Author Archives: chessmusings

Test your chess: daily chess puzzle # 43

Happy Halloween (Gambit)

There is a unique horror the players with the black pieces feel when the Four Knights Opening takes a dark turn into the Halloween Gambit. As white, remember to make black’s Knights run… Should black do something unexpected, just grin like it is all part of your Halloween fun! Here is an example from oneContinueContinue reading “Happy Halloween (Gambit)”

What are the Advantages/Disadvantages of Castling in Chess?

My answer as posted on Quora here: http://qr.ae/DyzTt Castling is the only time in chess when a player is allowed to move two of his/her own pieces simultaneously. The rearrangement that occurs when a player castles is beneficial because the king usually finds increased safety away from the dangerous center files while the rook boostsContinueContinue reading “What are the Advantages/Disadvantages of Castling in Chess?”

My Answer to, “What is one of the hardest mate in 2 puzzles?”

Originally answered on Quora here: http://qr.ae/DyvkB One of my favorite composers of chess problems is the late Gyorgy Bakcsi. Gyorgy astounds me with how he was able to take a simple premise, such as a forced mate in two, and turn it into a source of such beautiful complexity. Below is one of my favoriteContinueContinue reading “My Answer to, “What is one of the hardest mate in 2 puzzles?””