ArcaMax

The first move might be obvious, but what’s the best second move?

Another edge of disaster position from Philidor, but White escapes by mating, of course.

Ziska as Black against Kelires at Luxembourg in 2016 ended with a flourish.

Caruana-Kramnik came to an abrupt end in 2016 in this rapid game when Caruana played …

This is somewhat of a baroque chess position. It comes from Philidor’s book. I have an 1819 English edition on my shelf. It’s typical of the 18th and 19th centuries to have these “edge of disaster” problems. White is threatened with mate in two, so he has no time for waiting moves. Check, check, check and mate. It takes nine moves. Have ...

Howell, against Junabayev at the Keres Memorial at Tallinn in 2016 played a move in our last puzzle that would have led most people to resign; however, his opponent hung on! If you count the old fashioned way, White has an edge in “points” of 26 to 25. The position is decisive, though, and Howell polished off Black in short order with a ...

Howell, against Junabayev at the Keres Memorial at Tallinn in 2016 found a move here that should have caused Black to resign, but he played on! We’ll see what happened after that in the next column, but, for now, what move did Howell play that should have inspired resignation?

This finish is from Piorun-Inarkiev, 2016. Hint: You can start with a check and keep going!

This is a “might have been” position from a brilliant win by Nakamura over So in 2015. It was a game rich in possibilities and variations. Hint: the first move is not a check nor a capture!

An incredible game, Naiditsch-Esen, Rejkyavik, 2015, ended with a great combination based on an old theme.

Stein wraps up Liebersohn at Erevan in 1965 in a very famous Pirc Defense

Naidistsch, against Vallejo Pons, found the most effective move to force Black’s resignation. What was it?

A stunning mating combination by Radjabov against Bortnyk in the World Rapid Championship in 2016. Yes, that was RAPID!! It’s a 13 move forced mate!! If you don’t see the first move, don’t worry about it. You have lots of company, including me. When you look at the first move, THEN try and figure it out. If you can’t do that, then go one...

In Vitiugov-Ding, St. Petersburg, 2012, White showed that an excellent mating attack does not have to start with a check or a capture.

Howell finishes off Jumabayev in grand style at the Keres Memorial in 2016. Keres would have been proud.

In the game Andreikin-Ashiku, Macedonian League, 2016, White played one move and Black resigned. What was the move?

An old favorite mate in three by A.W. Galitzky

A dandy little study by Troitzky from 1917. You would think he had other things on his mind that year! It’s really process of elimination. All the wrong choices just draw very easily.

A two-move from Geoffrey Mott-Smith in the 1930s.

A thousand apologies for my putting up the wrong diagram on Friday. As one reader, of many who wrote me, pointed out, I seem snakebitten by this puzzle, as I also got it wrong in my book and was attempting to make amends by putting it here. Yes, THIS TIME it is the correct puzzle position. Much thanks to all who wrote! White mates in two. BTW, ...