hard chess – Page 2 – Daily Chess Musings

Chess Position Worth Sharing 138

Tonight’s chess position comes from a game played by a talented student. Avik (black) found himself in a difficult situation where his opponent was threatening checkmate with Qh8 and also threatening to capture his queen with Rxa4. Avik, who goes by crosserbishop on chess.com, analyzed all of his checks, captures and threats and went onContinueContinue reading “Chess Position Worth Sharing 138”

Winning Chess Moves: Jonkman vs Nepomniachtchi, 1/18/2007

Ian Nepomniachtchi scored an impressive 10/13 in the 2007 edition of Corus Group C Tournament played in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands from the 13th-28th of January. However, his strong performance was only good enough for a second place finish as Michal Krasenkow took first with 10.5/13. Today’s puzzle comes from round 5 where Harmen JonkmanContinueContinue reading “Winning Chess Moves: Jonkman vs Nepomniachtchi, 1/18/2007”

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! 58

When you think about it, our whole life is about solving puzzles. Chess problems are similar to life problems in that solving the puzzle requires careful thought and that through practice, we can improve our ability to quickly find the best solution. So enjoy our daily chess puzzles and smile knowing that by doing soContinueContinue reading “Betcha Can’t Solve This #Chess Puzzle! 58”

#Chess Position Worth Sharing 130

Some of the most brilliant chess puzzles involve material sacrifice for the sake of the mate. Here however, the sacrifice is not merely needed to mate but in fact to avoid loss. One wrong move, and the outcome is completely out of your hands. White to move and mate in 4 (Skuja vs Rozenbergs, Latvia,ContinueContinue reading “#Chess Position Worth Sharing 130”