ArcaMax

In continuing our theme, here’s a mate in two.

If you did Friday’s puzzle, you have a hint on today’s solution. But don’t forget to do your income tax first! It’s a mate in four.

Many of you will recognize this Sam Loyd classic. I’m having it do an encore bow so as to give you a hint as to next week’s puzzles.

A dazzling display by a minister during the Major Open of the British Championship in 1929.

A very minimalist position with a charming key. It’s a mate in two.

A great Friday challenge for you! It’s a mating attack, which needs forcing moves. The toughest defense makes you go eight moves.

White’s the exchange down and his queen is attacked, so it is necessary to come up with something—quickly!

It is Black’s move, and White is threatening a mate in one. How should Black stop White from winning?

This position is won so many different ways. Gligoric picked a very imaginative way.

This position is from a wonderful out-of-print tactics book called Tactical Chess Training by GM Leonid Shamkovich and Jan R. Cartier.

White has just played 1.Nf4, attacking the Black d5 pawn. How should Black respond?

A longer than usual mating attack, but you have the weekend!

A kingside mating attack with a key lesson to learn.

Mating attack time. You might easily find the first move, but you have to find the second move as well to continue the attack.

Take out a stopwatch! I played this finish in a five minute game on the ICC and had 51 seconds left in the given position. 30 seconds later, my opponent resigned. Can you match that by finding the winning continuation in 30 seconds? Don’t forget, Black will offer to trade queens at every opportunity.

To say White pieces are awkwardly placed is an understatement; however, there is a way out to win.

We go a nice response on the previous king and pawn ending that looked like a draw but wasn’t. Here’s another one. It looks like both kings need to hang around the kingside without one getting any advantage. It is, however, a win for White, which requires concrete calculation!

I guess this is Rinck week. I love this position because it can be so instructional to beginners. They learn to race their pawns to queen first, but sometimes the race isn’t always to the swiftest. Some students might even conclude it’s a draw because the two kings will just shuttle back in forth on the same two squares and it will be a draw...

It initially looks like Black can prevent both pawns from queening, but there is great mischief afoot by White.

Mate in Four! Have fun!