Tag Archives: difficult chess puzzles

Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 83

I spent my lunch break thoroughly engaged with a chess puzzle by celebrated Czech composer František Richter (1913-1971). Richter, who earned an International Master of Chess Composition posthumously in 2016, is most commonly known for his endgame studies but, as you can see below, he was a multifaceted composer whose works on direct mates areContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 83”

Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 82

I spent my afternoon today revisiting a couple of my favorite chess puzzles composed by Johan Axel Åkerblom (10/21/1904 – 6/5/1980). Åkerblom was a strong chess player and a professional journalist from Avesta, Sweden. However, he is most famous for his chess compositions and his contributions in this field earned him the FIDE title ofContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 82”

Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 80

Buddhist monks engage in a form of meditation known as visualization, where they focus on a single mental image that serves as a focal point for their practice. This mental exercise not only enhances their mindfulness but also deepens their clarity of focus. I use a similar technique to focus on solving chess puzzles whileContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 80”

Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 79

I solved the puzzle below by using the brute force method of calculating all possible moves three steps deep to find the checkmate in two moves. This method is oftentimes a more appropriate choice than the “Checks, Captures and Threats” system because composers of mate in 2 puzzles commonly start with a “quiet move” toContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve this #Chess Puzzle! 79”

Chess Position Worth Sharing! 156

In classical music, “variation” is a technique composers use to present material in an altered form. Oftentimes, this altered material is a variation on a theme. Similarly, chess composers use variation on a theme to create a companion piece by slightly altering the position to create a secondary puzzle. In Chess Positions Worth Sharing 155,ContinueContinue reading “Chess Position Worth Sharing! 156”

Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 76

It is perfectly natural to get a little frustrated when you can’t solve a chess puzzle. So, it’s important to remember that not all chess puzzles are meant to be solved. Some chess compositions are intended to be appreciated as art. Gustavus Charles Reichhelm Most chess enthusiasts are not familiar with the name Gustavus ReichhelmContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle 76”

Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 74

To understand why this mate in 4 puzzle by Josef Halumbirek won First Prize in the Neue Leipziger Zeitung for September, 1929, you first need to solve it. Of course, that’s easier said than done which is why I placed this Halumbirek masterpiece into the “Betcha Can’t Solve This” category! White to move and mateContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 74”

Chess Position Worth Sharing 151!

Chess Composer Josef Halumbirek (3/7/1891 – 6/23/1968) I recently discovered a chess composer named Josef Halumbirek (3/7/1891 – 6/23/1968) whose problems and studies are a real pleasure to work out. Halumbirek’s compositional style reminds me a bit of Sam Loyd’s as his chess problems tend to be rather simple looking at first glance but containContinueContinue reading “Chess Position Worth Sharing 151!”

Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 72

The British Chess Magazine really hit the snail on the head by including this wonderful mate-in-2 chess puzzle in the January issue of 1911. I solved this Frederick Forrest Lawrie Alexander composition at a rather sluggish pace which is why I betcha can’t solve this chess puzzle at all! But go ahead and prove meContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 72”

Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 65

Some mate-in-3 compositions are much trickier than others. This particular chess puzzle by Erich Ernest Zepler is diabolical! White to move and mate in 3 (by Erich Ernest Zepler from the January 1925 Chemnitzer Wochenschach).

Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 62

Whether you prefer racking your brain, wracking your brain or even wrecking your brain, this chess puzzle is for you. White to move and mate in two by Herbert Siegfried Oskar Ahues (Troll, 1/2001). Whit to move and mate in 2 (Herbert Siegfried Oskar Ahues, Troll 2001).

Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 60

I enjoy mating puzzles where the target king is surrounded by open squares. In these puzzles, the appearance of freedom for the target king is only an illusion because, in reality, the open squares surrounding it are not free from the influences of distant pieces. In tonight’s puzzle, the black king appears to have severalContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 60”

Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 59

Considering that the black king is utterly alone in a forest of white pieces, this mate in two puzzle is rather tricky. Can you find the only two move checkmating line for white? White to move and mate in 2 (composed by Nils Adrian Bakke, 2006).

Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 8

One of my all time favorite puzzles. I first saw this position in Reno, Nevada in 1999 while having breakfast with the late GM Eduard Gufeld. White to move and win! (Hint: It’s always a good plan to treat a grandmaster to breakfast.)