Rook Hooks and Queen Treks By Jeff Coakley Artist appreciation month continues with more "brain rackers" from British puzzle master Henry Dudeney (1857-1930). As a prelude to the Dudeney conception that follows, here is a basic example of a series-mate. 1 Series-mate in seven White plays seven moves in a row to mate Black Only the last move may give check. Captures are allowed. White may not place their own king in check. Black does not get a turn. The next puzzle is a version of a Dudeney work called "An Amazing Dilemma" from Amusements in Mathematics (1917). 2 Place the black king on the board so that White does not have a series-mate in any number of … [Read more...]
The Five Coin Dudeney
The Five Coin Dudeney by Jeff Coakley Get out your lucky pennies. It's Friday the 13th! And time for round two of artist appreciation month, featuring four more puzzles by the great Henry Dudeney. Plus a couple Cafe originals. "It is extraordinary what fascination a good puzzle has for a great many people. We know the thing to be of trivial importance, yet we are impelled to master it, and when we have succeeded there is a pleasure and a sense of satisfaction that are a quite sufficient reward for our trouble, even when there is no prize to be won. What is this mysterious charm that many find irresistible? Why do we like to be puzzled? The curious thing is that directly the enigma … [Read more...]
The Dude Abides
The Dude Abides by Jeff Coakley February is artist appreciation month at the Cafe gallery. Currently on display is a selection of fine work by one of the great puzzle masters of all time, Henry Dudeney. ...Our lives are largely spent in solving puzzles; for what is a puzzle but a perplexing question? And from our childhood upwards we are perpetually asking questions or trying to answer them." Henry Ernest Dudeney (1857-1930) worked most of his life as a civil servant in Sussex, England. But he made his mark on the world as a mathematician and composer of puzzles. His early creations were published in various newspapers under the pseudonym "Sphinx". He also collaborated for … [Read more...]
Alekhine’s Whammy
Alekhine's Whammy by Jeff Coakley Besides a full round of double whammies, this column features a detailed analysis of Fortis-Alekhine 1925, the most famous game of Marseillais Chess ever played. "Double whammy" is another name for a series-mate in two. These are the special instructions. a) White plays two moves in a row to mate Black. b) The first move may not be check. c) Either move may be a capture. d) Both moves may be with the same piece. e) Black does not get a turn. f) White may not place their own king in check on the first move, even if they get out of check with the second move. If you haven't experienced the whammy before, here are a couple easy ones to get you … [Read more...]
Smorgasbord VI: Winter Games
Smorgasbord VI: Winter Games Another year behind us. The future just around the bend. Like a downhill racer, time keeps speeding by. And along the way, a few idle moments at the Chess Cafe. This smorgasbord features our usual fare: a varied selection of puzzles for your amusement and solving pleasure. Plus some random facts about my favourite "winter game". 1. Triple Loyd 41 Place the black king on the board so that: A. Black is in checkmate. B. Black is in stalemate. C. White has mate in one. Bobsleds originated in Switzerland during the 1860s. They were constructed by connecting two sleds and adding a steering mechanism. 2. Proof Game 41 (4.0 moves) This … [Read more...]
A Few Cheerful Days on the Normal Side
A Few Cheerful Days on the Normal Side After another year of fun and puzzles, it's time again for our holiday break to "the normal side of chess". Like the ghosts of columns past, we have an assortment of direct mates, endgame studies, and game positions. Let's hear it for 2015. Cheers, everyone! 1 White to mate in two Nothing is more enticing for potential solvers than a spacious two-move mate. Merediths (8-12 pieces) and miniatures (7 or less) are natural-born crowd-pleasers. 2 White to mate in two Next up is a basic winning rook endgame. Unfortunately, you are playing blitz and you only have time for three more moves. Can you score the point? 3 White to mate in … [Read more...]
Proof Games: Switchback City
Proof Games: Switchback City The task in a proof game is to show how a given position can be reached in a legal game. The puzzles in this column have a move stipulation. The position must be reached in a precise number of moves, no more and no less. With one exception, they are proof games in 4.0 which means four moves by each side. There is a distinct lack of strategy in these games. But the moves are legal. Proof Game #37 The diagrammed position, with White to play, was reached in a game after each player made exactly four moves. Can you figure out how? A switchback is a move in a chess problem where a piece returns to a square that it previously stood on. This tactic can … [Read more...]
Smorgasbord V: December Sweets
Smorgasbord V: December Sweets This week our dessert menu features a selection of six puzzles with a variety of flavours. Try one, or try them all. We hope you find something to your taste. The types of problems presented in this column have appeared previously on The Puzzling Side of Chess. If you are unfamiliar with any of them, examples with more detailed explanations are available in the archives. 1. Triple Loyd #40 Place the black king on the board so that: A. Black is in checkmate. B. Black is in stalemate. C. White has mate in one. The holiday season means lots of travelling from point A to point B. And sometimes a late trip home. Take care. Take a cab. 2. Passing … [Read more...]
Chess Cafe Puzzlers Cup: The Big Day
by Jeff Coakley Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the awards ceremony of the 2014 Puzzlers Cup. Tonight we are pleased to present the five winning problems from our second annual puzzle composing competition. Special thanks to our generous sponsor ChessCafe.com for hosting the event. Each winner will receive a “shop coupon” from Shop.ChessCafe.com, which can be applied to any purchase from their extensive selection of chess products. The value of the coupons is as follows: First prize $150 Second prize $100 Third prize $75 Honourable Mentions 2 x $50 Like last year, we received many interesting puzzles. The difficult task of selecting the five winners was performed … [Read more...]
Cyclotronic Joyride
by Jeff Coakley The main attraction in this week’s column is a “carousel of cyclotrons”. But first, let’s play the old switcheroo. In case you’re new to switcheroos, here are the rules. The goal is to put the black king in checkmate by switching the position of two pieces. No actual chess moves are made. The pieces simply swap squares. Any two pieces can switch places. Colours do not matter. You can trade white with white, black with black, or white with black. Switching the black king is a common trick. One important rule is that the position after the switch must be legal. A position is legal if it could occur in an actual game. This rule implies several things. a) A … [Read more...]