Puzzles for you to solve

by Frederic Friedel
2/4/2025 – Ready to test your wits, your ability to handle unusual chess problems? We have selected three really challenging examples for you to solve – problems that have come up with some outrageous ideas. See if you can find them, and record the time it takes you to solve them. In a week we will provide you with the full solutions, diligently explained in YouTube videos.
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Here are this month's puzzle challenge. You can move the pieces on the diagrams below to analyse, to try out ideas. In the third puzzle the diagram will in fact defend against your efforts to win. You must find the correct attack to secure the win.

This is the key position from a famous study. Black is threatening to capture the white rook, which must move away from c7. But then Black plays ...Rg5+ and ...Rxh5, after which the position is a clear draw. So how can White win? With an astonishing manoeuvre which is not easy to spot. We have switched off the diagram engine, so you have to find it all on your own!

This is a truly amazing study. The black pawn is about to promote, and it seems to be impossible to stop it. 1.Re1. But after 1...Nxd3 it is attacked and needs to stay on the first row. 2.Rh1 falls to the fork 2...Nf2+, as does 2.Rf1 h1Q! 3.Rxh1 Nf2+. So how can White stop the black pawn. Try to figure out the strategy, and prepare for a final position that is not easy to spot. Once again, we have switched off the diagram engine, so you have to work out everything all on your own! Look for the truly unexpected.

Here's one which you can play out against the diagram. The point is of course how you successfully queen the a6-pawn. Try to do it against the tenacious defence of the diagram engine. Use the cursor keys or tap the notation button below the board to take back move that do not work. And time yourself: how long did it take for you to solve this study?

Please do not post any solutions to the above problems in the feedback section below. Naturally you are welcome to tell us how you fared, whether you were able to solve the puzzles, how long it took you, how many cups of coffee were required.

Video solutions of all three puzzles will be provided in a week, together with full sources.

Editor-in-Chief emeritus of the ChessBase News page. Studied Philosophy and Linguistics at the University of Hamburg and Oxford, graduating with a thesis on speech act theory and moral language. He started a university career but switched to science journalism, producing documentaries for German TV. In 1986 he co-founded ChessBase.

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