Kh1 must be prevented and the quickest way to do that is to manoeuvre the knight to g3.

Here you can see all the moves the two white knights must make in order to trap the black king.

Puzzle 2

Richard Reti, 1922
White to play and win

Solution: 1.Nd4+ Kc5 2.Kh1!! Bf8 3.Ne6+ Kb5 4.Nxf8 1-0. Refutations after Black's other defensive moves are given in the replay window below.

A relatively famous study where Richard Reti’s main idea was to show the domination of the black bishop. Wherever the black bishop moves after 2. Kh1!, it will always be met by knight fork winning the piece! And of course, if Black was to take the white knight, the white pawn would evidently be unstoppable. Incredible, short and sweet study!

Puzzle 3

Richard Réti/André Chèron/Pal Benkö, 1928/2014
White to play and win

Solution: 1.e6 Kd2 2.Ne5 Rh1 3.e7+ Rh3+ 4.Ka2 Rh8 5.Nc4+ Kc2 6.Nd6 Rh5 7.b4!

It is surprisingly hard to visualise, though there is no shocking move, as in the previous puzzle. 2.Ne5 is vital to block the e-file where 2…Re1 is met by the cunning fork of 3.Nf3+. It is particularly important to think about forks when there is a passed pawn present, but this study goes on to show how important it is to think of all the different ideas and tactics present!

In the original Reti study (1928) the White king was on b4 and the pawn on b3. This was "cooked" by Andrė Chėron. But he also tried to restore the study by placing the pawn on b2 and the White king on b3. The idea was good, but he was unable to get the execution right. In the end, it was left to Pal Benko to find the right solution. So here you have three great minds at work, Reti, Chėron and Benko! Here's the article by Pal Benko which inspired me.

All solutions in the Replay App

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1.Nf2+ Kg1 2.Ng4 Kh1 2...h1Q? 3.Ne2# 3.Na2‼ A counter-intuitive move! The point is we want to be able to place the knight on g3 when Black plays Kh1-g1, forcing h2-h1 in the next move, which would then be met with Ng3-e2 mate. Obviously, 3.Ne2?? (intending Ng3) stalemates Black; hence, the knight has to cavort to its destination (g3) in a roundabout way via the edge of the board! Kg1 4.Nc3 Kh1 4...h1Q? 5.Ne2# 5.Ne4 Kg1 6.Ng3 We have met our goal! Black’s only legal option here is to push h2-h1, and regardless of what Black promotes on h1, White mates. h1Q 7.Ne2#
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Baumann,H-White to play and win-2017Schweizerische Schachzeitung
Reti,R-White to play and wn-1–01922Hastings and St.Leonards Post
Reti,R-White to play and win-1–01928Denken und Raten

In the above ChessBase Replay App you can click on the moves or use the arrow keys to replay them. Click on the fan button to get engine assistance.


FM Claus Dieter Meyer has put under the microscope a comprehensive fund of topical and timeless games / fragments. On video Hamburg GM Dr. Karsten Müller has outlined corner points of Meyer's work and created 14 tests plus 10 interactive test sets.



Anirudh was born in Delhi, India, and now lives in Singapore. He is one of the world's most promising young problem composers, specializing in positions that are fascinating and unconventional. He became interested in chess composition after winning the Christmastide Solving Contest, at the age of twelve. Anirudh grew from strength to strength, competed at the World Chess Solving Championships, and composed numerous problems that have all found their due place in reputable problem magazines. It is his goal to spread the joy of chess composition and solving!

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