1. Chess Merit Badge
Chess Problems
by Joseph L. Bell
© 2011

2. Types of Chess Problems
Direct mate - Checkmate in one or more moves
Stalemate or force a draw - Eliminate all legal moves, or force a repetition of moves
Studies - A realistic position where White is to move with the goal to win or draw
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3. Types of Chess Problems (cont’d)
Helpmate - Black moves first and cooperates with White to checkmate his King
Self-mate - White moves first and forces Black to checkmate the White King
Series-move - White makes several moves without reply to achieve a given goal)
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4. Types of Chess Problems (cont’d)
Retrograde Analysis - Find the legal moves that led to the problem position
Puzzle problems - Non-game puzzles that use chess pieces
Knight’s Tour, or 8 Queen’s Puzzle
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5. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
Look at the “King’s field”, which includes the square the King is on, and the squares around the King.
There are usually squares the Black King cannot legally move to because one of his pieces is there, or there is a threat from the White pieces.
Find ways to attack the King, and the remaining squares around the King
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6. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
The set of squares that the Black King can move to often gives a strong clue to the kind moves that will give checkmate.
Bishop, Queen or Knight can cover diagonal squares.
Rook or Queen cover squares in a row or column.
A discovered check can cover a triangle next to the King in a single move.
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7. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
Look for the flight squares that the Black King can move to.
The Black King may be able to move away, or forcing the King move to another square could create an opportunity to give checkmate.
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8. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
Look at which pieces are pinned and where it may be possible to break the pin on a piece.
Pins to the King prevent a piece from moving, and breaking the pin makes it possible to move that piece.
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9. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
Look at possible checks to the White King from the Black pieces (or vice versa).
Harassing checks can slow down or stop a checkmate attack.
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10. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
Composed chess problems are often designed to hide the solution, so it may be necessary to look at some rather odd first moves (called the “key”).
Odd key moves that give Black more freedom to move and open up many options, or moves that reduce the options for White moves, are valued by chess problem composers.
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11. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
Analyze options in a methodical way, so that you do not miss the solution.
Some first moves may have several responses, and each one needs to be analyzed.
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12. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
Mate in two move problems can be solved by looking at all possible moves.
For mate in three or more moves though, you will need to know some shortcuts you learn from practice in solving simpler direct mate problems.
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13. Tips for Direct Mate Problems
When no other move seems to work, the composer may have implied a move, like castling or an en passant pawn capture.
If the King and Rook are on the initial squares, assume that castling is possible.
If pawns are positioned on adjacent files in row 4 or 5, assume that the first move could be to capture a pawn en passant.
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14. Problem Theme: Knight’s Wheel
Mate in 2 Moves after 1. R1c7
1. … Nc6 prevents White playing 2. Nc3#, but allows 2. R(c7)d7#
1. … Ne6 prevents White playing 2. Nc3#, but allows 2. R(e7)d7#
… Nf5 prevents White playing 2. Qd3#, but allows 2. Re5#
1. … Nf3 prevents White playing 2. Qxh5#, but allows 2. Qe4#
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15. Problem Theme: Knight’s Wheel
Mate in 2 Moves after 1. R1c7 (continued)
1. … Ne2 prevents White playing 2. Qd3#, but allows 2. Qxh5#
1. … Nc2 prevents White playing 2. Qxh5#, but allows 2. b4#
1. … Nxb3 prevents White playing 2. Nc3#, but allows 2. Qd3#
1. … Nb5 prevents White playing 2. Nc3#, but allows 2. Rc5#
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16. Problem Theme: Knight’s Wheel
Mate in 2 Moves after 1. R1c7 (continued)
Other checkmates, that are not in the “Knight’s Wheel”:
1. … Rc5 prevents White playing 2. Nc3#, but allows 2. Rxc5#
1. … Re5 (or Qe4) prevents White playing 2. Qxh5#, but allows 2. Nc3#
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17. Chess Problems as Art The Knight’s Wheel problem as Art:
The solution tells a tragic and heroic story
The Black Knight stands by his King to the end, defending with every possible move from one threat after another, until the Knight ultimately overwhelmed.
The solution follows a theme or repeated pattern, and completes the Knight Wheel, which this an artistic accomplishment in composing chess problems.
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18. Endgame Problems White to move What is White’s best move?
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19. Requirements Do the following:
Set up a chessboard with the white king on e1, the whit rooks on a1 and h1, and the black king on e5. With White to move first, demonstrate how to force checkmate on the black king.
Set up and solve five direct-mate problems provided by your merit badge counselor.
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20. Requirement 5c
With White to move first, demonstrate how to force checkmate on the black king.
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21. Mate in 1
Problem #1
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22. Mate in 1
Problem #2
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23. Mate in 1
Problem #3
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24. Mate in 1
Problem #4
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25. Mate in 1
Problem #5
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26. Mate in 1
Problem #6
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27. Mate in 1
Problem #7
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28. Mate in 1
Problem #8
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29. Mate in 1
Problem #9
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30. Mate in 1
Problem #10
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31. Mate in 1
Problem #11
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32. Mate in 2
Problem #12
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33. Mate in 2
Problem #13
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34. Mate in 2
Problem #14
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35. Mate in 2
Problem #15
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36. Mate in 2
Problem #16
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37. Mate in 2
Problem #17
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38. Mate in 2
Problem #18
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39. Mate in 2
Problem #19
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40. Mate in 2
Problem #20
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41. Mate in 2
Problem #21
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42. Mate in 2
Problem #22
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43. Mate in 2
Problem #23
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44. Mate in 2
Problem #24
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45. Mate in 2
Problem #25
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46. Mate in 2
Problem #26
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47. Questions ?
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48. How to do Requirement 5c Fast
Rh4 Kf5
Ra5+ Kg6
Rb4 Kf6
Rb6+ Ke7
Ra7 Kd8
Rb8#
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49. Solutions Problem # Solution Endgame
1. Rb5 c1=Q 2. Rc5+ Qxc5 ½-½ forced Stalemate! 1
1. Bf6# 2
1. cxb4# 3
1. Qxg8# 4
1. d8Q# (or d8R#) 5
1. Bc7# 6
1. Nf6#
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50. Solutions (cont’d) Problem # Solution 7 1. c5# 8 1. Rh8# 9 1. Ra5# 10
1. Qc6# 11
1. 0-0# 12
1. Rxb7+ Ka8 2. Nb6# 13
1. Qe4+ Kh5 (or Kh3) 2. Rh1#
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51. Solutions (cont’d) Problem # Solution 14
1. Rh7+ Nxh7 2. g7# (or 1. Rh7+ Rxh7 2. g7#) 15
1. Nc7+ Rxc7 2. Nd6# 16
1. Bb2 Bxb2 2. f8Q# 17
1. e8Q Nxe8 2. Bf5# 18
1. g4 Rxg4 2. Rh8# (or 1. g4 Kh6 2. Rh8#) 19
1. Qc8+ Kxc8 2. Nd6# (or 1. Nd6+ Ka6 2. Qa5#) 20
1. Nd6+ Rxd6 2. Rb8#
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52. Solutions (cont’d) Problem # Solution 21 1. Rc8 Qxc8 2. Nf7# 22
1. Rg7+ Qxg7 2. Ne3# (or 1. Rg7+ Kf5 2. Rg5#) 23
1. Rxb5 Rxb5 2. Nc4# (or 1. Rxb5 Nxb5 2. Nc4#) 24
1. Re8+ Kxe8 2. Rg8# 25
1. Rg3 fxg3 2. fxg3# (or 1. Rg3 R(any) 2. Rxh3#) 26
1. g7 Nxg7 2. Ng6#
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