Games - Chess problem

Home > Listing Index > Games > Chess problem

	Games - Chess problem

A chess problem, formally called a chess composition, is a puzzle set by somebody using chess pieces on a chess board, presenting the solver with a particular task to be achieved. For instance, a position might be given with the instruction that white is to move first, and checkmate black in two moves against any possible defense. A person who creates such problems is known as a "composer". There is a good deal of specialized jargon used in chess problems; see chess problem terminology for a list.

Exactly what constitutes a chess problem is, to a degree, open to debate. However, the kinds of things published in the problem section of chess magazines, in specialist chess problem magazines, and in collections of chess problems in book form, tend to have certain common characteristics:

#The position is composed - that is, it has not been taken from an actual game, but has been invented for the specific purpose of providing a problem. #There is a specific aim, for example, to checkmate black within a specified number of moves. #There is a theme and the problem is aesthetically pleasing. A problem's theme is an underlying idea, giving coherence and beauty to its solution.

Problems can be contrasted with tactical puzzles often found in chess columns or magazines in which the task is to find the best move or sequence of moves (usually leading to mate or gain of material) from a given position. Such puzzles are often taken from actual games, or at least have positions which look as if they could have arisen during a game, and are used for instructional purposes; problems, on the other hand, are invented positions, often with very "artificial" looking positions and solutions, not likely to arise in a game, and are appreciated more for their aesthetic than their instructional qualities.

Types of problem

There are various different types of chess problem:

Directmates - white to move first and checkmate black within a specified number of moves against any defence. These are often referred to as "mate in n", where n is the number of moves within which mate must be delivered. In composing and solving competitions, directmates are further broken down into three classes:
*Two-movers - white to move and checkmate black in two moves against any defence
*Three-movers - white to move and checkmate black in no more than three moves against any defence
*More-movers - white to move and checkmate black in a given number of moves more than three against any defence
Helpmate
s - black to move first cooperates with white to get his own king mated via legal moves
Selfmate
s - white moves first and forces black to checkmate white's king against black's will
Reflexmates - a selfmate in which each player must give mate if they are able to do so on their turn. When this stipulation applies only to black, it is a semi-reflexmate.
Series-movers - one side makes a series of moves without reply to achieve a stipulated aim. Check may not be given except on the last move. A series-mover can be a:
*Series-mate - a directmate with white playing a series of moves without reply to checkmate black
*Series-helpmate - a helpmate in which black plays a series of moves without reply, and then white plays one move to checkmate black
*Series-selfmate - a selfmate in which white plays a series of moves leading to a position in which black is forced to give mate
*Series-reflexmate - a reflexmate in which white plays a series of moves leading to a position in which black can, and therefore must, give mate

All the above may also be found in forms of fairy chess - chess played with unorthodox rules, possibly using fairy pieces (unorthodox pieces).

In addition, there is the study, in which the stipulation is that white to play must win or draw. Almost all studies are endgame positions. Because the study is composed it is related to the problem, but because the stipulation is open-ended (the win or draw does not have to be achieved within any particular number of moves) it is usually thought of as separate from the problem. However, particularly long more-movers sometimes have the character of a study - there is no clear dividing line between the two.

In all the above types of problem, castling is assumed to be allowed unless it can be proved by retrograde analysis (see below) that the rook in question or king must have previously moved. En passant captures, on the other hand, are assumed not to be allowed, unless it can be proved that the pawn in question must have moved two squares on the previous move.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Chess problem ]

Searches on eBay

chess problem

Games - Chess problem

Types of problem

Searches on eBay

Related searches on eBay